During the Algerian War between 1954-1962 few young Frenchmen defaulted on military service. These draft dodgers believed in non-violence. Some fled to Switzerland where they received help from Swiss citizens.

Between 1954 and 1962, about 100 to 300 young Frenchmen refused to participate in putting down the Algerian War of Independence. These draft dodgers believed in non-violence or were against colonialism. Some of them fled to Switzerland where they received help from Swiss citizens, whereas in France they were condemned as traitors. A few months after Independence, Villi Hermann, went to Algeria to help reopen a school. He has recently been back to Algeria where he met a few of his former pupils. He has also made contact with some French former draft dodgers.—Imago Film