African Military Migration in the First and Second World Wars

Abstract

During the two world wars several million African soldiers and laborers served in colonial forces in theaters of war within Africa and overseas. The years 1939–46 probably saw the largest concerted movement of men overseas from tropical Africa since the days of the slave trade. The impact on individuals and families and the social well-being of rural communities, from where most recruits came, was profound. Soldiers’ experiences were like the experiences of other African labor migrants, although those serving in Europe and Asian theaters encountered new cultures, languages, religions, and social mores. Africans also fought against white enemies. For some, military services offered educational opportunities and technical training. This chapter critically assesses the lives and opportunities of soldiers as migrants, suggesting that military service may have encouraged greater loyalty to the colonial state than political opposition.