The other D-Day: France's forgotten colonial troops and the Provence landings

France in focus

It's one of the untold stories of World War II: how France whitewashed its colonial troops during the liberation from Nazi rule. On August 15, 1944, experienced fighters who came from all corners of the French empire landed in southern France and won key battles to liberate the nation. But because of the colour of their skin, up to 20,000 African riflemen were replaced by untrained, White members of the Resistance. As the country celebrates 80 years since the end of the Nazi occupation, FRANCE 24 pays tribute to these long-forgotten soldiers and highlights their key role in the Provence landings.

In 1944, France was keen to take part in its own liberation, along with its British and American allies. But in a bid to create the Second Armoured Division, General Leclerc needed resources and equipment from the US. At the time, segregation was imposed by the US Army; Black and White soldiers didn't fight together. For the US, allowing Black troops to liberate Paris was out of the question. On August 25, 1944, when French soldiers paraded down the Champs-Élysées, not a single Black soldier took part in the celebrations.

Colonial troops suffered further humiliation despite the success of the Provence landings. In September 1944, the military command decided to pull up to 20,000 African riflemen out of the French army. The aim was to "whiten" the ranks. These highly trained soldiers were forced to spend winter in transit camps while white, inexperienced members of the Resistance took their place on the frontlines.

FRANCE 24's Aurore Cloé Dupuis, Florence Gaillard and Jonathan Walsh tell us more about the other D-Day, in this new episode of "France in Focus".