Evacuation Day in Tunisia is celebrated on October 15 to commemorate the final withdrawal of French troops from the country in 1963.
In 1881, the French army entered Tunisia under the pretext of its defense against raids from Algeria, also occupied by French troops. The French quickly occupied Tunisia and forced the ruling Bey to abdicate power in favor of the French ruler. Soon the French captured the best Tunisian lands.
After the fall of France in World War I, Tunisian nationalists launched a campaign for Tunisian independence from the invaders. In the 1930s, their leader was Habib Bourguiba, who brought Tunisia to the world stage. By early 1950, the French were ready to make concessions. Tunisia gained independence on March 20, 1956, and Bourguiba was appointed prime minister. The following year, the country was proclaimed a republic, and Bourguiba became the first president.
By 1959, almost all French troops had withdrawn from Tunisian territory, with the exception of the Bizerte — garrison of one of the country's largest cities and ports. The persistent refusal of the French leadership to evacuate this base led to a military conflict — «battle for Bizerte» —, which became the first large-scale operation of the Tunisian army to suffer heavy losses. Finally, in 1963, after the end of the Algerian War, the last French soldiers left the country. And this day became a national holiday in Tunisia.