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InWorld War II,French West Africa (Afrique occidentale française, AOF) was not a scene of major fighting. Only one large-scale action took place there: theBattle of Dakar (23–25 September 1940). The region remained under the control ofVichy France after thefall of France (25 June 1940) and until theAllied invasion of North Africa (8–16 November 1942).French Gabon, the only colony ofFrench Equatorial Africa not to joinFree France after the armistice, fell to invading Free French Forces from the neighbouring colonies after theBattle of Gabon (8–12 November 1940), further isolating West Africa.
Unlike in metropolitan France, the FrenchColonial Troops in West Africa were not reduced after the 1940 armistice and the region was little interfered with by theAxis powers, providing a valuable addition to the forces of Free France after it had beenliberated. Before this happened, there was some tension between the French and the neighbouring British colonies, particularlySierra Leone, leading to the formation of theFreetown Defence Flight in June 1941, but no military incidents took place.
Anti-British sentiment in Africa had run high after the French battleshipRichelieu had been hit in the port ofDakar,Senegal, inFrench West Africa on 10 July 1940.[1] In August,Free French GeneralCharles de Gaulle suggested an overland campaign, landing atConakry,French Guinea. He anticipated that popular support for theFree French movement would be built in a drive on Dakar. But de Gaulle's suggestion was overruled by British desires to move swiftly.
On 18 September, three French light cruisers, theGeorges Leygues, theGloire, and theMontcalm were intercepted by Allied ships en route to Libreville. The intercepting Allied ships included the heavy cruiserHMASAustralia. The three French light cruisers were forced to retreat.
Vichy resistance stiffened as a result of the attacks on the French ships. TheBattle of Dakar (23 September to 25 September 1940) took place after Allied forces failed to persuade theVichy French defenders of Dakar to allow them to peacefully enter the city. The Allied forces first tried to persuade the Vichy forces by means ofpropaganda. They then attempted to take Dakar by force of arms. Both attempts ended in defeat. Allied hopes of taking overFrench West Africa were dashed for the time being, leading to the less developed and economically importantFrench Equatorial Africa to be the main Free French territory in the immediate aftermath of the Armistice.
TheBattle of Gabon (French: Bataille du Gabon), also called the Gabon Campaign (Campagne du Gabon), occurred in November 1940 during World War II. The battle resulted in forces under the orders of GeneralCharles de Gaulle taking the colony of Gabon and its capital, Libreville, from Vichy France, and the rallying of French Equatorial Africa to Free France. It was the first military engagement leading to the liberation of France, and the only battle of the war fought in Equatorial Africa – West Africa.
French West Africa surrendered inOperation Torch to theAllies armies.Dakar Air Base became an important air base.[2]
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