When thinking of World War One, the pictures that often come to mind are trenches, stagnant warfare and other items that are associated with the Western Front. When one thinks of War in Africa, items that generally come to mind are old tribal wars, or General Rommel's Afrika Corps, General Montgomery and the Battle of El Alamein. However war in Africa can be thoroughly included in the history of World War One. War in Africa occurred almost simultaneously as war in Europe did. War in Africa first broke out in early August 1914 with all the German colonies being attacked by the Allies, the colony of Togoland for instance was quickly overrun by August 26th. While this German colony submitted early to Allied pressure, other colonies held out much longer, like German South-East Africa holding out until the war ended four years later. Africa's contribution to the war was not limited to only the German colonies. Also just as important were the troops from African nations that fought with the Allies not only in Africa but also in Europe along the Western Front. Regiments from Algeria were the most common in Europe, but also regiments from Morocco, Senegal and others were found in smaller degrees. .
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While Algerians were he most heavily represented areas of Africa to see action in France, other nations mainly French Black Africa nations like Morocco and Senegal sent to France over 150,000 themselves . These regiments were almost always not volunteers but were in fact draftees, forced into service by the French Army. The reason the French Army was so desperate to have these men fighting was due to the massive casualties that they were taking all over the Western Front not to mention as a result of battles like Verdun. .
The idea of conscription was not popular at all in the French colonies. In fact the French had to try and bribe the Africans to come and fight in the army. In Senegal for instance the French were offering French citizenship to all the originaires .