The seizure of Lhasa by Tibetan independence forces symbolized China's loss of the southeastern region of Tibet. While many Han Chinese had settled in Tibet seeking not only refuge but also business opportunities, upon seeing the Tibetan independence flag flying in Lhasa, many of them retreated like the tide when they sensed the danger.
Tibet's security hadn't collapsed, nor had there been an increase in unwarranted violence or persecution, but Han Chinese, accustomed to ethnic conflicts, had a heightened ability to sense danger, thus prompting their actions. If there had been more Han Chinese in Tibet, there might have been other options, such as anti-Tibetan struggles. However, there weren't as many Han Chinese in Tibet at the time. Moreover, while the Chinese police apparatus in southeastern Tibet hadn't been actively attacked by Tibetan independence forces, many of its members had left their posts, rendering it dysfunctional.
Furthermore, the governing/administrative apparatus had collapsed as its leaders fled first. Facing a disadvantage in the war with the United States, or perhaps due to a series of continuous defeats in previous wars with foreigners, Han Chinese had developed a tendency to flee in their hearts. As a result, not only did the Tibetan independence movement progress swiftly, but even Japan, which supported it, found Tibet's return to its rightful owner happening at an unexpected pace.
In response, Japan hurriedly proceeded with Tibet's declaration of independence, recognition as a nation, and preparation for joining the League of Nations. In addition to proposing a fight against China, Japan suggested maintaining security and administration in Tibet. As a result, the offensive of the Tibetan independence forces ceased, giving China valuable time to regroup its forces. *1
The Chinese expeditionary force, relieved by the cessation of the Tibetan independence forces' offensive, sought to use this period of ceasefire to prepare for a counterattack. They gathered weapons, ammunition, and provisions and deployed personnel. Even if they were inferior in terms of training and armament, they calculated that with a difference of nearly two digits in the number of troops, they could win by sheer force. However, politics did not permit it.
The Tibetan independence forces held a military ceremony (parade) at the Potala Palace in Lhasa and declared Tibet's independence, prompting the Chinese government to order a resolute offensive.
. . .
The Aftermath of the Tibetan Declaration of Independence
Viewing Tibet as a national liberation movement from elsewhere, it seemed as if the impoverished people (the Tibetans) from a remote corner of Asia had achieved a remarkable victory (giant-killing) by standing up against the powerful nation *2 of China.
Of course, for those well-educated people who knew the details of the Tibetan independence movement, it was easy to imagine that there were some great powers somewhere behind the Tibetan independence movement, providing weapons, ammunition, and funding. Nevertheless, it was the Tibetans who shed blood and fought. It was only natural to respect their efforts. And a very small number of people, separate from that, thought that if the people of Tibet, who were Asians, could do it, then perhaps they themselves could too.
These very few people were from the French colonies in Africa, where Germany had previously ignited national consciousness.
. . .
Africa: French Colonies
In the late 1930s, Germany devised a plan to sow chaos in France by distributing weapons to French colonies (overseas departments). Naturally, this was to incite independence movements in the colonies. Encouraging independence movements in the colonies would not only deplete France's national strength in suppressing them but also lead to an overall weakening of France's power due to the stagnation of economic activities in the colonies, resulting in a win-win (delicious) strategy.
As a preliminary step, Germany dispatched operatives (Waffen-SS) disguised as missionaries to Africa, spreading the concept of national self-determination. It wasn't just about the dream of national independence. It was about the tangible benefits that local inhabitants could enjoy after driving out the French: the profits from resource sales and the freedom from having to bow to or be used by the French ("frog bastards"). *3 Skillfully, they ignited the self-esteem in the Africans who were treated as colonials in various parts of Africa. By also drawing in highly educated individuals who had studied in France, the Africans themselves became filled with hope for independence and animosity towards France.
Up until this point, it was Germany's victory. However, simultaneously, it was also the end. Germany failed to bring in the crucial weapons necessary for armed uprisings. Their attempts at smuggling in weapons in Italian East Africa failed—strict inspections at ports by joint operations of Italy, France, Britain, and Japan to prevent maritime smuggling from East Africa to the Middle East (Operation From the Sea) made weapon smuggling impossible. While various means might have made it slightly difficult, if not impossible, Germany had aimed to cause chaos in Africa through a low-cost, high-return approach, so they deemed it unnecessary to expend diplomatic or defense assets on such an endeavor.
As a result, the independence movements in Africa remained sporadic protests (riots) rather than escalating into large-scale events. Disappointed with Germany and harboring hatred towards France, the Africans kept their feelings for independence smoldering like buried embers. That is until the founding of Tibet (declaration of independence) reignited their aspirations.
The people of Africa pondered. If weapons couldn't be brought in from outside, then they should make their own. While the export and import of weapons were strictly regulated by France and the League of Nations, there were no restrictions on the import of tools and materials needed to manufacture weapons such as jigs and steel. They attempted to mimic the production of weapons based on samples.
They failed.
It's a simple truth, but firearms are deceptively complex. To create something usable, one must accumulate various insights and knowledge. Therefore, the highly educated independence advocates in Africa turned to their former mentor (Germany) for help. *4
. . .
Germany
Germany, moved by the fact that the independence movements it had sown seeds for in Africa were continuing autonomously, promised full support. The reason given was that nations' autonomous self-reliance is what contributes to the stability, peace, and prosperity of the world.
A lie, though.
For Germany, whatever the reason may be, whoever the partner may be, if they could hinder France (the frog bastards aiming for Germany), they intended to join hands with them, even if they were devils. With that determination, they were willing to give preferential treatment to not only non-Aryans (Jews) but also to the inferior race (Negroids) who were out of bounds in Nazi ideology.
They designed easy-to-produce, simple single-shot rifles (rifles) in Germany and provided them free of charge. *5 They also arranged materials for ammunition that would be consumed in large quantities. It is said that the road to hell is paved with good intentions. Then, with well-intentioned intentions, how many hells would such a road lead to?
Africa will test this question.
. . .
France
The simultaneous outbreak of armed uprisings (violent independence movements) in overseas departments (colonies) caused great panic. Just when they thought they had pacified the independence movement in French Indochina (Vietnam) last year, this situation arose. Moreover, the scale of the armed uprisings, or the vastness of the regions involved, was unprecedented in Asia. Each uprising involved only a few hundred to at most a thousand people, and if the French military had been serious, suppression would have been easy. However, the uprisings were too widespread and numerous, and there weren't enough troops. Moreover, a significant portion of the troops stationed by France in Africa had been withdrawn to be deployed to maintain order in French Indochina. There was an overwhelming shortage of troops.
Under these circumstances, the French government ordered the military to suppress the uprisings, but the military leadership requested permission from the government to deploy the mainland army's lightning strike units (Éclair Unity) to suppress them.
This decision troubled the French government. The mainland army's lightning strike units were units prepared on the mainland of France for the war against Germany (preemptive attack). They were elite active-duty units with high training levels and good equipment, consisting of armored divisions and mechanized infantry divisions, and they served as the vanguard units for attacking Germany. Naturally, they were all mechanized, and their high mobility was deemed necessary to quell the widespread disturbances (independence movements) as judged by the French military leadership.
The French government couldn't simply agree to this request. The lightning strike units were created by France with a single-minded determination to quickly end the war with Germany, and the government's understanding was that they couldn't afford to deplete them by dealing with mere backwater independence movements. While the French government recognized the independence movements themselves as troublesome, they didn't take the threat seriously.
As a result of negotiations between the military and the government, it was decided not to divert the lightning strike units. However, personnel were drawn from each division of the lightning strike units to create and dispatch multiple African mobile units (motorized divisions). In place of tanks or tracked armored vehicles, light wheeled armored vehicles, which were armored versions of civilian automobiles, were deployed.
These light wheeled armored vehicles, also known as VBA (African armored vehicles), were armored vehicles with armor plates attached to civilian automobiles. Their protection was considered adequate against 7,92 mm rifle rounds, and they were deployed based on the expectation of providing some degree of protection against resistance. It was not the armor but the ability to deploy widely that was demanded. *6
Additionally, based on the experience of maintaining security in French Indochina, plans were made to build auxiliary security forces consisting of pro-French African recruits. Initially, the deployment of highly trained forces from the Indochinese Federation, accustomed to maintaining security, was also considered. However, the high-level units of the Indochinese Federation army were participating in the Sino-American War, and the revenue (mercenary fees from America) was too attractive (delicious) to pass up, so it didn't develop beyond consideration. Therefore, the creation of pro-French African units.
It was only natural for the French to want to replicate their success in maintaining security in French Indochina. But there was one thing the French didn't understand
How much they were disliked in Africa.
The chaos in Africa began.
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Notes
*1: Within the Tibetan independence movement, the hardliners swiftly advocated for intensifying the offensive in response to Japan's proposal (instruction), suggesting that while the Chinese expeditionary forces were in a state of confusion, they should rapidly expand the controlled territory. However, Japan had no intention of accepting this argument.
Continuing the offensive while ignoring the stability of the controlled territory is easy. Or perhaps, expelling China from Tibetan land might be achieved sooner. However, in the worst-case scenario, if the security deteriorates across Tibet and it descends into a situation of warlords, it might take considerable time and bloodshed for Tibet to consolidate as an independent nation. In the worst case, there might be a possibility of China returning.
Japan persuaded the hardliners with this grim possibility. Although the hardliners frowned upon this exceedingly dark prospect, in reality, the security apparatus of Tibet was in a state of dysfunction. As a result, logistics were often disrupted. There were also reports of increased incidents of robbery. Therefore, the hardliners were not as optimistic as to reject Japan's persuasion too lightly and decided to lower their voices calling for continued combat.
Moreover, one of the background factors for the success of this persuasion was the assurance of military support (dispatch of volunteer forces) by Japan if the Tibetan independence movement fell into dire straits due to the reorganization of the Chinese expeditionary forces and the deployment of armored units, etc. To demonstrate that it was not an empty promise, Japan deployed a mechanized regiment and an airborne cavalry regiment belonging to the 2nd Airborne Brigade of the 1st Siberian General Army to the East Turkistan Republic, which gave reassurance to the hardliners.
*2: China, which has been continuously defeated in battles against great powers since the 20th century and has been losing its territory, is perceived as a major power by most nations and ethnicities. This was evident from its nickname, the sleeping lion. Above all, it has been able to engage in wars with leading powers such as the United States for years.
For an ordinary nation, simply being able to fight against opponents who could potentially conquer and colonize them shortly after the outbreak of war, be it Japan, America, or Britain, is remarkable. However, the countries it has been at war with are exceptional (hegemonic nations).
*3: In French colonies (overseas departments), Germany succeeded in igniting the independence sentiments of the African people, but the same could not be said for Britain. Naturally.
Britain had allowed each colony to gain independence within the framework of the British Commonwealth, despite certain military and diplomatic constraints, and had offered the benefits of being under British protection (granting free access to the G4 economic zone). There were no enthusiasts who would go to the trouble of seeking complete independence when they could gain such laughable benefits by merely pretending to respect the white bastards (King George VI).
*4: While these highly educated Africans referred to Germany as their mentor, they generally detested Germans as condescending people who viewed Africans (Negroid people) as inferior. They regarded Africans present at negotiation tables as uncivilized barbarians who did not understand German and would hurl insulting words in German while laughing in front of Africans. It was rather surprising if they didn't hate them.
If someone had studied in France and even pursued philosophy as part of their higher education, it was only natural to ridicule Germans as uncultured barbarians who couldn't even maintain a pretense of decency in front of (official) Africans.
*5: In places where non-Westerners, such as inferior races (Negroid people), were in charge, the design of single-shot rifles developed by Germany became extremely simplistic. The degree of simplicity was such that, after seeing Japan's Type 20 5,56 mm assault rifle, research and dissemination of assault rifles with fully automatic firing capabilities surged in advanced countries. These rifles, unlike the German design, even lacked a magazine.
There were some difficulties in determining whether such extreme simplification was necessary or meaningful, but at least from the perspective of Germans, if the Negroes were to manufacture and use them, they needed to be simplified to that extent, or else they would not be able to produce or maintain them. As a result, the simplified rifle designed as the Type 1943 single-shot rifle (Volksgewehr) was completed without even a magazine, as its name suggests, as long as the sighting was adequate. However, due to its simplicity, it was manufactured and spread throughout various parts of Africa. The people in French colonies called this rifle a resistance rifle and used it extensively.
*6: Initially treated as makeshift armored equipment, the light wheeled armored vehicles gradually became the mainstay equipment of the African mobile units because the officially equipped tracked armored vehicles and tanks consumed too much fuel and required too much maintenance to be operated in the vast African terrain. While tanks and tracked armored vehicles were good equipment, they were too heavy for deployment in the disparate infantry-based African independence movements. Therefore, France later embarked on the development of high-speed deployable wheeled armored vehicles and wheeled reconnaissance combat vehicles.