#harlem hellfighters

[lovingbeta]

“Thank you for your service” means even more in this case.

Black History Month

A member of the Harlem Hellfighters (369th Infantry Regiment) poses for the camera while holding a puppy he saved during World War 1, 1918.

The Harlem Hellfighters was a regiment made up of decorated Black soldiers who fought as part of the French army because the U.S. did not allow Black soldiers to fight alongside white soldiers. The French accepted the Harlem Hellfighters with open arms and did not racially segregate them.

During World War 1, they fought on the front lines for 191 days, longer than any other American unit. And as a result, suffered the most casualties of any American regiment—losing approximately 1,500 men. Despite the heavy death toll and the poor replacement system, the Harlem Hellfighters never lost a trench or a foot of ground to the enemy; none of them became prisoners of war. Not only were they one of the most successful regiments of World War 1, but they also helped bring Jazz to France.

Upon returning home, the Harlem Hellfighters received a welcome parade in New York City; a privilege that was denied to them before they had left for war. However, the celebrations were short lived as the summer of 1919 became known as the Red Summer, in which the country saw some of the worst racial violence since the Civil War.

The Harlem Hellfighters who dreamed of returning home to a place that would finally treat them with respect and as equal human beings, quickly realized that nothing had changed at all.

[todaysdocument]

1st Lieutenant James Reese Europe and the 369th Infantry Regiment Band (the Harlem Hellfighters) play for patients in the American Red Cross Hospital No. 9, Paris, France, September 4, 1918.

Record Group 111: Records of the Office of the Chief Signal Officer

Series: Photographs of American Military Activities

Image description: 1st Lieutenant Europe conducts a brass band who are standing in rows outside a building. All of the men are wearing WWI Army uniforms. A sign in the background reads HOTEL TUNIS. This regiment, the “Harlem Hellfighters,” was made up of all Black soldiers. 

Transcription:

SUBJECT: 111SC 218880

NUMBER E

see 20417

2nd Lt. G. E. Stone, S.C.

PHOTOGRAPHER

REC'D 10-14-18

TAKEN 9-4-18

FIRST LT. JAMES E. EUROPE OF the 369th Regt. Inf. playing for the patients of Hospital No. 9. Sgt. Wood Andrews is the first musician on the right and plays the slide trombone. American Red Cross Hospital No. 9, Paris, France.

[blackfolksintime]

Henry "Black Death" Johnson served as a member of Company C, 369th Infantry Regiment, 93rd Division, American Expeditionary Forces (The Harlem Hellfighters), during combat operations against the enemy on the front lines of the Western Front in France.

While on night sentry duty, May 15, 1918, Johnson and a fellow Soldier, Pvt. Needham Roberts, received a surprise attack by a German raiding party consisting of at least 12 soldiers.

While under intense enemy fire and despite receiving significant wounds, Johnson mounted a brave retaliation resulting in several enemy casualties. When Roberts was badly wounded, Johnson prevented him from being taken prisoner by German forces.

After his rifle jammed, Johnson exposed himself to grave danger by advancing from his position to engage an enemy soldier in hand-to-hand combat. Wielding only a knife and being seriously wounded, Johnson continued fighting, took his Bolo knife and stabbed it through an enemy soldier's head.

Displaying great courage, the 5ft 4in Johnson held back the enemy force until they retreated. The enemy raid's failure to secure prisoners was due to the bravery and resistance of Johnson and his fellow comrade. The effect of their fierce fighting resulted in the increased vigilance and confidence of the 369th Infantry Regiment.

[kemetic-dreams]

Fred McIntyre known as Devil's Man holds in his hands a portrait of the Kaiser framed with bullets that he took from a German Soldier

Colorized by Marina Amaral

Corporal Fred McIntyre served in World War I with the USA Army's 369th Infantry Regiment, a lavishly decorated regiment that was better known by its nickname: the Harlem Hellfighters. The Hellfighters, part of the New York National Guard, stood out for several reasons: uncommon courage, the exceptional ragtime-influenced brass band, and their Afroness. Only ten percent of the American soldiers were African.

In July 1918 they were fighting alongside the French along the Marne River. In fact, militarily they became French, as the 369th were integrated into the French Army. They wore hybrid uniforms (including the French Adrian helmet), carried Gallic rifles, and received French troop wine rations.

The Harlem Hellfighters accumulated more casualties on the Western Front than any other American regiment, but received numerous medals for their bravery. One member of the regiment, Henry Porter, nicknamed Black Death, was the first American to receive the prestigious Croix de Guerre, which was also awarded collectively to the entire 369th Regiment.

[ww1-uniforms-tournament]

Harlem Hellfighters on the left, Germany on the right.

The exceptionally brave Harlem Hellfighters were held back from combat they so ardently wanted to take part in for one reason: the U.S. Army did not tolerate the idea of black soldiers undertaking important military roles. Commander Pershing solved the problem by giving his 369th African-American division to the French army, which, though chastised for letting black instead of white officers command them, gladly welcomed the support and provided them with French equipment. Awarded an incredible number of War Cross medals, these soldiers played Jazz music in France, the first time many Frenchmen would ever hear this music.

Germany, the cause of the Great War according to the Treaty of Versailles, was eager to prove its military worth as a brand new, reunited nation. Its efficient army held the Allies back for four years on multiple fronts despite a war economy heavily impacted by the different blockades and measures of control established by the enemy. The iconic Pickelhaube, though soon replaced by the more modern Stahlhelm, remained the symbol of the German army of the Great War and one of the most favoured war trophies kept by war veterans.

Source: Osprey Publishing.

[jazzdailyblog]

James Reese Europe: Pioneering Bandleader and Musical Trailblazer

Introduction: James Reese Europe was a pivotal figure in the history of American music, a bandleader, composer, and arranger who helped shape the sound of the early 20th century. Born one hundred and forty-three years ago on February 22, 1881, in Mobile, Alabama, Europe rose to prominence during the ragtime era and became one of the most influential African American musicians of his time. His…

[theartofsupafly]

Harlem Hellfighters

Legacy

[pedroam-bang]

Valiant Hearts: Coming Home (2023)

[recursive360]

The Harlem Hellfighters: The Heroic Legacy of Henry Johnson (Season 1)

PBS => The Battle of Henry Johnson 🎖️

[afrotumble]

The Harlem Hellfighters | History

[todaysdocument]

Men of the Harlem Hellfighters (369th Infantry), some of whom had been awarded the Croix de Guerre by France for their courage under fire, on June 11, 1918. 

Record Group 165: Records of the War Department General and Special Staffs

Series: American Unofficial Collection of World War I Photographs

File Unit: Colored Troops

Image description: A line of Black soldiers standing shoulder to shoulder in a grassy field. They are wearing World War I U.S. Army uniforms and narrow metal helmets. 

Transcription: 

SUBJECT: 165-WW-127-4 NUMBER EU

165 WW-127 4

Inter. Film Ser. Photographer

Rec'd June 11, 1916  Taken

DESCRIPTION:

NEGRO TROOPS IN FRANCE.

Picture shows a part of the 15th Regt. Inf. N.Y.N.G organized by Col. Haywood, which has been under fire.  Two of the men Privates Johnson and Roberts, displayed exceptional courage while under fire and routed a German Raiding party for which the negroes were decorated with the French Croix de Guerre.  it will be noticed that the men have taken to the French trench helmet instead of the flatter and broader British style.

[lightdancer1]

The Harlem Hellfighters were the major unit that served under French command:

The major unit sent to fight under French command was the one that earned the nickname Harlem Hellfighters. These were men who truly did fight to fight and to gain admittance into the New York National Guard, which they succeeded, and then were perfectly happy to serve under French command....which meant while the main US Army due to the time it takes to build up forces came surprisingly close to missing actual fighting in the war entirely, these troops were fighting from the moment they arrived at the Front until the moment the guns fell silent in November 1918. Equally ironically due to serving under an army that had experience of what it actually took to fight they were spared some of the greater death tolls that afflicted the AEF which found out the hard way that American valor did not, in fact, compensate for what WW1 firepower did to troops in the open in the least little bit.

[mangus-khan-blog]

The Harlem Hellfighters

ARTICLE – MINI BIOGRAPHY – MILITARY HISTORY While serving in the military, I never heard of these guys. Once I got out, I started researching military units during wartime. I came across this picture, and it just intrigued me. I have hours of data about this unit and others like it. I thought I would share a very quick overview of this amazing collection of men. The Harlem Hellfighters,…

[ww1-uniforms-tournament]

Harlem Hellfighters on the left, Senegalese riflemen on the right.

I had to keep the early war uniform for the Senegalese or else their uniforms would be too similar! Amusing fact. See additional photos for late war uniform.

The Harlem Hellfighters are coming back stronger than ever following their large sweep on Germany! This reenactor wearing original WWI equipment shows us the mix of American uniform and French equipment that the Hellfighters wore, with their Adrian helmet, French accoutrements and the M1907/15 Berthier rifle.

Our Senegalese rifleman, from a genuine period autochrome (period photograph taken in colour, an expensive process) lacks his equipment but he would've had worn the same one as our Hellfighter, only dyed black for early war. He wears the coloured sash common to most colonial troops and seems to be a Corporal judging by his rank.

[bayoubodycount]

Sabaton, just showing some love for the insane valor and courage of the Harlem Hellfighters who battled against both racism and the terrors of WWII to come out the other end kicking ass and taking names...