Why were colonial subjects eager to participate in World War 1?

Answer 1

In most cases, colonial subjects were eager to participate in WWI because most of them were under British rule, and Brittan promised most of its colonies, namely Egypt and India, independence after the war if they did all they could to help Brittan during the war, although Brittan didn't follow through on its promise.

Answer 2

For one, when territories had been claimed by a European power, mostly in the 15th century, it was quickly realized that to govern more smoothly and effectively, locals would have to be converted to pro-colony idealists. European nations only got better at invading, converting, and controlling colonies as time went on.

Secondly, these colonial territories had been under the authority of European powers by this time for nearly 400years in some cases. So for the native population in these areas, they were already used to being governed by a local force that was controlled by a foreign nation. Not to say there werent conflicts between natives and the European peoples, however, most things and daily living had become stable.

Next, let's assume one is a native of Britain controlled South Africa. No longer is your family striving to survive in a jungle, fighting other "tribes," and being conquered by people with better technologies. Also, you have been accepted and assimilated into this new culture which has brought changes like: farming, industrialization, mining, etc... Instead of self-sufficient "campgrounds" of people living isolated, these places have become more civilized through the institution of organized governing body(s), laws, economics, societal-culture, cities, etc.... Modernized. WWI starts and German controlled SW Africa begins drama with your Britain controlled S Africa home... Many natives are going to defend their homes regardless, plus the fact that many of these invaders would be from "tribes" your elders fought (before being a colony).

Another reason, given the chance to expand your own nation's land,resources, and/or money with the assistance of a much more advanced country, why not? Especially knowing that if you don't try, they more than likely will bringing you into the conflict anyhow, just in a weaker position.

Also, since your colony is under Britain that makes it, by default, a target to any of it's enemies. This makes the flipside just as true; any of Britain's enemies are also enemies to it's colonies. You might not want to be a part of nor fight for the Britain Empire, however, that might be better than not and ending up under the control of a worse Empire, like the Germans... Example:

The Germans were driven out of Togoland, West Africa, on August 26, 1914, and the colony was divided between the British and French.(just another reason, if your colonial lands are taken, the territories may have anything done to them, and the new owner's wouldn't care too much about the locals ideas...) In the Pacific, New Zealanders occupied Samoa on August 30 and Australia took the Bismarck Archipelago and New Guinea in September. Japanese forces occupied the Marshalls, Marianas, Carolines, and other German islands in November. In China, German troops in Shantung Province surrendered to a Japanese-British force in November. Forces from the Union of South Africa invaded German South-West Africa (Namibia) in January, 1915, and won the colony in seven months. The campaign in Kamerun (Cameroon) took longer. The colony was invaded by British and French troops in 1914, but the Germans were not driven out until 1916. In German East Africa (the mainland part of what is now Tanzania) General Paul von Lettow-Vorbeck commanded a force of 15,000 European and African troops. For four years of unceasing tropical warfare with all its hardships, these troops maintained their discipline and morale, wholly without resources except those that they took from their enemy. Local forces in British East Africa were unable to defeat them, and troops were sent from India. These, too, failed. Finally, in the fall of 1916, Afrikaners (South African whites) and Portuguese under General Jan Christiaan Smuts pushed Lettow-Vorbeck into the southeastern corner of the colony. Lettow-Vorbeck defeated the Allies at Mahiwa in October, 1917, and went on the offensive. When the war ended, he was in the midst of an invasion of northern Rhodesia (now Zambia).

Finally, the main powers were having to use the majority of their military, resources, and attention on battlefields in the European sector. The controlling powers' primary objective is to protect the homeland. This left most colonies with less presence of military forces which consequentially meant a rise in local recruits. Colonies were called on to launch campaigns against other nation's territories to disrupt it's output of resources and hopefully cause that power to move military units from the European theater to those areas. In exchange for certain assistance, natives were promised more political leniency following the war, not to mention personal advancements via recognition of deeds completed. Side note: many times, colonial natives were recruited for service not within their own lands, but to be used in other areas where they might be more suited to. An example is the use of Britain's West Indie native colonial forces to fight in the Middle Eastern theater. This was bc Britain's are climatized to fairer, cooler conditions causing them greater heat related problems, weakening their forces severely. The solution was to only send as many Britains as needed to "aim/control" the military while using personnel from similar climates to bridge the power gap.

Hope that helps! : )

Answer 3

They Believed that they would gain Civil Rights