Records of a French Soldier's Horrifying Account: Eyewitness to the 1944 Thiaroye Massacre in Senegal, Uncovered but Neglected
Early Morning, Chaos Unfolds:
At 8:30 AM, the scene was set in Thiaroye, Senegal, as recounted by French sub-lieutenant Jean Henry in his diary, unearthed seven years after his death in 2007. His chilling account offers a stark glimpse into one of France's most controversial colonial crimes post-World War II. That fateful day, African soldiers, returning from France after being held in German camps, demanded their hard-earned pensions and back pay.
"The rebels make a move for an A.M [armored car]. Leadership incites the others to revolt. This is the cue for the final confrontation. The tirailleurs of the 7th, along with some artillerymen, open fire. The others respond with 9mm and 7.65 pistols, and a couple of machine guns. Eventually, order is restored. Several rebels are down, the others subdued with force," Henry writes in his compact 94-page notebook, now examined by our team at the Service Historique de la Défense. "In the end, appropriate action has been taken." (...) "Total casualties for the day: 35 dead, 59 wounded," Henry concludes, alluding to the official French authorities' figures.
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His account provides a dramatic leap into the untold history of the first significant post-WWII colonial crime, where dozens of African soldiers were massacred under French orders. While Henry's account aligns with the colonial authorities' figures, Senegalese estimates suggest hundreds were killed instead[5].
The massacre took place at Thiaroye, near Dakar, where Senegalese tirailleurs (African colonial soldiers) had been stationed. Their outcry centered on systemic pay discrepancies compared to white French soldiers. Henry's journal portrays the event as a supposed mutiny, justifying the use of force[4]. Survivors were later imprisoned, deepening the tragedy[1][5].
A Dark Legacy Unveiled:
France long concealed the massacre's memory, labeling it a "disciplinary incident" until 2012, when François Hollande acknowledged its "bloody repression." The current Senegalese President, Diomaye Faye, has recently invoked the 80th anniversary (2024) while announcing Senegal's withdrawal from French military agreements. He frames this move as part of a broader push for postcolonial sovereignty across West Africa[2][5].
The diary's emergence serves as a call to action for demands for archival restitution and reparations. Scholars like Mamadou Diouf stress the importance of African-led historical narratives[5]. This case underscores how colonial brutality and archival suppression continue to color Franco-African relations[3][4].
- The pension demand by African soldiers, returning from France after World War II, led to a massacre in Thiaroye, Senegal, where the casualty count, as per French authorities, was 35 dead and 59 wounded, but Senegalese estimates suggest hundreds were killed instead.
- General-news and politics in December 2024 may focus on Senegal's withdrawal from French military agreements, partly motivated by the 80th anniversary of the Thiaroye massacre and the push for postcolonial sovereignty across West Africa.
- In efforts to address historical injustices, scholars like Mamadou Diouf have emphasized the importance of African-led historical narratives in light of the Thiaroye massacre and the need for archival restitution and reparations.
- The dramatic account of the Thiaroye massacre, where artillerymen and tirailleurs were involved, offers evidence of war-and-conflicts and political tensions, challenging mainstream historical narratives, and shedding light on the continued ramifications of colonial brutality in Franco-African relations.
