 At first, and despite the Sétif massacre of 8 May 1945, and the pro-Independence struggle before World War II, most Algerians were in favor of a relative status-quo.While Messali Hadj had radicalized by forming the FLN, Ferhat Abbas maintained a more moderate, electoral strategy.Fewer than 500 "fellaghas" (pro-Independence fighters) could be counted at the beginning of the conflict.