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World War II and Africa

World War II and Africa. February 8-10. World War II. Two major ‘watersheds’ in the early colonial world: - The Great Depression (1929-1935) - World War II (1939-1945) [Will Return to ‘Great Depression in context of lecture on Nationalism (Feb. 13)]. World War II.

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World War II and Africa

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  1. World War IIandAfrica February 8-10

  2. World War II Two major ‘watersheds’ in the early colonial world: - The Great Depression (1929-1935) - World War II (1939-1945) [Will Return to ‘Great Depression in context of lecture on Nationalism (Feb. 13)]

  3. World War II WWII grew from Great Depression: began in America, rapidly spread to Europe Via colonial economic systems: Africa immediately, deeply affected - altered impetus of Colonialism - created new roles for ‘Colonial Africa’.

  4. World War II Depression in Europe: - exacerbated post-WWI economic problems - contributed to rise of Fascism: Hitler in Germany, Mussolini in Italy • Mussolini, like 19th predecessor Bismarck, wanted place in ‘The African Sun’:1935 invaded Ethiopia

  5. World War II Video Excerpt: “This Magnificent African Cake” (49:40 – 52:28min) [also listen to Audio ‘Forgotten African Soldiers’,Add’l Rdgs 2:10 – 5:15 min]

  6. World War II World War II: - Officially WWII considered to have been fought between 1939 – 1945 • But many (like Adu Boahan, ‘Video’) argue that the with Italian invasion of Ethiopia (and not Hitler’s invasion of Poland) was the first Battle of WWII • played crucial role in generating African support for Allies in War

  7. World War II Situation fully addressed in media: outrage about invasion. . . Sin-possessed and intoxicated with authority, Mussolini, the Fascist Dictator with his "smash and grab" doctrine of civilisation has announced his East Africa spoils to the world. He is also said to be having his hands in the Spanish mists. This is as should be expected of a child of darkness...

  8. World War II Followed by recognition of larger Fascist picture: There by him we find his brother Hitler, the German dictator, dreaming his usual daydreams - a German Empire, with Russia as his armrest; France as his footstool, England as his manufacturing nation, and the colonies as labourers to work in his Nazi vineyard. His continuous dream is of world subjugation..." The Comet, 5 Dec 1936. [from BBC Story of Africa, ‘Add’l Rdgs’. Note date –is incorrect on BBC website]

  9. World War II Recruitment: facilitated by several factors • Ethiopian occupation, brave but futile resistance – generated widespread desire to fight Fascism • ‘desire’ fed by active propaganda, knowledge of Hitler’s racism • unemployment (fed by Depression, lack of European investment in economic growth)

  10. World War II Recruitment: but not all was voluntary • as in WWI, much so-called voluntary enlistment had to actually be ‘forced’ by chiefs • [see BBC Story of Africa, ‘Add’l Rdgs’; Listen to Audio ‘Africa’s Forgotten Soldiers (3:42: – 6:20 min) - complemented by use of forced labour everywhere to produce commodities needed for war (food, minerals) [see next lecture on Rise of Nationalism; also referenced in “Africa’s Fighting Men” (video) ]

  11. World War II Local Media not always supportive:Enlist today! Your country needs you! Not for learning how to shoot the big howitzersOr how to rat tat tat the machine guns Or how to fly o'er peaceful countries Dropping bombs on harmless people Or how to fix a bayonet and charge at The harmless workers of another clime .

  12. World War II Your country needs you! For the rebuilding of your shattered homeland. Your homeland ruined by exploitation.By the tyrants of foreign nations Who would use you as their cats paw While they starved you to subjection .African Standard, Sierra Leone 28 July 1939 [from BBC Story of Africa, Add’l Rdgs – Pacifist Poem by George Padmore reprinted by local paper; more under ‘Pan-Africanism’]

  13. World War II First African Battleground: - Ethiopia (1941) - reclaiming land lost to Fascist Italy in 1935: symbolically important - involved troops from West, East and South Africa[note reference to Gold Coast troops having fought in Abyssinia in video “Africa’s Fighting Men”, below]

  14. World War II King’s African Rifles, collecting arms from defeated Italians, Ethiopia (1941)

  15. World War II Second major theatre: North Africa - Italy invaded Egypt (1940): unsuccessful - German ‘Afrika Corps’ (under Rommel “Desert Fox”) fought in western Libya (1941)

  16. World War II February 1941: following Italian failures in Egypt - German General Field Marshal Rommel arrived to provide more firepower and new leadership - Soon known as the “Desert Fox”

  17. World War II: New, more suitable Italian troops and equipment lent support Italian Tank on Tunisian Frontier

  18. World War II Rommel’s ‘Afrika Korps’: took firm root in North Africa – invited Allied engagement - British and Germans chased each other “cat-and-mouse” style over next two years - memorialized in novel /movie ‘The English Patient’ [see ‘The North African Campaign’, Resources]

  19. World War II: British Engaged in ‘Cat-and-Mouse’ Chase with Rommel

  20. World War II: El-Alamein: 1942 (Oct. 23 – Nov. 3) Culminated in Battle of El-Alamein: most decisive battle in North African Campaign British force twice as strong, Rommel not at beginning of attack: overwhelming Allied victory - This was turning point against previously successful ‘Afrika Korps’ that had specialized in surprise attacks, outflanking maneuvers

  21. Word War II: ‘Operation Torch’: 1942 (Nov. 8) - British and US sea invasion French North Africa (Morocco) - 100,000 men, over 600 ships: among the largest amphibian invasions in history - faced more resistance than expected from Vichy French colonies [France had fallen to German control – see below ‘France and WWII’]

  22. Word War II: - drew/defeated German forces needed in Europe into Tunisia - May 1943: Allies controlled 1000 miles of North African Coast

  23. World War II France in WWII: French Colonies in unique situation - France (and Belgium) quickly fell to Germany in 1940 - France left in hands German puppet regime based in Vichy -France’s colonies left without formal ‘Colonial Master’.

  24. World War II French West Africa (AOF French acronym): • part of collaborative Vichy regime, like North African colonies that fought with surprising resistance when Allies arrived on North African shores (‘Operation Torch’, 1942 above) - After Allied victory in 1942: AOF supported “Free French” effort

  25. World War II French Equatorial Africa (AEF) : -supported ‘government in exile’, so-called “Free French” under General Charles de Gaulle, from outset - AEF became base for Free French - Felix Eboue (Chad) critical in preventing establishment of Axis base in Africa

  26. World War II Felix EbouegreetingGeneralCharles deGaulle(Chad,1940)

  27. World War II Africans Also Fought in European, Asian Theatres - Italy (Sicily) - France - Germany (Air) - India (Ceylon) - Burma

  28. World War II [See Articlefrom whichthis istaken: inAdd’l Rdgs]

  29. World War II Video Excerpts:“Africa’s Fighting Men” (1943)(0:00-4:15min; 7:27-13:00 min) [full video (13:30min) in Suggested Add’l Rdgs]

  30. World War II Memorial: African, Caribbean,Indian Soldiers in WWI & WWII(London, UK - Marble Arch) One pillar (not one we can seehere) engraved: ‘AFRICA’

  31. World War II Brazzaville Conference (1944): promised ‘improvements'’ to colonialism - Response to African “Free French” support in Africa - African military support (tirailleurs) in Europe - and North African colonies (post-1942)

  32. World War II • General principles: 1. The French Empire would remain united. 2. Semi-autonomous assemblies would be established in each colony. 3. Citizens of France's colonies would share equal rights with French citizens. 4. Citizens of French colonies would have the right to vote for the French parliament.

  33. World War II General principles: 5. The native population would be employed in public service positions within the colonies. 6. Economic reforms would be made to diminish the exploitative nature of the relationship between France and its colonies. These ‘principles’ raised hopes among those of the more than 190,000 soldiers from French Colonies who returned home following 1945…

  34. World War II On British Side: The Atlantic Charter (1941) - drawn up between President of the United States and the Prime Minister of Britain to establish joint ‘aims for peace’ following war. . . Of significance:Article Three: “They [the Presidents] respect the right of all peoples to choose the form of government under which they will live; and they wish to see sovereign rights and self government restored to those who have been forcibly deprived of them…”

  35. World War II And: Article Five: “[And] … they desire to bring about the fullest collaboration between all nations in the economic field with the object of securing, for all, improved labor standards, economic advancement and social security…”

  36. World War II The Atlantic Charter, combined with the experience of War among Europeans – raised expectations among those of the almost 1 million troops who fought in the war and returned home: In the words of a Nigerian serviceman writing to Nigerian Nationalist leader Herbert Macaulay in 1945 . . .

  37. World War II “We all overseas soldiers are coming back home with new ideas. We have been told what we fought for. That is ‘freedom’. We want freedom. Nothing but freedom” [Basil Davidson, Modern Africa, p. 66] Video Excerpt:Basil Davidson: “The Rise of Nationalism”(0:00 – 4:00 min)

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