The British Contingency Plan for their West African colonies during the Second World War.

• In Event: Technology and Communication Then and Now

Description for Program

British colonial subjects played a crucial role in the success of the Allied Powers during the Second World War. Some authors argue that the victory of the British and their allies would have been impossible without the involvement of Africans in the war. Additionally, the post and telecommunications network significantly enhanced communication between British administrators in the West African colonies, the metropole, and soldiers on the battlefield.
In both the First and Second World Wars, the British made decisive choices that contributed to their victories. This has led to the perception that the British were strong and tactically superior in times of war. However, this study challenges that idea by revealing the fragility of the British during the Second World War, highlighting their fears of losing both the war and their West African colonies.
In anticipation of defeat, the British developed a plan to manage their colonies and establish contingencies. Central to this secret plan was the intention to destroy all their establishments in the event of defeat. In summary, this research aims to examine the underlying motives of the British during the Second World War era and to expose their vulnerabilities despite the vast empire they controlled. This study contributes to the fields of communication and military history in Africa.

Author

• Michael Larbi, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee