 The Second World War saw tens of thousands of Malagasy men forced into the ranks of the French army yet again.34,000 of these Malagasy conscripts were in France when it capitulated in the summer of 1940 with an additional 72,000 still in Madagascar awaiting transport to Europe.Malagasy troops captured by Germany during the invasion were treated harshly as many were subject to massacres and summary executions upon capture.