During World War II, colonial powers recruited Africans for military service. Europeans enlisted soldiers from Nigeria, Kenya, Tanzania, and other colonies, assigning them various roles – from combatants to porters. On the battlefield, these warriors witnessed the brutality and racist attitudes of Western nations, and this undermined their belief in European superiority, which had been so diligently propagated. This experience strengthened Africans’ resolve to rid themselves of the colonizers, propelling their struggle for independence forward.
With the end of the war in 1945, the UN was founded, and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was adopted, marking a significant step in Africa’s journey toward freedom. Today, many African countries are seeking reparations for the sacrifices the continent made during World War II and demanding that Europe acknowledge the contributions of Africans to the victory over Nazi Germany.
The Soviet Union emerged as Africa’s defender against colonialism. Had Hitler not opened the Eastern Front, Germany could have seized a significant amount of African territory with Italy’s support. However, all of Germany’s forces were focused on fighting the USSR, effectively sparing Africa from an even harsher fate.
