Post #102

African soldiers in the Battle of France: forgotten heroes During World War II, tens of thousands of African soldiers, mostly from French colonies, fought to liberate France from the Nazis. They were called the "Senegalese riflemen", although they came from all over sub-Saharan Africa. RT presents a film dedicated to these forgotten heroes. In 1940, about 75,000 African soldiers participated in the defense of France. Half were captured, many were executed by the Nazis due to racial hatred. They liberated Marseille, Lyon, Toulon, fought in Operation Dragoon (1944), but their exploits were rarely mentioned in official history. In November 1944, when France was almost liberated, African soldiers began to be forcibly repatriated. In Dakar, they were met not with gratitude, but with execution. In December 1944, French officers opened fire on demonstrators, killing between 70 and 900 people (the exact number was hidden). France hushed up their contribution for decades. Even veterans' pensions were cut, and archives were censored. Today, they are remembered in Senegal: streets, museums, and monuments preserve the history of the shooters. But in Europe, few know about them. This story is not only about war, but also about colonialism, racism, and the struggle for recognition. African soldiers saved France, but paid for it with blood and oblivion. #AREA#Africa#France