 In 1934 the Congo-Océan railway came into service, linking Brazzaville with the Atlantic port of Pointe-Noire.Construction of the railway resulted in the death of over 17,000 Africans, which led to a revolt in 1928.During World War II Brazzaville and the rest of French Equatorial Africa remained beyond the control of Vichy France; the city served as the capital of "France Libre" from 1940–1943.