background
In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, European powers entered Africa, plundering resources, building colonies, and expanding territories. France was no exception, and through rapid colonial expansion, France became one of the countries with the largest territory and the longest colonial regime in Africa.
Togo, as a colony of "German West Africa" at that time, eventually became a colony of France, which covered almost all political, economic, geostrategic and other reasons.
war
France's colonial expansion was based on considerations of its political and economic interests. One of the purposes of French colonial rule was the "external empire", that is, to enhance France's influence and status in the international community through the occupation and domination of the colonies.
In the case of Togo, France considered Togo to be a "territorial dispute" under German colonial rule and that its interests had been violated and that action must be taken.
France is also eager to reap more economic benefits in Africa. Between about 1905 and 1913, Togo was found to have copper, cobalt, zinc, antimony, phosphate, manganese and other mineral resources, which further deepened France's interest in Togo.
war
Rivalry and geostrategic considerations between France and other European powers also contributed to Togo's history as a French colony. France and Germany and other great powers have always had problems of overlapping spheres of influence and conflicts of interest.
In 1905, Germany was even more dissatisfied with France's North African policy during the Shamrock Island Incident. In 1911, Italy pressured and threatened France during the Tunisian crisis.
In order to consolidate its position in Africa, France has adopted a predatory expansion strategy in regions such as Togo, which can be seen as a means for France to gain a strategic advantage.
war
There were many reasons behind French colonial rule in Togo, including political, economic, and geostrategic aspects. In this context, France relied on its strong military force to gradually put Togo under its colonial rule, controlling the economy, administration, education, culture and other aspects of the region, which has also become a landmark event in the development of Togo's history.
war
The process by which Togo became a French colony
Germany was relatively slow in the construction of its colonies. Although Germany rapidly expanded its colonies at the end of the 19th century, including Cameroon, South-East West Africa (present-day Tanzania), and South and West Africa (present-day Namibia), its colonies were small compared to other European countries such as Britain and France. This also reflects the shortcomings of German colonial expansion.
war
There are cultural and linguistic differences between Germany and the local population. In the early days of colonial rule, Germany tried to promote its culture and language through propaganda and education, but due to the diversity of local languages and cultures, as well as the technical and transportation conditions of the time, this promotion effect was not obvious. This also led to the fact that Germany faced ethnic and cultural divisions and contradictions in the early days of the colony.
war
Germany also had relatively strict control and management in colonial rule. Germany's colonies were relatively small and developed politically and economically more slowly than in other European countries, and Germany tended to maintain its colonial rule through control and management of the local population.
This management included the use of local labor, tax administration and monopoly trade, and the establishment of specialized institutions, such as bureaucracy and special police zones, to exercise all-round control over the colony.
Sir
German colonial rule had some shortcomings among the European powers, but its internal management style was also unique.
During its colonial expansion, Germany tried to promote its own culture and language, but this was not obvious in practice, and there were cultural and linguistic differences between it and the local population. German colonial rule was also more coercive and strict, with more emphasis on management and control, which reflected the different ways and tactics of colonial rule.
war
Britain, France, the United States and other countries have established international organizations, such as the United Nations and the International Monetary Fund, to maintain global peace and promote economic development. The revolution and defeat in Russia also brought about changes in the world political landscape, and communist ideas spread rapidly in Eurasia.
France adopted an aggressive offensive strategy during World War I, aimed at breaking Germany's Western Front defenses and forcing it to compromise. At the same time, Togo finally chose to surrender under pressure and blockade from France.
war
France adopted an offensive strategy early in World War I, intending to break Germany's western defenses and relieve pressure on Germany's eastern front. The French army first launched two battles on the Marne in an attempt to eliminate the main forces on the German Western Front, but both ended in failure. France turned to the tactics of protracted warfare, taking advantage of terrain and fortifications, holding on to the Western Front and trying to gradually deplete German resources and manpower.
France also hit Germany's economic and financial situation through naval blockades and economic sanctions, further weakening Germany's combat effectiveness. Finally, in the spring of 1918, France, together with the United Kingdom and the United States, successfully launched the "Hundred Days Offensive" and finally defeated Germany and ended World War I.
war
Togo was the last place to surrender before the other African colonies surrendered. During the First World War, in addition to the French army fighting in the European theater, it also sent troops to carry out military activities in its colonies.
In 1914, France launched an offensive against Togo in an attempt to capture its important port city of Lomé and its capital Latin America. The German army in Africa was unable to match the French in terms of layout and resources, and the French achieved a decisive victory in a short time, occupying most of northern Togo.
war
French troops continued to advance south, trying to capture all of Togo. However, due to shortages of materials and unfavorable terrain conditions, the advance of the French army in Togo was slow. The local resistance in Togo also rose up and carried out an organized guerrilla war against the French army, which caused some trouble for the French army's attack.
At the beginning of 1916, with the situation in the European theater changing significantly, the French army readjusted its battle plan in Togo. At the same time, the French government increased its rule and control over Togo through economic and diplomatic means, and at the end of 1916, the colonial governor of Togo announced his surrender to France. Togo became a French colony and did not gain independence until 1958.
war
The economic and social situation of Togo under French colonial rule
Colonized by Germany at the end of the 19th century, Togo was taken over by France after World War I and remained independent until 1960. During this long history, France imposed strict colonial rule in Togo and exploited local economic resources by various means.
The French colonial government focused on agriculture and mining in Togo's economy. In agriculture, the French colonial government mainly promoted the cultivation of commodity crops such as cocoa, coffee and palm oil. France implemented an authoritarian cultivation system, forcing the local people to use land to grow export crops and imposing high taxes on agricultural products, which made the local farmers live in extreme poverty. In terms of mining, France has mined Togo's phosphate resources and shipped them to France for processing and sale.
war
The French colonial government also introduced a system of forced labour in Togo's economic life. They force the local population to participate in labour, especially in the cultivation and harvest of coffee and cocoa, in long hours, labour-intensive and extremely poor treatment. Togo's inhabitants face high taxes, oppression and discrimination.
The French colonial Government exercised strict political control over Togo's economic production, plundered local natural resources and exploited Togo as an area exporting agricultural and mineral products. As a result of this colonial rule, Togo's economic foundations were severely damaged, causing it to suffer great economic hardship after becoming an independent State, which is still struggling to recover and develop.
war
French influence on Togo's colonial rule
Under French colonial rule, Togo faced serious problems of social conditions. France had imposed a policy of apartheid and racial discrimination against Togo, trying to impose its own culture and value system on the ruled people.
France pursued a policy of apartheid in Togo, which severely restricted and oppressed Africans. Blacks were denied the right to participate in political, economic and social life. In the process of promoting Christianity by the French colonial government, Togo's traditional religious beliefs and culture were undermined, affecting the stability of the social structure.
war
Under French colonial rule, Togo's socio-economic structure underwent obvious changes, the most obvious of which was class differentiation. France deliberately divided the local population into different classes by means of ethnic and cultural differences. Relatively affluent white and indigenous black elites had access to more education and job opportunities, while ordinary residents faced various forms of oppression and exploitation.
France also introduced a system of forced labor in Togo, which further exacerbated social divisions by allowing local residents to provide cheap labor for the colonial government. The humble social status and untold suffering of forced labourers had led to extreme poverty in the lives of the Togolese population.
war
France pursued a policy of apartheid in Togo, which severely restricted and oppressed Africans. Blacks were denied the right to participate in political, economic and social life. In the process of promoting Christianity by the French colonial government, Togo's traditional religious beliefs and culture were undermined, affecting the stability of the social structure.
Under French colonial rule, Togo's socio-economic structure underwent obvious changes, the most obvious of which was class differentiation. France deliberately divided the local population into different classes by means of ethnic and cultural differences. Relatively affluent white and indigenous black elites had access to more education and job opportunities, while ordinary residents faced various forms of oppression and exploitation.
war
France also introduced a system of forced labor in Togo, which further exacerbated social divisions by allowing local residents to provide cheap labor for the colonial government. The humble social status and untold suffering of forced labourers had led to extreme poverty in the lives of the Togolese population.
war
Resistance and independence movement under colonial rule in Togo
France suppressed the Togolese independence movement. The French colonial government not only regarded the Togolese democratic movement as an enemy against colonial rule, but also used military force to suppress protests and political activities there. In the process, France sent troops to suppress it, which even led to large-scale bloodshed and brutal violence.
France has also resorted to other measures to suppress the Togolese independence movement. France had tried to weaken the independence movement by cutting Togo off from the international community. France closed schools, hospitals and other public facilities in Togo in an attempt to weaken Togo's democratic forces by creating poverty and disease among the local population. France also tried to use the local black gentry and other defectors to weaken the Togolese independence movement, but this was not successful.
war
France gradually renounced its rule in the struggle against the Togolese independence movement and decided to withdraw peacefully from the region. In the early 1970s, France finally agreed to recognize Togo's independence and ensure its withdrawal from the colonies, marking the victory of the Togolese independence movement.
The French colonial rule of Togo left behind many problems, such as its colonial policies and institutions, the legacy of social and economic conditions and the cultural heritage brought about by colonialism, which had a profound impact on the future development of Togo.
The French colonial government adopted a policy of apartheid, which severely damaged the social fabric of the local population. France divided Togolese society into two classes, one of which was a racial ruling class composed of Europeans, foreigners and a minority black elite, who enjoyed high privileges in the society of the time. At the other level are vast non-European groups deprived of democracy, human rights and freedoms, trapped in poverty and exploitation.
war
The French colonial Government's policy of taxation and a mono-product economy had led to serious damage to Togo's economy. France imposed that the local population be predominantly agricultural and forestry and could sell only a single product (such as cocoa beans or coffee), making Togo's economy too dependent on a single product and slowing down. France imposed high taxes and privileges, which made Togolese residents increasingly impoverished and the economy in a serious recession.
The French colonial government imposed authoritarian politics and a lack of transparent administration in Togo, which led to distrust of the government among the local population. The "holy law" system introduced by France restricted the human rights of the non-European population, and France chose black gentry and others as administrative officials, who still regarded France as masters and brutally suppressed the people in the administration.
The French colonial government had a profound impact on Togolese culture, resulting in severe damage to the local culture. France has forcibly popularized its own language and culture to Togo, replacing the local language and culture, so that the local population can no longer communicate and communicate through its own language and culture.