A Brief Introduction of China Labor and the First World War

China Labor and the First World War is a book edited by Zhang Jianguo. During the First World War,140,000 French laborers recruited by the British and French governments and arranged by the China government traveled across oceans to work as coolies in war-torn Europe, contributing "bitterness" and "strength" to the so-called "war of civilizations" of the Allies. This is an important chapter in the communication between the East and the West in the history of human civilization. But for a long time, Chinese and foreign academic circles seem to have forgotten this special group. We don't quite understand why they came and why they went. What kind of experiences did they have during their travels, in Europe and after returning home? What contribution did they make to the war? What role did they play in the Chinese nation's quest for new national identity and internationalization? What position do they occupy in the history of Sino-Western communication? What is the fate of China workers after they return to China, and what about those who stay abroad? What is the significance of these Chinese workers to China and world history? What was the relationship between China laborers and work-study programs in World War I? What does it have to do with the May 4th Movement? What was the status of Chinese workers in China's immigration history during World War I? All these are important areas to be further explored. It is hoped that the publication of this anthology will show the world the preliminary results of international cooperation in this field.