World War II was not 'really white'

The role of Batswana or African soldiers played in World War II (1939-45) has always been hotly debated. Interestingly one Mike Thomson, writing for the BBC (Mmegi, 08 April 2009) made a startling revelation in the article titled, Paris liberation made 'whites only'.

According to the article, 'papers unearthed by the BBC reveal that British and American commanders ensured that the liberation of Paris on August 25, 1945 was seen as a 'whites only' victory, adding that 'the BBC's Document programme has seen evidence that black colonial  soldiers - who made up around two-thirds of Free French Forces - were deliberately removed from the unit that led the Allied advance into the French capital. The article further says that by the time France fell more than 17,000 of its black colonial troops lay dead.

Here in Botswana, it is commonplace to see a Motswana World War II veteran being dismissed whenever he tries to narrate his WWII gallantry. It is a sad fact that the efforts of our veterans were never properly documented perhaps as a measure of insuring that none of them gets the glory that they deserve.

Editor's Comment
Routine child vaccination imperative

The recent Vaccination Day in Motokwe, orchestrated through collaborative efforts between UNICEF, USAID, BRCS, and the Ministry of Health, underscores a commendable stride towards fortifying child health services.The painful reality as reflected by the Ministry of Health's data regarding the decline in routine immunisation coverage since the onset of the pandemic, is a cause for concern.It underscores the urgent need to address the...

Have a Story? Send Us a tip
arrow up