The Impact of WW II on African Nationalism and Decolonization

Who was the true victor that emerged from the Second World War? General consensus among academia is that the United States and USSR were the chief benefactors from the downfall of the Axis, as they became the foremost states among the global community, in part due to the regression of traditional powers such as Britain and France. However, Africa as a whole was profoundly changed by the war and the most destructive conflict in history propelled the continent along the path to self-determination. Without the contribution of Africa to the allied cause, both in manpower and material, the eventual triumph of the Allies would have been very much in doubt. Not only did the war cripple many of the nations who had subjugated the majority of African peoples, proving to be a death sentence for vast overseas European empires, but key intellectual, philosophical and economic advances were made by Africans because of their participation in the conflict. The fledgling nationalism movements in colonies across the continent gained traction with the demise of the mother countries of repressive colonial regimes. Out of the largest war the world has seen, Africans acquired the sense of unity, direction and equality which would prove necessary to their efforts in throwing off the yoke of imperialism.