Taroudant - Here is a selection of photographs of some of the most important and famous historical events that marked Morocco, during the colonial period and after it gained independence.
Taroudant – Here is a selection of photographs of some of the most important and famous historical events that marked Morocco, during the colonial period and after it gained independence.
Most of the major historical events in Morocco were documented in the history books and passed on from generation to generation, but the power of an image speaks a lot more than what oral or written history can convey.
These photos were carefully preserved by individuals in albums or kept in the Kingdom’s institutions and repertoires, but thanks to social media networks, these photos have gone viral, being shared widely across the world.
These rare photos are real evidence and important documents that have helped historians and students learn about the history of their country.
Some of these images highlight Moroccan heroism and patriotism, as well as catastrophic and terrorist acts that Moroccans still remember with a sigh.
Other images document the atrocities committed by the French and Spanish colonial armies in Morocco and against the Moroccan people.
The return of Mohammed V to the Moroccan territory from exile
A street in Casablanca after it was bombarded by French forces during the French protectorate over Morocco.
Agadir destroyed in 15 seconds after the earthquake that hit the city on February 29, 1960
Atrocities committed by French and Spanish colonial armies in northern Morocco during the Rif War 1921 – 1926
Beautiful and courageous women who participated in the Green March on November 6, 1975
Goumiers, Moroccan soldiers from different tribes who joined auxiliary units attached to the French Army of Africa in September 1949.
Hassan II funerals on July 23, 1999. About 2 million Moroccans and several world leaders, including the then American President, Bill Clinton, attended the funerals.
Hassan II Mosque under construction in August 1988
In 1943, Casablanca was the center of world attention at the conference of Anfa
Marché Central of Casablanca became famous, when Mohamed Zerktouni, Moroccan resistant, carried out an attack against the French settlers on December 24, 1953.
Mehdi Ben Barka, a Moroccan politician, head of the left-wing National Union of Popular Forces and secretary of the Tricontinental Conference. He was assassinated in Paris in October 1965.
A rare photo of Che Guevara in Morocco in 1959. The photo was allegedly taken with a family in Marrakech, where he spent 18 days.
Miss Morocco in 1957 was indeed a beautiful semi-finalist in Miss World.
Moroccans celebrating the return of King Mohammed V after more than 2 years in exile
In 1984, Nawal El Moutawakel became the first African, Arab and Muslim woman to win an Olympic gold medal. The Women’s 400 meters Hurdles at the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, California had an entry list of 26 competitors, with four qualifying heats and two semifinals before the final, which took place on August 8, 1984.
On May 16, 2003, Casablanca was shaken by terrorist bombings that killed 45 people
Photo of Moroccan legend, Mohammed Benabdelkrim El Khattabi, who inflicted a historic defeat to the Spanish army at the Anoual Battle in July 1921. It took a coalition between France and Spain to put an end to his resistance in 1926. He was then deported by French and the Spanish government in 1926. He died in 1963 in Egypt.
Photo of Fatima, a Moroccan woman who served in the French army. Little is known about this woman, including her last name. However, several historic documents mention the presence of women among Goumiers, without specifying the role they played in the French army.
Photo of the first Moroccan Government on December 7, 1956
Photo of Moroccan hero Allal Ben Abdellah on September 11, 1953, as he attempted to assassinate Mohammed Ben Arafa, the man placed by the French government to replace King Mohammed V, who was forced to exile on August 20, 1953. This move from the French government ignited an unprecedented revolution throughout Morocco. The uprising is known as the “Revolution of the King and the People.”
Photo of the royal family in exile in Madagascar in 1954
Photo of Touria Chaoui, the first Moroccan and Arab woman pilot. Chaoui was murdered in March 1956 at the age of 19.
It is believed that the Moroccan pilot was assassinated by the French. Her sudden death broke the hearts of millions of Moroccans and Arabs around the world.
The first secret prison for political prisoners before Dar Bricha and Tazmamert is the Purpuraires islands in Essaouira.
The uprising of March 23, 1965 in Casablanca
Women activists gathering in Rabat in 1950s
