Algerian Radio
The Advisor to the Ministry of Moudjahidine and Right-Holders and Director of the National Museum of the Moudjahid, Salima Thabet, affirmed that the massacres of May 8, 1945, were the decisive turning point and the true spark that changed the entire course of Algerian history. Thabet explained that the atrocities committed by French colonialism, which claimed the lives of 45,000 martyrs, served as a harsh lesson through which the Algerian people realized that "what is taken by force can only be restored by force." She pointed out that this collective awareness accelerated the transition from political activism to armed struggle and the outbreak of the November 1, 1954 Revolution.
These statements were made during Ms. Thabet's participation in a special "Morning Guest" broadcast on Algerian Radio's Channel Two, coinciding with the commemoration of the National Day of Memory honoring the victims of the May 8, 1945 massacres. She provided an in-depth analytical reading of this anniversary's significance, highlighting the Algerian state's efforts to preserve the historical trust under the supervision of the President of the Republic, Mr. Abdelmadjid Tebboune, who designated this date as a National Day of Memory to thwart any attempts to forget or erase colonial crimes.
Detailing the heinousness of the crimes committed, the Director of the Moudjahid Museum paused at what Sheikh El Bachir El Ibrahimi described as "Black Tuesday." She recalled the extermination methods employed by France, including the burning of bodies in lime kilns in Guelma to conceal the crime from international public opinion at the time. Thabet stressed that these atrocities constitute "crimes against humanity" that are not subject to a statute of limitations. She affirmed that national memory is fortified today thanks to "living testimonies," which the Ministry considers the true wealth of the nation, especially since France deliberately looted archives and destroyed historical landmarks before its departure.
Regarding the digitization strategy, Thabet spoke about the digitization of national history, highlighting the "Chahed 54" digital platform. This platform has become a massive database containing recorded testimonies from Moudjahidine and Moudjahidate from all across the country.
Thabet concluded her remarks by emphasizing that Algeria, which was and remains a "Mecca for Revolutionaries," derives its diplomatic strength and steadfast stances on just causes, such as the Palestinian cause and Western Sahara, from its revolutionary legacy and the immense sacrifices made from the May 8 massacres up to independence. She stressed that the message of November remains the compass guiding rising generations toward preserving the country's sovereignty and pride.
