More than 1.3 million African soldiers fought for Britain and its allies in World War II. From 1939, hundreds of thousands of West African soldiers were sent to fight on the front lines in Europe.
Although much is not known about their contributions, many Africans were conscripted by their colonial ruler, Britain, to fight in World War II. They were instrumental in bringing an end to the war, which was fought across Africa, Europe and the East.
On the civilian front, even more African women and men produced vast quantities of food and strategic materials for the Allied war effort. The impact of the war on the lives of ordinary people throughout the African continent was therefore profound and substantial.
African contributions are a footnote in European history books despite the significant impact of several countries from the African continent.
South Africa made significant contributions to the Allied war effort. Some 135,000 white South Africans fought in the North African and Italian campaigns, and 70,000 Black South Africans served as labourers and transport drivers. South African platinum, uranium, and steel became valuable resources.
Ghana did not fight directly but helped supply resources and manpower for the allies. Jamaicans had volunteered for military service for the allies. No major battle had been held in or around Sierra Leone but they played an important role in supporting the allies throughout the war.
Kenyan soldiers served in the East African Campaign against the Italians, as well as the Burma Campaign against the Japanese, alongside troops from West Africa. Kenyans served in the Royal Navy and some individuals also served in the Royal Air Force. During the war, 98,240 Kenyans were recruited into the King’s African Rifles
The majority of soldier’s from the African continent were black and were racially segregated so they were commanded by white officers. Blacks were not able to surpass the rank of a warrant officer.
More than 1.3 million African soldiers fought for Britain and its allies in World War II. From 1939, hundreds of thousands of West African soldiers were sent to fight on the front lines in Europe.
Although much is not known about their contributions, many Africans were conscripted by their colonial ruler, Britain, to fight in World War II. They were instrumental in bringing an end to the war, which was fought across Africa, Europe and the East.
On the civilian front, even more African women and men produced vast quantities of food and strategic materials for the Allied war effort. The impact of the war on the lives of ordinary people throughout the African continent was therefore profound and substantial.
African contributions are a footnote in European history books despite the significant impact of several countries from the African continent.
South Africa made significant contributions to the Allied war effort. Some 135,000 white South Africans fought in the North African and Italian campaigns, and 70,000 Black South Africans served as labourers and transport drivers. South African platinum, uranium, and steel became valuable resources.
Ghana did not fight directly but helped supply resources and manpower for the allies. Jamaicans had volunteered for military service for the allies. No major battle had been held in or around Sierra Leone but they played an important role in supporting the allies throughout the war.
Kenyan soldiers served in the East African Campaign against the Italians, as well as the Burma Campaign against the Japanese, alongside troops from West Africa. Kenyans served in the Royal Navy and some individuals also served in the Royal Air Force. During the war, 98,240 Kenyans were recruited into the King’s African Rifles
The majority of soldier’s from the African continent were black and were racially segregated so they were commanded by white officers. Blacks were not able to surpass the rank of a warrant officer.
Albert Kuniuku is one of the few soldiers who survived WWII and chairman of the Veterans Union in Kinshasa. He says, when he was working in a textile company before being taken away, all the workers that were taken away were young and under the age of 30.
Yoro Ba, a Senegalese veteran, recalls the day the French came to his village. “If we men had stayed at home, we would have been taken to court and probably shot dead.”
Before the National Health Service was founded in 1948, many West African and West Indian women trained as nurses in British hospitals during World War II. These included Princess Ademola who was based at Guy’s Hospital in London.
Whether as prisoners of war or fighting at the front, the African soldiers came into close contact with European soldiers and with the reality of life in Europe. The African soldiers fought together on the same battlefield as their colonial rulers, seeing them suffer, die and lie in mud. Senegalese writer and filmmaker Ousmane Sembene, himself a former colonial soldier, put it like this. “As a result, they realised that there are no differences between people,” he said. This in turn led to many of the soldier’s returning to their home countries after the war fighting for independence from their European Colonialist’s.
During WWII, the war in the West has always overshadowed the war in the East. Despite this, there is no doubt the contributions of the BAME communities during WWII have played a significant role in shaping the identity of contemporary Britain.