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Author
Name Amoussou-Moderan, Fidel
fidel.amoussou.moderan@gmail.com
Research field History
Career stage doctoral researcher
Home university/institution Ruhr-Universität Bochum (RUB)
Department/Research unit at home university/institution History
Chair/Working group at home institution Transnational History

International activity
Country Benin
Location Porto-Novo
University National Archives of Benin
Fund Research School PR.INT
Type of activity research stay
Period starts 07-01-2025
ends 07-02-2025
Keywords African Spies, Transnational Resistance, WWII in Africa , Global War, Black Narratives and Black African Veteran remembrance, State Repression, Exile and Trajectories.
Report PhD Thesis Title:
“In the Shadow and at the Risk of Our Lives”: Global War, Blackness, and the Transnational Resistance Against the Axis in West Africa

PR.INT Project Title:
“African Spies: Echoes of WWII”

“African Spies: Echoes of WWII” aimed to provide a comprehensive examination of African intelligence activities during World War II. By illuminating these forgotten narratives, the project made a significant contribution to the historiography of African involvement in global resistance movements. With the support of Ruhr-Universität Bochum (RUB) and the Hans Böckler Foundation, the project became feasible through planned interviews with descendants and engagement with organizations dedicated to preserving the memory of African war veterans. This institutional backing was crucial for conducting extensive field research.

My research stay at the Archives Nationales du Bénin (ANB) was instrumental in deepening my understanding of the complex and often overlooked role of Africans during World War II. Through the analysis of rare archival materials—such as the Old Collection and the Colonial Collection of Dahomey: 1840-1960 (Series F, E, N)—as well as colonial newspapers like L’Étoile du Dahomey and Le Guide du Togo, I uncovered critical narratives that challenge dominant Eurocentric accounts. These sources revealed not only the profound sacrifices made by African populations for the Allied cause but also the persistent colonial injustices they faced during and after the war. My engagement with these archives, combined with insightful discussions—particularly with Dr. Gnammankou and Dr. Sedegan from the University of Abomey-Calavi (UAC)—allowed me to refine my methodological approach and situate my research within broader debates on colonial memory, Blackness, and Africanity in war narratives.

The documents from the ANB shed light on the intricate dynamics of propaganda, surveillance, and resistance during World War II in West Africa. They revealed that African populations were not merely passive subjects of colonial rule but active participants in the struggle against Vichy and Axis forces. The emergence of anti-fascist sentiments, the organization of resistance networks, and the dissemination of anti-Nazi propaganda illustrated a complex interplay between local agency and global conflicts. These archival materials not only underscored the significant contributions of Africans to the war effort but also exposed the structural colonial injustices that persisted long after the war’s conclusion.

Family-held archives also played a crucial role in my research methodology, preserving memories that are at risk of being lost due to the advancing age and mortality of the remaining descendants. These private collections provided invaluable insights into the lives of African spies during World War II, including details about their arrests, conditions of incarceration, and the impact of their executions across West Africa.

This research stay not only enriched the empirical foundation of my project but also reinforced my commitment to producing a decolonial and transnational narrative that restores African agency and challenges the silences surrounding their historical experiences. Through this work, I aim to reframe the historical discourse by foregrounding the contributions and sacrifices of African actors in the global struggle against fascism and colonial oppression.
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