In the organizer's words:
Tirailleurs: From cannon fodder to avant-garde - the forgotten soldiers who liberated Europe
On August 15, 2024, French President Emmanuel Macron invited the world to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the Allied landings in Provence, which followed the invasion of Normandy and played a decisive role in the liberation of France and Europe from Nazi Germany. The ceremony drew attention to an often overlooked fact: the majority of the 250,000 soldiers of the so-called "Army B" were African soldiers who, according to Le Monde, "came from the colonies". These young tirailleurs played an active role in the liberation of France, while many others from Africa, Asia, the Americas, Oceania and beyond were also instrumental in reshaping the future of Europe and its institutions. Yet their contribution has been systematically marginalized. Commemorative gestures, such as inviting African heads of state to anniversaries, attempt to recognize their sacrifices. However, the history of the Tirailleurs remains politically appropriated, little researched and largely unknown, especially in today's Germany.
In 2026, HKW aims to close this gap with a wide-ranging program that explores the role of the Tirailleurs in the liberation of France from Nazi Germany, their contribution to the liberation of Germany and their influence on securing peace in Europe after 1945.
This content has been machine translated.Location
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