Tirailleurs: Trials and Tribulations

On August 15, 2024, French President Emmanuel Macron invited the world to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the Allied landing in Provence that followed the Normandy invasion and was pivotal to liberating France and Europe from Nazi Germany. The ceremony highlighted an often-overlooked truth: the majority of the 250,000 troops in the so-called B Army were African soldiers who, according to Le Monde, ‘came from the colonies’. These young Tirailleurs, hailing from Algeria, Cameroon, Senegal, and beyond, played a decisive role not only in the liberation of France but also in reshaping Europe’s future and its institutions. Yet, their contributions have been systematically marginalized. While commemorative gestures, such as inviting African leaders to anniversary events, attempt to recognize their sacrifice, this history remains politically co-opted, under-researched, and unknown to many people, especially in Germany today.

In 2026, HKW seeks to address this gap with a wide-ranging programme that considers the role of the Tirailleurs in liberating France from Nazi Germany, how their efforts contributed to the liberation of Germany itself, and their impact on securing peace in Europe post-1945.