Fighting for the Empire

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The First and Second World Wars were pivotal events in modern global history. Although colonial empires were involuntarily drawn into both global conflicts, most studies of the World Wars have given scant attention to the contributions of colonial societies or the wars’ profound impact on their populations. This pervasive neglect of the significant role played by European colonies on behalf of the Allies is not only historically problematic but also hinders our comprehensive understanding of these wars and their broader impact on humanity. Adopting a global intellectual history lens, this volume examines the influence of African societies and ideas on these two major global conflicts. In doing so, it expands the historiography of both World Wars by offering fundamental new insights. The essays in this collection explore various themes related to both wars and societies within the empire, with a focus on the African experience and its intersection with European empires, colonialism, race, economy, and global conflagrations.

Chima J. Korieh is Professor of African History and Africana Studies at Marquette University and the Institute of African Studies, University of Nigeria.

This anthology evidences the crucial place of Africa in understanding the World Wars, as it adeptly closes the gaps in the historiography of the major global conflicts of the 20th century and explores African agency through the intersection of politics, colonialism, imperial ambitions, and African experience. - Apollos O Nwauwa, Bowling Green State University

This volume provides rare insights into Africans' responses to the two major global wars and their impacts on colonial subjects. The focus on ordinary people, their human and material sacrifices, and the sense of loyalty shared by the colonized and the colonizers is a welcome addition to the WWI and WWI historiographies. - Raphael Chijioke Njoku, Idaho State University