Paris liberation made 'whites only'

Papers unearthed by the BBC reveal that British and American commanders ensured that the liberation of Paris on 25 August 1944 was seen as a "whites only" victory. 

Many who fought Nazi Germany during World War II did so to defeat the vicious racism that left millions of Jews dead. 

Yet the BBC's Document programme has seen evidence that black colonial soldiers - who made up around two-thirds of Free French forces - were deliberately removed from the unit that led the Allied advance into the French capital. 

By the time France fell in June 1940, 17,000 of its black, mainly West African colonial troops, known as the Tirailleurs Senegalais, lay dead. 

Many of them were simply shot where they stood soon after surrendering to German troops who often regarded them as sub-human savages. 

Their chance for revenge came in August 1944 as Allied troops prepared to retake Paris. But despite their overwhelming numbers, they were not to get it. 

'More desirable' 

The leader of the Free French forces, Charles de Gaulle, made it clear that he wanted his Frenchmen to lead the liberation of Paris.

Allied High Command agreed, but only on one condition: De Gaulle's division must not contain any black soldiers. 

In January 1944 Eisenhower's Chief of Staff, Major General Walter Bedell Smith, was to write in a memo stamped, "confidential": "It is more desirable that the division mentioned above consist of white personnel. 

"This would indicate the Second Armoured Division, which with only one fourth native personnel, is the only French division operationally available that could be made one hundred percent white." 

At the time America segregated its own troops along racial lines and did not allow black GIs to fight alongside their white comrades until the late stages of the war.

Morocco division 

Given the fact that Britain did not segregate its forces and had a large and valued Indian army, one might have expected London to object to such a racist policy. 

Yet this does not appear to have been the case. A document written by the British General, Frederick Morgan, to Allied Supreme Command stated: "It is unfortunate that the only French formation that is 100% white is an armoured division in Morocco. 

"Every other French division is only about 40% white. I have told Colonel de Chevene that his chances of getting what he wants will be vastly improved if he can produce a white infantry division." 

Finding an all-white division that was available proved to be impossible due to the enormous contribution made to the French Army by West African conscripts. 

So, Allied Command insisted that all black soldiers be taken out and replaced by white ones from other units. 

When it became clear that there were not enough white soldiers to fill the gaps, soldiers from parts of North Africa and the Middle East were used instead. 

Pensions cut 

In the end, nearly everyone was happy. De Gaulle got his wish to have a French division lead the liberation of Paris, even though the shortage of white troops meant that many of his men were actually Spanish.

The British and Americans got their "Whites Only" Liberation even though many of the troops involved were North African or Syrian. 

For France's West African Tirailleurs Senegalais, however, there was little to celebrate. 

Despite forming 65% of Free French Forces and dying in large numbers for France, they were to have no heroes' welcome in Paris. 

After the liberation of the French capital many were simply stripped of their uniforms and sent home. To make matters even worse, in 1959 their pensions were frozen. 

Former French colonial soldier, Issa Cisse from Senegal, who is now 87 years-old, looks back on it all with sadness and evident resentment.  continues here


So there you have it, apparently non-whites mostly fought for France and again we have the sentence, “Many who fought Nazi Germany during World War II did so to defeat the vicious racism that left millions of Jews dead”, poppycock, many who fought Germany in the war did so because to do otherwise meant the firing squad, further, for many others a climate of anti-German feeling had been ratcheted up by, who else but the owned press. Aren’t you sick of it yet, the relentless use of history to aid current evil, the use of propaganda to again fool the people, for Frenchmen everywhere this will hurt, it will cut and I mean real Frenchmen, not imported peoples, given a passport and set loose to culturally and genetically change France, no-one fought for that, no soldier ever did, be they of whatever side and don’t let them lie you into believing it.

Violence on Paris streets as millions protest against Nicolas Sarkozy's handling of economic crisis

Violent skirmishes broke out in Paris last night after a day in which millions took to the streets as part of a nationwide protest over the government's handling of the economic crisis.



Schools, courts, post offices, universities and hospitals were closed, with public transport severely disrupted, as up to 200 marches were organised against President Nicolas Sarkozy's approach to the global downturn.

The biggest protests were in Paris, where police said up to 85,000 people took five hours to walk from Place de la République to Place de la Nation. As the light faded, hundreds of riot police were sent to the area where anarchist groups waving revolutionary flags were among those massing. Riot police fired rounds of tear gas after demonstrators lit fires and smashed shop windows. Fighting broke out on all corners of the square, with police moving in to try to arrest ring leaders.

Chants of "Sarkozy resign" were heard as what appeared to be well organised gangs went on the rampage in surrounding streets, targeting banks and other symbols of capitalism.A riot police spokesman said: "There are a number of people who seem

”As the light faded, hundreds of riot police were sent to the area where anarchist groups waving revolutionary flags were among those massing.”

determined to cause trouble. We are doing everything we can to maintain order."

There were more than 300 arrests in Paris alone, according to police. Ten officers were seriously injured by a variety of missiles, including bottles, metal bars and bricks.

Earlier, unions said that the number of protesters nationwide had approached three million. Police put the estimate at greater than the two million who took part in similar demonstrations at the end of January.

The latest strike won support across the country, with three quarters of those questioned in polls saying they feared for their futures.

Mr Sarkozy unveiled a package of proposals, including tax breaks and social benefits, after January's strike, but protesters said the £2.3 billion deal was not enough. The president said on Wednesday he understood "the concerns of the French people" but ruled out plans for further measures.

He rejected mounting calls by unions and the opposition to suspend a 50 per cent cap on income tax, arguing that it would drive wealthy taxpayers abroad.

The CGT (confederation of labour) led the Paris demonstration behind a banner that read: "United against the crisis, defend employment, spending power and public services". continues here