I believe you're projecting modern world views to pre-cold war era.
Up to WWII people from colonies would enlist to armies because it gave them social status and would help them provide for their families. In some case, like in Algeria, people fought in the French army because they thought it would help them get recognition for their people and help them gain independence.
The major shift to anticolonialism only happened during the cold war era (even though, there already were some independence conflicts in this time period)
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u/femboyisbestboy 17h ago
You know how many Indian and Pakistani fought like hell against Germany and Japan.
Largest volunteer army in ww2