The forgotten role of Africans fighting in the Second World War | DW News

Key Concepts

• African soldiers in World War II
• Colonial troops
• British Empire
• Burma campaign
• Forgotten army
• Post-colonial Africa
• Isaac Farbo
• Native Military Corps
• King's African Rifles
• Racial segregation in the military

Africa in 1945: Colonial Context

• In 1945, nearly all of Africa was colonized by Britain, France, Portugal, Spain, and Belgium.
• Only Egypt, Ethiopia, and Liberia were nominally independent.
• Over a million Africans served as combatants, laborers, and carriers in World War II for European powers.
• Examples include Seneagalese soldiers in French colonial forces and the 11th East Africa Infantry Division (Kenya, Uganda, Malawi, Tanzania, Zimbabwe) in the British Army.

Experiences of African Veterans

• South Africa: 80,000 recruits in the Native Military Corps served in non-combat roles in North Africa.
  • Alias Suamote, a 101-year-old veteran, recalls unequal treatment (food rations) compared to white soldiers.
• Kenya: A major recruiting ground for the British Army.
  • Muindi Mudumbi Kowali, a 111-year-old veteran, served as a driver in the King's African Rifles in Burma.
  • Kenyan soldiers often lacked English skills and knowledge about the war.
  • Despite serving, veterans received little recognition, though Mumbi received a medal and a small grant after lobbying.

Barnaby Phillips on African Soldiers in WWII

• Barnaby Phillips, author of "Another Man's War: The Story of a Burma Boy in Britain's Forgotten African Army," discusses the experiences of African soldiers.
• He focused on the human element: why Africans fought for the British Empire.

The Story of Isaac Farbo

• Isaac Farbo, a Nigerian man, signed up for the British Army in the early 1940s without fully understanding what he was getting into.
• His unit was ambushed in Burma, and he spent nine months behind Japanese lines with another injured soldier, surviving with the help of local villagers.
• He returned to Nigeria and lived a quiet life as a civil servant.

Motivations for Enlistment

• Some Africans believed British propaganda that Hitler posed a greater threat than the British Empire.
• Some were compelled through conscription, sometimes facilitated by local rulers (Emirs) in British colonies.
• Many, like Isaac Farbo, volunteered because joining the British Army was the best available opportunity.

Racial Hierarchy in the Military

• The British Empire's army was structured along racial lines.
• While theoretically, black African soldiers could achieve officer status, it rarely happened.
• They were paid less than white British soldiers.

Experiences in Burma

• The war in Burma was an intimate jungle war where small units relied on each other.
• British officers who learned languages like Swahili or Hausa fared better.
• Black African soldiers realized that white British soldiers were just as human, with their own fears and weaknesses.

Post-War Experiences

• Most veterans returned to rural areas with some money and increased prestige.
• Their experiences were often quickly forgotten or irrelevant in post-colonial societies.
• Newly independent African nations focused on forging national unity, and veterans who fought for the British Empire didn't fit neatly into this narrative.

Overlooked Contributions

• African contributions are overlooked because they don't fit into the British narrative of standing alone against Nazism or the post-colonial African narrative of fighting against colonial oppressors.
• The war in Burma was a messy affair where the British Empire was trying to retain its status and conscripted soldiers from Africa, which is not a comfortable narrative for either side.

Synthesis/Conclusion

The experiences of African soldiers in World War II are complex and often overlooked. They fought for a colonial power for various reasons, including belief in the cause, conscription, and economic opportunity. Despite their service, they faced racial discrimination and were largely forgotten after the war, as their contributions didn't align with either British or post-colonial African narratives. The story of Isaac Farbo and the accounts of other veterans highlight the human cost and the lasting impact of this forgotten chapter of history.