Martinique during the First World War

The First World War broke out while Martinique was still reeling from two major events in its history: the abolition of slavery and the eruption of Mount Pelée. Saint-Pierre, once the capital, had given way to Fort-de-France, and the island remained largely rural. The economy, centered on sugarcane, was suffering from the sugar crisis in Europe, yet this crop still covered most of the island’s farmland. The political situation was equally fragile. This study explores life in Martinique during the Great War.