1961 in France
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
See also: 1960 in France, other events of 1961, 1962 in France.
Events from the year 1961 in France.
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[edit] Events
- 8 January - French referendum on Algerian self-determination is approved by three-quarters of voters.
- 18 March - A ceasefire takes effect in the Algerian War of Independence.
- 21 April-26 April - Algiers putsch, failed coup d'état attempt organized by four retired French army generals.
- 31 May - Rebel generals Maurice Challe and Andre Zelelr are sentenced to 15 years in prison.
- 31 May - President John F. Kennedy and Charles De Gaulle meet in Paris.
- 17 June - A Paris-to-Strasbourg train derails near Vitry-le-François; 24 are killed, 109 injured.
- 21 September - Organisation armée secrète (OAS) slips an anti-de Gaulle message into TV programming.
- 17 October - Paris massacre, French police attacked an unarmed and peaceful demonstration of some 30,000 Algerians. Government acknowledged 40 deaths in 1998, although there are estimates of up to 200.
[edit] Arts and Literature
- 4 May - Phenomenological philosopher Maurice Merleau-Ponty dies, age 53, of a stroke, apparently while preparing for a class on Descartes.
[edit] Sport
- 18 June - French Grand Prix won by Giancarlo Baghetti of Italy.
- 25 June - Tour de France begins.
- 19 July - Tour de France ends, won by Jacques Anquetil.
[edit] Births
- 16 May - Solveig Dommartin, actress (d.2007).
[edit] Deaths
- 4 May - Maurice Merleau-Ponty, phenomenological philosopher (b.1908).
- 1 July - Louis-Ferdinand Céline, writer (b.1894).
