ABSTRACT
This chapter examines the evolution of the indigenous veterans' movements and public policy towards them in the late colonial period. Algerian veterans were admitted as members, and, officially, their membership was encouraged. The subordinated roles given to Algerian veterans led some of them to consider creating their own autonomous associations. The outsourcing of administrative tasks regarding Algerian veterans to the Amitites Africaines was complemented by the creation of a large network of homes for veterans called Diar-el-Askri. The French authorities combined their use of the Amities Africaines and the Diar-el-Askri to extend their control over Algerian veterans. Creating inventories of the indigenous population was an old colonial strategy to reinforce the French authorities' control. Indigenous Algerian veterans had been consistently considered as an asset to increase support for French sovereignty over the colonial territory. The French Algeria movement leaned on some the veterans' associations in its mobilization against reform and the Front de liberation nationale.
