1918-1939 History of Central Africa Gabon
since 1960





Gabon, 1939-1960



After French forces surrendered to the Germans on June 25th 1940, Gabon recognized the FREE FRENCH ADMINISTRATION at Brazzaville, not the Vichy-administration.
In the years after the war, Gabon's most famous resident, ALBERT SCHWEITZER, argued for the banishment of nuclear arms. In 1952, he was awarded the NOBEL PEACE PRIZE; he used the money to extend his hospital at Lambarene.
In 1946, Gabon was given an assembly, and French Equatorial Africa was given representation in the French National Assembly. In 1958 the Gabonese opted for independence, which was granted in 1960.






EXTERNAL
FILES 		Gabon, History of, from Infoplease
Libreville, from Infoplease
DOCUMENTS
REFERENCE Article Gabon Republic, in : Britannica Book of the Year 1960 p. 280 (on events of 1959) [G]
David E. Gardinier, Historical Dictionary of Gabon, Metuchen N.J. : Scarecrow 1981 [G]



This page is part of World History at KMLA
First posted in 2001, last revised on July 22nd 2006

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