<P> The May 1958 crisis ( or Algiers putsch or the coup of 13 May ) was a political crisis in France during the turmoil of the Algerian War of Independence ( 1954 -- 62 ) which led to the return of Charles de Gaulle to political responsibilities after a twelve - year absence . It started as a coup attempt led at Algiers on 13 May 1958 by a coalition headed by Algiers deputy and reserve airborne officer Pierre Lagaillarde , French Generals Raoul Salan , Edmond Jouhaud , Jean Gracieux , and Jacques Massu , and by Admiral Philippe Auboyneau , commander of the Mediterranean fleet . The putsch was supported by former Algerian Governor General Jacques Soustelle and his activist allies . </P>
the crisis in 1958 that brought the final end of france 's fourth republic occurred in
May