The World's War: Forgotten Soldiers of Empire

The World's War examines the often-overlooked contributions of colonial troops who fought for European powers during World War I. British historian David Olusoga documents the experiences of soldiers from Africa, India, China, and other regions who served across multiple fronts and theaters of war. Through primary sources and military records, Olusoga reconstructs the recruitment, deployment, and treatment of these colonial forces by their European commanders. The book covers specific campaigns and battles while also addressing the broader social and political contexts that shaped these soldiers' service. The narrative traces how racial attitudes and imperial policies influenced military decisions about colonial troops, from their initial recruitment to their roles in combat and support operations. Olusoga explores the different experiences of various colonial contingents, including African troops in the European trenches, Chinese laborers on the Western Front, and Indian forces in multiple theaters. This account challenges conventional Western-centric narratives of WWI by demonstrating the global nature of the conflict and examining the complex intersections of race, empire, and warfare. The book raises questions about historical memory and recognition while documenting a crucial but understudied aspect of military history.

Readers appreciate Olusoga's focus on overlooked colonial soldiers and laborers who served in WWI, with many noting the book fills gaps in traditional Western-centric war histories. Multiple reviews mention the value of learning about Indian, African, and Chinese contributions to the war effort. Readers highlight the detailed research and inclusion of personal accounts and photographs. One reader on Goodreads noted: "The individual stories bring humanity to the statistics." Common criticisms include: - Dense academic writing style that can be difficult to follow - Too much focus on British Empire vs other colonial forces - Limited coverage of some regions/armies - Lack of maps to help track troop movements Ratings: Goodreads: 4.17/5 (483 ratings) Amazon UK: 4.6/5 (169 ratings) Amazon US: 4.5/5 (76 ratings) Several readers mentioned using the book as a reference for academic work or research, though some found it less suitable for casual reading.

War Without Mercy by John W. Dower This examination of racial attitudes in the Pacific War reveals how racial prejudices shaped military policy and battlefield conduct between Japanese and Allied forces.

Sepoys in the Trenches by George Morton-Jack The book traces the experiences of 150,000 Indian troops who fought on the Western Front during World War I, documenting their battles, cultural challenges, and contributions.

Race and War in France by Richard S. Fogarty This study explores how colonial troops from Africa and Asia served in the French military during World War I while navigating complex racial hierarchies and discrimination.

Fighting for Britain by Wendy Webster The text documents the contributions of African, Caribbean, and South Asian servicemen and women who served in the British armed forces during World War II.

An Army at Dawn by Rick Atkinson This military history follows the multinational Allied force in North Africa during World War II, including the roles of colonial troops and their interactions with American and British commanders.

🌟 Over 4 million non-white men were mobilized to serve the European and American armies during World War I, coming from colonies across Africa, Asia, and the Caribbean. 🌟 Author David Olusoga is a British-Nigerian historian who experienced racism growing up in Britain, which helped fuel his passion for uncovering forgotten histories and challenging conventional narratives. 🌟 German propaganda during WWI specifically targeted colonial troops, attempting to create fear and racial panic about their presence in Europe, particularly regarding African soldiers stationed in the Rhineland. 🌟 Indian soldiers who fought for Britain sent over a million letters home during the war, but these were heavily censored to prevent negative accounts of the Western Front from reaching India. 🌟 The French Army employed West African troops known as "Tirailleurs Sénégalais" in some of the war's bloodiest battles, including Verdun, where they suffered casualty rates significantly higher than their European counterparts.