Free French and Africans in Douala, 1940-1941

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Periodical article

Title:	Free French and Africans in Douala, 1940-1941
Author:	Derrick, Jonathan
Year:	1980
Periodical:	Journal of the Historical Society of Nigeria
Volume:	10
Issue:	2
Period:	June
Pages:	53-70
Language:	English
Geographic terms:	Cameroon France
Subjects:	colonialism World War II History and Exploration Ethnic and Race Relations Peoples of Africa (Ethnic Groups)
Abstract:	The war years saw a great increase in the normal impositions of French colonial rule, no less in the areas occupied at an early stage by those ultimately fighting for freedom. Although they were not consulted, the views of Africans were regarded in at least some areas as a factor to be considered. The confrontation between Africans and the Free French in French Cameroun suggests that the latter were keenly aware of the effect of their greater impositions on Africans, which they were enforcing from a position much weakened by France's defeat and division; and that this affected their attitude to real or supposed African dissidence. Aware of their precarious position and of justifiably multiplied African resentment, they acted from fear of the consequences. This provoked, amongst others, a particularly severe purge of allegedly 'pro German' Dualas of the older generation in 1940-41. Notes, ref.