World War 1: Africa

Question 1

What was the impact of WW1 on Africa?

Answer 1

Material devastation

European dominance weakened: Africa sees that European powers weren’t as powerful as they thought they were.

Rise of a new generation who had lived and fought in Europe.

European governments made promises to win African support, especially France.

Beginning of independence movements and nationalism in African countries.

Question 2

What was Africa’s involvement in WW1?

Answer 2

2+ million African men served a soldiers, porters/carriers and laborers.

50 million Africans affected, both indirectly and directly.

Participation largely NOT voluntary. The Africans did not consider WW1 their fight.

“Enthusiasm would be extreme if the local populations were informed that natives would e grated the honor of fighting in France”

“What do Africans care about duty to the Motherland? Do no aggravate a necessary evil by asking what they cannot give”

Question 3

What was recruitment like for French Africa?

Answer 3

Compulsory recruitment policies. Enlistment was enforced in 1915.

Enlistment was resisted by substitutions (sending weak instead of the strong so they wouldn’t be used), self-mutilation, and armed rebellion (including guerrilla warfare)

Question 4

How did recruitment in Africa change near the end of WW1 in 1918?

Answer 4

There was a shift towards propaganda and persuasion.

Blaise Diagne traveled over West Africa recruiting Africans. He was successful by extracting benefits from France in exchange for soldiers. Diagne was from the colonial powers, but admired the way the French ran their government.

Question 5

What benefits did Blaise Diagne win for Senegal?

Answer 5

Money

Exemption from “indigenous code” for soldiers

Citizenship for soldiers

Construction of new hospitals and schools

Question 6

What did the African soldiers see about the French in Europe?

Answer 6

They saw that the French were as bad off as they were. Both were uneducated and not happy with the government.

They learned new ideas and used them to create stronger governments against Europe. Europe’s weakness was exposed. This was the beginning of independence initiatives. The local colonial governments were discredited by failed recruitment/resistance.