You want to read *[The Black Horror on the Rhine](https://sci-hub.sidesgame.com/10.2307/1905831)*, *[Weimar Germany: Promise & Tragedy](https://archive.org/details/weimargermanypro00weit_0)*, and *Decolonization in Germany: Weimar Narratives of Colonial Loss and Foreign Occupation* for more.
France built up entire nations in Africa with railways and other infrastructure. they also formed colonies there, particularly north, north-west africa. plantations and french living amongst the nogs. check out the history if algeria sometime. built up and trained local nog armies. allowed them into french legions.