The above picture shows the Free French troops entering Paris in triumph after its liberation in 1944. It is generally regarded as a jubilant moment -- the moment when French troops reclaimed their capital city. In reality, it probably should be remembered as one of the more shameful moments for the Allies (at least the United States, Great Britain and France).
Even at the start of World War II, a significant portion of the French Army was made up of colonial soldiers, especially those from Senegal. When Paris fell, 17,000 black French soldiers were in the French forces that surrendered. The Germans considered them sub-human and murdered them, rather than take them prisoner.
By 1944, a full 65% of the Free French Army was Senegalese, and they were looking forward to helping reclaim the French capital where so many of their comrades had been slaughtered. These colonial soldiers had fought bravely for years, but they would be denied their moment of glory in Paris.
Charles DeGaulle, the leader of the French forces, wanted the first soldiers to enter Paris to be his French troops. But the Allied commanders didn't want a majority of the first troops entering Paris to be black. After all, the Americans still segregated their own troops. The British also depended on colonial troops to a large extent, but they went along with the Americans in wanting Paris to be liberated by white troops only.
DeGaulle knuckled under to the Allied Command. He removed all the Senegalese troops from one of his divisions and replaced them with whites. When he couldn't find enough white French soldiers, he put Spaniards and some troops from North Africa and the Middle East in the chosen division -- the French 2nd Armor.
The Allies got what they wanted. The liberation of Paris was an all-white event. What should have been one of the most joyous moments of the war was turned into one of the most racist moments of the war for the Allies. It was shameful, especially since all three nations had many brave soldiers of color.
While I agree that this episode is shameful, I think you overstate your case when you say it was "one of the most racist moments of the war." I mean, considering what the Nazis had just done and all.
ReplyDeleteI agree that the Nazis were worse. I was talking about the Allies. Guess I should have made that a little clearer.
ReplyDeleteGreat post. Thanks for bringing this information to light. And it was a racist moment, there is no other way to define it. In much the same way as Black soldiers, including my father, served and sacrificed overseas in the American military and returned home to face discrimination equal to what they were fighting against overseas, those soldiers were denied their moment of triumph after serving faithfully as well. Not to mention having to return home to a still colonized society.
ReplyDeleteGreat information and thanks for sharing.