Could European Colonies Make A Break For Independence During World War I And/Or WWII?

Lusitania

Donor
The thing is we cannot infer what happen in the 1950-1970 could or would happen during either war. As many have stated the colonial wars and struggles had the backing of the US snd Soviet Union. Neither cared or could do anything till the 1950s. The same type of players educated, trained and even experienced fighters did not exist till after WW2.

Yes the colonies might of revolted but all pretty much would of collapsed or resulted in anarchy and much lower development.
 
The thing is we cannot infer what happen in the 1950-1970 could or would happen during either war. As many have stated the colonial wars and struggles had the backing of the US snd Soviet Union. Neither cared or could do anything till the 1950s. The same type of players educated, trained and even experienced fighters did not exist till after WW2.

Yes the colonies might of revolted but all pretty much would of collapsed or resulted in anarchy and much lower development.
Why would they have to be less developed. Dont they have their own economies and governments to make their own industries.
 

Lusitania

Donor
Why would they have to be less developed. Dont they have their own economies and governments to make their own industries.
If we talking about Africa, yes pre-industrial and not able to hold the vast European colonies. For most had 5-20 tribes in it and none would accept dominance by other. Plus there was no bob European governments other than traditional ones.
 
Both wars pushed the colonies towards independence but WW2 forced the colonial powers into quite serious commitments for self-governance.

It’s worth pointing out that at least for Africa the colonial period was only half a century.

It was only in the interwar period that a significant minority of Africans were coming of age with a western missionary education.

It was these people who pushed for commitments towards self-governance as the price of colonial loyalty & sacrifice in WW2, and it was also these people who led the successful nationalism movements.

That’s not to say non-western educated elites hadn’t been involved or even leading struggles for independence. But missionary education allowed Africans to better manipulate and engage with colonial government. Because Europeans were so dismissive of the demands of non-educated blacks. those earlier movements were unable to negotiate successfully.

Education generally helps, certainly in political movements. Uneducated people are definitely easier to push around.
 

raharris1973

Gone Fishin'
Donor
Monthly Donor
The First Indochinese War started because of France trying to reestablish control over a colony they lost during the war to Japan.

This gives me an idea to make the OP work. The OP has given us license to change WWI considerably.

So in this alternate WWI, because pre-war PoDs, the Japanese fight on Germany's side. This requires Britain to be initially neutral, perhaps no Anglo-Japanese alliance, but a German Japanese alliance instead. Japan mucks with Russian and French concessions in China and Indochina at a minimum. Britain ends up getting in on the Entente side later, but perhaps loses some colonies for short-term against Japan. Japan gets rolled back, and has to peace out and give up conquests, but British, and especially French, are unable to stabilize reclaimed colonies and the independence movements get contagious. This snowballs over the interwar years.

For various reasons Germany is up for a second round in some decades (whether or not Japan chooses to engage in a second round or not). By this point Asia and some of Africa is already decolonized.
 
So couldnt someone similar sponsor Algeria while France is trashed from biochem warfare and in no condition to fight another war?
Sure, if that someone similar existed and was willing. Any of their neighbors could do what Egypt did OTL and serve as a conduit for foreign arms, because none of them have domestic arms industries of their own. The issue is where those neighbors get those arms cheap enough that they can afford to give them away. Not many countries have domestics arms industries with the kind of production to not only equip themselves and have some for export and the ability to export enough that some are available to give away. You have to pick a time and come up with a reason why 1) this country wants France out of Algeria enough to lose money on it 2)They don't want Algeria themselves 3) They can't get France out another way faster
 
Top