Who Fought In World War One As The Harlem Hell Fighters?

These World War I heroes are being honored for their military service. More than a century after World War I's conclusion, the Harlem Hell fighters, an all-Black combat regiment, are once again receiving respect for their valiant service. During World War I, about 200,000 African Americans fought in Europe, and 42,000 of them engaged in combat. The 369th Infantry Regiment, formerly known as the 15th Regiment of the New York National Guard, was led by the Harlem Hellfighters, a group of heroic soldiers from the Harlem neighborhood of New York City. 

 

One of the war's most decorated units was the Harlem Hellfighters. They also experienced more battle and more casualties than other American forces. 

 

•    A segregated military regiment made up entirely of Black soldiers, the Harlem Hellfighters served in World War I.

 

•    More casualties were sustained by the Hellfighters than by any other American military organization during World War I.

 

•    The French Croix de Guerre medal, the Distinguished Service Cross, and the Medal of Honor were among the honors bestowed upon the Harlem Hellfighters for their valiant efforts. 

 

•    In the United States, racial segregation was pervasive when World War I broke out in Europe. Jim Crow laws were a set of regulations that made it illegal for African Americans to vote and established discrimination in employment, housing, and other areas. More than one African American was lynched per week in Southern states. The United States officially entered World War I on April 6, 1917, when it declared war on Germany. Two months later, the first American soldiers arrived in Europe.

 

•    Blacks did not receive any relief from racism and brutal treatment in the U.S. military as they did elsewhere in society. White personnel who objected to fighting alongside African Americans were separated from them. The 369th Infantry Regiment was made up entirely of African Americans as a result.

 

•    Black publications and other Black leaders believed it was hypocritical for the US government to encourage Blacks to enlist in the war given the ongoing prejudice Black Americans endure. For instance, President Woodrow Wilson declined to sign a law intended to protect African Americans against lynching.

 

•    W.E.B. Du Bois and other Black leaders pushed for Black involvement in the fight. Du Bois penned the following in the NAACP's Crisis magazine: "Let us, while this war lasts, forget our unique grievances and close our ranks shoulder to shoulder with our white fellow citizens and the allied nations that are fighting for democracy." Readers questioned whether Du Bois' views were sincere when it was revealed that he wanted to be a military captain.

 

•    The fact that not all military branches even desired to include African Americans during this time emphasized how poorly African Americans were treated. The Navy hired a tiny number of Black service members for lowly jobs but the Marines refused to accept any. During World War I, the Army stood out for accepting the majority of African American service members. The Harlem Hellfighters, however, were denied the opportunity to participate in a goodbye march in 1918 when the men were sent to Europe due to their skin tone. 

 

The Hellfighters fought in Europe for six months as part of the 16th Division of the French Army. Although racism was an issue all around the world in the early 1900s (and is still a problem today), Jim Crow was not the rule of law in European nations like France. This presented the Hellfighters with the opportunity to demonstrate their fighting prowess to the world. The regiment's moniker is an accurate representation of how their enemies saw their battle prowess.

 

Indeed, the Germans were expertly defeated by the Harlem Hellfighters. Despite being injured and short ammunition, Private Henry Johnson and Private Needham Roberts were able to stop a German patrol during one confrontation with hostile forces. Johnson used a knife to fend off the Germans when Roberts was no longer able to defend himself.

 

Because they were such vicious warriors, the Germans started to refer to the Harlem squad as "the hellfighters." The unit was referred to the "Men of Bronze" by the French, though. The serpent symbol on the uniforms of the 369th Infantry Regiment earned them the nickname "Black Rattlers."

 

The Hellfighters stood out not only for their fighting skills and skin color, but also for the length of time they spent engaged in combat. They engaged in more non-stop, continuous fighting than any other American unit of their size. On the battlefield, they spent 191 days. The Harlem Hellfighters saw more constant fighting, which meant they also suffered more casualties than other groups. There were more than 1,400 total casualties for the 369th Infantry Regiment. These soldiers gave their lives so that others in America could enjoy all the privileges of citizenship.

 

Newspapers covered their valiant efforts, and the Harlem Hellfighters' gallantry in battle brought them recognition both domestically and abroad. On February 17, 1919, the Hellfighters were welcomed back to the country with a huge parade. Up to five million spectators, according to some estimates, attended. For the first time, African-American servicemen were greeted by New Yorkers of many racial origins as they marched in the procession along Fifth Avenue. There were 3,000 Hellfighters in the parade. It represented a significant improvement over the previous year, when the regiment had been denied participation in the farewell march before departing for Europe.

 

The 369th Infantry Regiment received recognition in addition to the parade. The French government awarded the prestigious Croix de Guerre medal to 171 of the combatants at the end of World War I. The entire regiment received a Croix de Guerre award from France. Among other awards, the United States presented the Distinguished Service Cross to some Harlem Hellfighters members. 

 

Despite being praised for their devotion, the Hellfighters encountered prejudice and discrimination in a nation where these attitudes were the law. Furthermore, in the years following the conflict, the public's recollection of their contributions to World War I mostly disappeared. However, there has recently been a resurgence of interest in these service members. 

Barbara Lewis Burger, an archivist for the National Archives, was intrigued by a well-known photograph of nine Harlem Hellfighters before their 1919 homecoming march and made the decision to learn more about the guys in the picture. 

 

Here is a brief summary of each man she looked into: 

received a Croix de Guerre for personal velour during combat. After his duty, he worked as a janitor and an elevator operator, but three years after the victory parade, he passed away from TB.

 

An individual Croix de Guerre was awarded for valour to Henry Davis Primas Sr. After World War One, he worked as a pharmacist and for the US Postal Service.

 

The combat prowess of Pvt. Ed Williams was evident when he engaged the Germans at Séchault, France. The Hellfighters braved hand-to-hand battle, chemical attacks, and machine gun fire.

 

For his bravery in battle, Cpl. T. W. Taylor received a personal Croix de Guerre. He was a shipboard cook who passed away in 1983 at the age of 86. 

 

After the war, Pvt. Alfred S. Manley worked as a driver for a washing business. 1933 saw his passing.

 

received the Croix de Guerre, which also came with a Bronze Star, for his exceptional bravery. He worked for the Works Progress Administration during the New Deal after World War I. 1951 saw his passing.

 

after the war, Pvt. Leon E. Fraiter worked as a salesperson in jewelry stores. 1974 saw his passing.

 

In 1941, Pvt. Herbert Taylor, a laborer in New York City, reenlisted in the military. 1984 saw his passing.

 

Another member of the Harlem Hellfighters, went on to become a well-known painter after the war. He painted while holding up his right arm with his left because his right arm was immobile due to a combat injury. In a letter shown at the Smithsonian, he stated, "I can never forget sorrow, and I will never forget sun set," attributing his artistic inspiration to the conflict. "That's when you first noticed it. So, I had everything on the drive home. And I still paint with it now.

 

In 1930, he completed "The End of the War: Starting Home," his first oil painting. It depicts Black soldiers advancing on German defenses. Pippin passed away in 1946, but his letters have been useful in providing firsthand accounts of the war. Henry Johnson has also garnered a great deal of praise for his work as a Harlem Hellfighter in addition to Pippin. He was given a U.S. award posthumously in 2015. Medal of Honor for using just a knife and the butt of his rifle to repel a number of German soldiers.

 

Legacy:

The Harlem Hell fighters have received tributes from museums, veterans' organizations, and individual artists. The "Double Victory: The African American Military Experience" exhibition, which debuted in 2016 at the National Museum of African American History and Culture, commemorates the accomplishments of the Hellfighters and other Black veterans. The 369th Veterans' Association was founded to honor the 369th infantry, and a graphic novel titled ‘’The Harlem Hellfighters’’ was dedicated to the Hellfighters.