 "The Battle of Algiers" was inspired by the 1962 book "Souvenirs de la Bataille d'Alger", an FLN military commander's account of the campaign, by Saadi Yacef.Yacef wrote the book while he was held as a prisoner of the French, and it served to boost morale for the FLN and other militants.After independence, the French released Yacef, who became a leader in the new government.