Blog by Jack Tannock, media volunteer at Scottish Refugee Council
This year is the 100th anniversary of the outbreak of the First World War. But while the focus tends to be on the western front, gas panic, the trenches, Flanders field and the familiar ‘Blackadder’ narrative, there are other aspects that are often ignored. However the ‘Great Powers’ who fought the war were colonial empires who controlled much of the globe and the war was a truly global conflict.
By the time the war broke out in 1914 almost all of Africa was under control of one European power or another (only Ethiopia and Liberia were truly independent). As a result of this a great deal of the fighting took place on African soil across many theatres of conflict. All told over two million African people contributed to the war effort of various European nations. Many made the ultimate sacrifice and gave their lives.
Most soldiers served in horrendous conditions and were required to carry heavy munitions and supplies. They were poorly paid and fed unfamiliar, poor quality food. Many thousands died in action for European powers but many more died from disease, malnutrition and from the stresses of harsh climates.
European war, African soldiers
The war was not popular in Africa. Many saw it as a white, European war in which Africans were being forced to fight. In many places there were existing tensions and the outbreak of war only exacerbated them. Many local African leaders preached resistance to colonial rule. In the British colony of Nyasaland missionaries actually led an uprising against British rule.
However it is worth noting that Africans were by no means united in their opposition to the war. Indeed if it were not for the assistance of many local African rulers then the war effort in Africa would not have been possible.
Many men were recruited for the armies of their colonial rulers by their own local chiefs and many of those same chiefs felt a great sense of loyalty to the European powers.
Forgotten sacrifice
The British campaign against the Germans in East Africa (the modern nation of Tanzania was at the time a German colony) was one of the bloodiest campaigns of the war in terms of loss of life. More than 100,000 men lost their lives in East Africa during the War.
Sadly the experience of those fighting for other colonial empires was just as tragic. Across the continent and in Europe, Africans fighting for the French lost their lives in great numbers too. More than 65,000 men from French North Africa and French West Africa gave their lives in a war that was not of their making or choice.
Their sacrifices are as much a part of the First World War as the trenches of the Western Front and must not be forgotten. That’s why this month – Black History Month – we are remembering the contribution of Africa to the poetically but inaccurately named ‘War to End All Wars’.
Black History Month – Glasgow
Check out this year’s programme of events in Glasgow to mark Black History Month.
