INTRODUCTION:

The two most significant and remarkable wars in history as regard the world at large, the First

and Second world Wars as their names imply were conflicts with violence that affected the

whole world at the time they occurred and whose impact can still be felt in our modern world.

The First World War (1914 - 1918) and the Second World War (1939 - 1945) were caused by

significant factors and left long lasting legacies on the world and particularly on the African

continent. In this discourse, we shall explore the impact of the First and Second World Wars on

Africa and its relationship with the rest of the world.

Africa has had a long and complex relationship with the rest of the world, especially Europe and

the United States. The First World War brought about significant changes in Africa's relationship

with the rest of the world particularly, Europe. During the war, many African colonies were

used as sources of labour, raw materials, and strategic military locations. African soldiers also

fought in the war, with millions serving in European armies. After the war, the European

powers were weakened and many African nationalist movements emerged to demand

independence and self governance.

The second World War also had a significant impact on Africa, with many African countries

becoming battlegrounds for European and African forces. The war led to a further weakening of

European colonial powers which in turn strengthened African nationalist movements.

African countries were also affected by the global economic and political realignment that took

place after the war.

The First World War- "The Great War" as it was known at the time was a cataclysm that tore

the heart out of Europe, destroying a generation of young men and sowing the seeds of further

conflicts. For four years, the combatants fought a war of attrition, unable to break the

stalemate, unwilling to negotiate a peace, but prepared to expend men on an industrial scale. 1

The First World War was a global conflict between two coalitions of the Allies and Central

Powers. This battle took place in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, the Pacific and some parts of

Asia.2

This war is regarded as one of the bloodiest wars in history. The war started on May 28, 1914

and ended on November 11, 1918 with the defeat of the Central Powers.

World War I, also known as the Great War, was a global conflict that lasted from 1914 to 1918.

It began with the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria-Hungary in June 1914,

leading to a chain reaction of alliances and tensions erupting into war. The conflict primarily

involved the Allies, including France, Russia, and later the United States and Britain, against the

Central Powers, primarily Germany, Austria-Hungary, and the Ottoman Empire. Later, the war

also spread to other regions, including the Middle East, Africa, and Asia, as colonial territories

became battlegrounds. In 1917, the United States entered the war on the side of the Allies,

tipping the balance in their favor. The Central Powers began to crumble, and by 1918, a series

1
Ian Cronfton, World History: 50 key milestones you really need to know. (Quercus Publishing PLC, London 2011) 148

2
World war 1, Websites, en.m. Wikipedia.org ( Accessed April, 2024
of offensives broke through the German lines. Facing economic collapse and internal unrest,

Germany sought an armistice, which was signed on November 11, 1918, ending the fighting.

CAUSES OF THE FIRST WORLD WAR.

The reason why war erupted is actually much more complicated than a simple list of causes.

While there was a chain of events that directly led to the fighting, the actual root causes are

much deeper and part of continued debate and discussion. This list is an overview of the most

popular reasons that are cited as the root causes of World War 1.

1. Mutual Defense Alliances

Over time, countries throughout Europe made mutual defense agreements that would pull

them into battle. These treaties meant that if one country was attacked, allied countries were

bound to defend them. Before World War 1, the following alliances existed:

Russia and Serbia

Germany and Austria-Hungary

France and Russia

Britain and France and Belgium

Japan and Britain

Russia mobilizing, declared war on Russia. France was then drawn in against Germany and

Austria-Hungary. Germany attacked France through Belgium pulling Britain into war. Then

Japan entered the war. Later, Italy and the United States would enter on the side of the allies.

2. Imperialism and Colonial Rivalries.

Imperialism is when a country increases their power and wealth by bringing additional

territories under their control. Before World War I, Africa and parts of Asia were points of

contention among the European countries. This was especially true because of the raw

materials these areas could provide. The increasing competition and desire for greater empires

led to an increase in confrontation that helped push the world into WW I. Events outside

Europe contributed to growing tension in the early 1900s. During the scramble for colonies, in

Africa and Asia, European nations reached the brink of war more than once. 3

3. Militarism

As the world entered the 20th century, an arms race had begun. By 1914, Germany had the

greatest increase in military buildup. Great Britain and Germany both greatly increased their

navies in this time period. Further, in Germany and Russia particularly, the military

establishment began to have a greater influence on public policy. This increase in militarism

helped push the countries involved into war.

4. Nationalism
The growth of nationalism in Europe was one cause of the World War 1. Nationalism had

become a powerful force in the Balkan Peninsula. People of the Balkans had become nations in

their own right, and from time time fighting erupted as groups fought for territory.⁴

5. Immediate Cause

Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand The immediate cause of World War I that made the

mentioned items come into play (alliances, imperialism, militarism, nationalism) was the

assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria-Hungary. In June 1914, a Serbian-

nationalist terrorist group called the Black Hand sent groups to assassinate the Archduke. Their

first attempt failed when a driver avoided a grenade thrown at their car. However, later that

day a Serbian nationalist named Gavrilo assassinated him and his wife while they were in

Sarajevo, Bosnia which was part of Austria Hungary. This was in protest to Austria-Hungary

having control of this region. Serbia wanted to take over Bosnia and Herzegovina. This

assassination led to Austria-Hungary declaring war on Serbia. When Russia began to mobilize

due to its alliance with Serbia, Germany declared war on Russia. Thus began the expansion of

the war to include all those involved in the mutual defense alliances.

AFRICANS ROLE IN WORLD WAR 1

Africa was involved in World War I primarily due to its status as colonies of European powers.

European nations such as Britain, France, Germany, and Belgium had established colonies

across the African continent. When war broke out in Europe in 1914, these colonial possessions

became involved as well.

European powers. They fought on multiple fronts, including in Africa, the Middle East, and

Europe. They served as infantrymen, carriers, and laborers, contributing significantly to the war

effort despite facing discrimination and unequal treatment. Some also served in auxiliary roles,

such as scouts and interpreters. They were often deployed to defend colonial territories,

engage in battles against enemy forces, or support allied campaigns.

For instance, Britain relied heavily on Africans for labour on the Western Front and during the

Egypt and Palestine campaign. Their role was to carry supplies and ammunition, construct

camps and dig trenches. The campaigns in Africa could not have been fought without the

contribution of Africans on both sides. 5 Also, African troops played a vital role fighting for the

French on the Western Front because French troops suffered very heavy casualties in the early

war 6

3
Burton F. Beers, world History: Pattern of civilization, world war 1( Pentrice Hall, New Jersey 1990, 624

4
Sol Holt and John R, Exploring World History: The world at war (Globe book company O’connor,1990) 517

5
Africans played key, Often unheralded role, website https: //apnew.com (accessed December, 2018)

6
Alan Wakefield, Head of first world war and early 20th century conflicts at the imperial museum London

THE SECOND WORLD WAR (1939 – 1945)

The Second World War was a global conflict that occurred between 1939 and 1945. It was a

povital moment in world history. It involved most of the nations of the world the war was
triggered by Nazi Germany invasion of Poland in 1939 and subsequent declarations of war by

other major powers. It was fought between the allies led by the U.S.A, the Soviet Union and the

United Kingdom, among others and the axis powers, Primarily Germany, Japan and Italy. This

war resulted to the loss of life, destruction, geographical changes and the rise of the U.S and

Soviet Union.

In the early years of the War, Germany was on the winning side including the conquest of

Denmark, Norway and Belgium, the Netherland and France in 1940. The war was in many

respect the continuation after an uneasy 20 years hiatus of the disputes left unsettled by World

War 1. The 40,000,000 – 50,000,000 death incurred in World War 2 made it the bloodiest

conflict as well as the largest war in history.7

Some of the major events that took place during the war include the battle of Stalingrad, the D

– day invasion, the holocaust the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki and the

surrender of japan in 1945. The war ended with the unconditional surrender of the axis

powers, Marking the beginning of a new era in global politics and the founding of international

organization like the united nations to prevent such a conflict from happening again.

CAUSES OF THE SECOND WORLD WAR

1. Invasion of Poland by Nazi Germany: The Germany invasion of Poland marked the beginning

of the second world war. The war began with Nazi Germany invasion of Poland on September 1,

1939, following a non aggression pact between Germany and the soviet union. 8

27
World War ii: Facts, Summary History dates, combatants. Website https//www.britanica.com (accessed April, 2024)
2.Treaty of Versailles: following World War 1, the victorious Allied Powers met to decide

Germany’s future. Germany was forced to sign the Treaty 0f Versailles. Under this treaty,

Germany had to accept guilt for the First World War and to pay reparations. Germany lost

territories and was prohibited from having a large military. The humiliation caused by this

treaty paved way for the spread of ultra-Nationalism in Germany.

3. Failure of the League of Nations: The League of Nations was set up in 1919 to keep world

peace. It was intended that all countries would be members and that if there were disputes

between countries, they could be settled by negotiations rather than force. The League of

Nations failed as not all countries joined the league. Also the league had no army to prevent

military aggression such as Italy’s invasion of Ethopia of Africa or Japan’s in China.

4. Rise of Nazism: Adolf Hitler, the leader of the German national socialist (Nazi) party,

preached a racist brand of facism. Hitler promised to overturn the Versailles treaty restore

German wealth and glory and secure additional living space for German people, who he

condemned deserve more as members of the superior race. In 1933 Hitler became the German

Chancellor (Prime minister) and In a series of subsequent moves established himself as dictator

moreover in 1941 the Nazi regime unleashed a war of extermination against slavs , Jews and

other elements demand inferior by Hitler’s ideology.

5. Great Depression 1929: The World Wide economic depression of the 1930’s took it boil in

different ways in Europe and Asia. In Europe political power shifted to totalitarian and

imperialist governments in several countries, including Germany, Italy and Spain. In Asia, a

8 ,
Keegan .J The second world war: History of warfare (Penguin, 1989).
resource starved Japan began to expand aggressively invading China and maneuvering to

control a sphere of influence in the pacific. Other causes of the Second World War include

facism, Japanese expansion, failure of policy of appeasement etc.

The role of Africans in World War II was multifaceted and varied depending on the region and

the colonial power they were under. Here are some key aspects to consider:

THE ROLE OF AFRICANS IN THE SECOND WORLD WAR

1. Military Service: Many Africans served as soldiers in various capacities. They fought alongside

colonial powers like Britain, France, and Belgium. For example, the British Colonial Army

recruited soldiers from different African colonies to fight against the Axis powers in North

Africa, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia. These soldiers played crucial roles in battles like the

North African Campaign and the Burma Campaign.

2. Labor: Besides military service, Africans were also heavily involved in labor efforts. They

worked in factories, mines, and agricultural fields to support the war effort. In some cases, they

were conscripted or forced into labor by colonial authorities.

resistance movements against Axis occupation. In North Africa and Ethiopia, for instance, local

resistance fighters played significant roles in resisting Italian and German forces.

THE IMPACT OF THE FIRST WORLD WAR ON AFRICA

Economic Effects

As a result of the war, trade between Africa and Europe was disrupted. This was because many

countries in Africa traded with Germany, especially in the previous 2-3 decades. As a result of

the war, the cost of goods and services was higher than the income of the people. The cost of

living was so high and not affordable.

The war also had a negative effect on trade. There was an economic depression at the end of

the war. Prices of commodities fell, poverty increased. Trade with many counties stopped,

especially with Germany, the leading trade partner. There was also unemployment.

Unemployment also seriously affected thousands of demobilized world war one veterans who

returned home. Transport and work on ports disappeared and this created unemployment.

Political Effects

According to propaganda of the allied powers, the First World War was fought for democracy. It

was against militarism and dictatorship. As a result, there was much discussion about human

rights, especially civil and political rights. Many Africans who had acquired western education

began to demand for greater participation in governance and decision making. Educated
Africans started news papers critical of colonial policies. The criticism was only tolerated in

British colonies because of the British tradition of free speech. However, the demands of

educated Africans could not be accepted because they were a minority. Secondly, influence of

racism was still very strong.

Social Effects

The First World War caused loss of lives for Africans. The thousands of Africans lost life during

World War I both as combatants and labourers. More than two millions Africans died during

the war. Some died as a result of the war and others in combat while fighting on the side of

their colonial masters. In Eastern Africa 100,000 died while from French North and West Africa

65,000 died. The influenza epidemic affected large areas of Africa where about 2% of the

African population died as a result of disease. There was easy spread of disease because of

movements during the war and the forced migrations encouraged by colonial powers after the

war.9

9 The impact of world war I on Africa https: //blackeconomics.co.uk (accessed April, 2017)

THE IMPACT OF THE SECOND WORLD WAR ON AFRICA

The Second World War raised political awareness to African people. This was caused by the

anti-racist nature of the war. Hitler wanted the world to exist with a ‘master race’ of people.

The most famous group of people Hitler targeted were the Jews. Millions of Jews were sent to
concentration and death camps, simply for being who they were. Hitler was a mad man and his

ideas were ludicrous, but something about the nature of WWII caught Africa’s eye. They saw

how persistently Allied countries fought to defeat Germany and its racist regime’s. Europe

fought a dictator, and freed thousands of Jews from camps, yet their colonial rule in Africa still

existed. Millions of African people weren’t free themselves, and continually trapped under the

rule of colonial powers. Another cause of political awareness after The Second World War was

the promise by the United States’ President Roosevelt and Britain’s Prime Minister Winston

Churchill’s Atlantic Charter. This charter stated that after the Allied powers won the war they

would “respect the right of all peoples to choose the form of government under which they will

live.

The Second World War imposed psychological changes that aided in the decolonization of

Africa. This war changed and shaped the way Africans viewed Europeans. “The Africans noticed

that, in war, the white man bled, cried, was scared, and, when shot, died just like anyone else….

It dawned on the Africans that beneath the skin, there was no difference between him and the

European. For centuries, the idea of white superiority had existed in the minds of Africans.

People thought that Europeans were insurmountable and unable to be defeated.

Africans had plenty of experience being defeated, degraded, and minimalized to nothing by

whites; it is only natural that one’s mind would begin to think whites were superior, and this

notion is exactly what Europeans wanted. After WWII, this white superiority mindset was

threatened and Africans began to develop genuine hope that freedom was not a fantasy. There
is always hope when the possibility of the want is obtainable. For the first time in centuries,

Africans saw that independence from European countries was possible.10

Also, the Second World War led to the rise o Nationalism in Africa. This led to the achievement

of self determination of African colonies in few years.

The Second World War economically affected Africa in many ways. During the war the needs of

European powers led to economic expansion in Africa. This led to expansion of growth of cash

crops and small scales industry. There was also expansion in mining because of the need for

different minerals by the European powers.

In addition, more jobs were created as a result of the war especially in French West Africa. This

led to large migration of people to cities and later to unemployment.

Again, the post war period marked increase in exploitation of Africa by the colonial powers.

There was increased dependence of Africa on the western world. This was because of emphasis

on the production of cash crops. Cash crops were exported at low price compared to import

while industrialization was discouraged.

The Second World War also increased destruction of African culture as a result of colonial

education.

The impact of World War I and World War II on Africa highlight the significant social, economic,

and political changes experienced by the continent. It emphasize the role of African soldiers in

the wars, the exploitation of resources, the emergence of nationalist movements, and the
eventual path towards independence for many African nations. Overall, these wars profoundly

shaped Africa's trajectory in the 20th century and beyond.

10 Myrice, Erin, the impact of the second world war on the decolonization of Africa Africana studies student research conference, 2015)
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