Africa in the Second World War

Africa in Focus

Not only in Europe or Asia did the opposing troops face each other in this world war, Africa was also one of the major theaters during the Second World War. Decisive battles took place in the north of the continent.

The Power of the Colonial Powers

The African states had always been the target of arbitrary power exertion by European states. With the beginning of the Second World War, there were colonies of various states across the entire continent. Opinions on the Second World War were therefore very different. It was not the states themselves, but rather their colonial rulers who decided on their role during the war at that time. South Africa was under British leadership at that time, and there was a great debate in the country about participation in the war. Ultimately, the British majority in the country prevailed. South Africa was one of the first and few countries in Africa to interfere in the war. Against the will of the population, the country supported the Allied troops.

War on African Soil

It was only a matter of time before the war would spread to African soil. The war opponents had colonies and ready troops stationed all over the continent. Several years before the first German troops set foot on African soil, the allied troops of Italy were already involved in bitter fighting in North Africa. The troops in Italy's colonies at that time, Eritrea or Libya, were among them and attacked British colonies for the first time in 1940. The African population was powerless in the face of the numerically far superior troops of the colonial powers. Although Africa turned out to be one of the main theaters of the Second World War, African troops never voluntarily interfered in the war.

The Climax of the War

Italy celebrated only moderate successes in the fight against the British troops in North Africa and had to accept setbacks time and again. In February 1941, German General Rommel took command of the Africa Corps. The Libyan desert oasis of Bir Hakeim (Battle of Bir Hakeim) and the Egyptian town of El Alamein developed into the largest war theaters. Two decisive battles took place in El Alamein. The German and Italian troops were finally defeated in the coastal town, among others by troops from South Africa. Today, monuments and war graves bear witness to the conflicts between the states.

The End in 1943

The largest conflicts between the war opponents took place in North Africa, while in large parts of the continent no enemy troops faced each other. Most states acted primarily as suppliers of resources. The last battles of the Second World War on the African continent took place in 1943. In Tunisia, the Allied troops captured the last strongholds of the Axis powers. In May 1943, the remaining troops surrendered, and no more conflicts took place in Africa afterwards.