French Troops from Colonies 'Whitewashed'

On August 15, 1944, Allied forces successfully landed in Provence, leading to the liberation of Marseille and Toulon within a month. This operation was part of a broader strategy that included the Normandy landings on June 6. A significant portion of the troops involved, estimated between 50% to 80%, were African soldiers known as tirailleurs, who hailed from North Africa and sub-Saharan Africa. These soldiers were integral to the "B Army," later known as France's "First Army," under General Jean de Lattre de Tassigny. Despite the initial success, the autumn of 1944 saw a notable shift in troop composition. The General Staff began to replace African tirailleurs with resistance fighters from the French Interior Forces (FFI), leading to a "rapid transformation" of the units. Historian Claire Miot highlighted this transition, which reflected a broader trend of diminishing representation of African soldiers in the ranks of the First Army. Following the victories in Provence, the situation for the 15,000 to 20,000 sub-Saharan African tirailleurs became increasingly dire. Ordered to return their uniforms and weapons, these soldiers faced a humiliating withdrawal back to the South. Historians like Pascal Blanchard have criticized this "whitewashing" of military history, emphasizing the need to acknowledge the contributions and sacrifices of colonial soldiers in the French army. As France commemorates the 80th anniversary of the Provence landings, the legacy of African soldiers remains a complex and often overlooked aspect of the nation’s wartime history.