Abstract:
The World War I was a global conflict in which the population of many countries of the world was involved. Consideration of this topic is limited to studying their role in the material support of armed forces of metropoles, when it comes to the participation of colonial possessions of Entente Powers in World War I. However, a huge mass of representatives of Asian and African people, the vast majority of whom were Muslims, served in the armed forces of the member countries of both military blocs. European countries witnessed the arrival of hundreds of thousands of colonial soldiers fighting on European territory, getting captured and coming into contact with European society and culture. Capturing them, keeping them in camps and creating conditions under the norms of The Hague Convention of 1907 required certain efforts from the authorities of the Triple Alliance countries. In addition, prisoners of war from various regions of Asia and North Africa, held in the camps of the Triple Alliance countries, were of great interest to scientists studying anthropology, ethnography and the languages of the eastern people. The countries of the Triple Alliance sought to use the anti-colonial feelings of Muslims from the British and French possessions, promoting "jihad" against the Entente Powers. However, the creation of favorable conditions for the life of prisoners of war in the camps and increased propaganda work caused a mixed reaction from Muslim prisoners of war. Many prisoners of war from the Muslim regions of the Entente Powers remained faithful to their military oath, although they dreamed of freeing their countries from colonial dependence.
