European refugees flee from Algeria. Violence on the streets of Algeria. Damaged and burning buildings. Firemen douse the fire. European refugees with their belongings flee from Algeria via airways and waterways. Soldiers help French civilians as they land in Europe.
A documentary depicts Algeria soon after its independence. Date and fig trees in the Sahara region of Algeria. A map of Algeria shows location of oil wells. People near a truck. Tomatoes, lemons and figs in baskets. Men unload crates from trucks. Vegetables and fruits in crates at a market place. People in the market. People fill water at a community tap. A cobbler mends shoes.
The people celebrate independence of Algeria. The people gather on a street. The native soldiers march on the street. They carry guns on their shoulder. The women dance on the street. A view of the people on street and soldiers march. Lightning on the street. The people celebrate. Premier of Algeria Benyoucef Benkhedda in a car. People on either side of the street greet him. He waves to the people. The people on the street cheer. Benkhedda in a balcony with other officials as he waves to the people. Vice Premier of Algeria Ahmed Ben Bella gets of from a car. He shakes hands with the officials. The people crowd on the street. Benkhedda, Ben Bella and other officials stand together.
German POWs gathered near Coast Guard Transport ship, Thomas Stone at the port of Bone, Algeria (present-day Annaba, Algeria) during World War II. The German POWs climb a ramp to board the ship. View of them coming on the ship's deck. A Coast Guard Officer and sailor watch as the prisoners board. View of the wharf where lines of German prisoners are boarding. An African American sailor, in chef's white outfit, gives a small card to one of the boarding prisoners. Various views of them boarding. Scene shifts to view from the Robert Stone deck as the ship makes way leaving the harbor of Bône, Algeria.
Landing maneuvers of the United States troops in North Africa during World War II. Fire from the deck of a Destroyer. A convoy underway. Airplanes fly overhead. U.S. soldiers get off from a landing craft and run through water to the beach. Tanks leave barge and head for the shore. Infantrymen run on the beach. A map of Mediterranean Theater. French soldiers parade in Casablanca. Feet of soldiers as they march. Animated map of Mediterranean Theater as a pointer indicates location of Oran. French battleships in the harbor of Oran are blown up by British firing after the fall of France.
Aerial view of tribal representatives encamped in Algeria. Men of the tribes assemble around a large open space and listen to an Algerian leader speak. The French Resident Minister of Algeria, Robert Lacoste, together with French officials and officers, listens to the speaker. The tribesmen applaud. The microphone is brought to Robert Lacoste, who makes some remarks and receives applause. An elder tribal leader approaches Mr.Lacoste, who greets him and presents him with a double-barreled shotgun. Robert Lacoste walks around the assembly, greeting and shaking hands with many of the tribal leaders. Algerian colonial cavalry (Spahis) seen on horseback, in background. Robert Lacoste greets Algerian children.