Black Men in World Black Men in World War IWar I

By: Ben TatroBy: Ben Tatro

World War IWorld War I When WWI started in August 1914, When WWI started in August 1914,

Woodrow Wilson issued a proclamation of Woodrow Wilson issued a proclamation of neutrality.neutrality.

After repeated German Submarine attacks After repeated German Submarine attacks on civilian vessels and the loss of on civilian vessels and the loss of American lives Wilson and many American lives Wilson and many Americans were furious and saw that as a Americans were furious and saw that as a huge violation of U.S neutral rights.huge violation of U.S neutral rights.

On April 6On April 6thth, 1917, Congress declared war , 1917, Congress declared war on Germany.on Germany.

World War IWorld War I Most African Americans supported the war Most African Americans supported the war

effort.effort. They saw it as an opportunity to They saw it as an opportunity to

demonstrate their loyalty and devotion to demonstrate their loyalty and devotion to their country through military service.their country through military service.

W.E.B. Du Bois declared “If this is our W.E.B. Du Bois declared “If this is our country, “then this is our war. We must country, “then this is our war. We must fight with every ounce of blood and fight with every ounce of blood and treasure.”treasure.”

World War IWorld War I

In 1917, there were about 10,000 black In 1917, there were about 10,000 black regulars in the Armyregulars in the Army

There were more than 5,000 black men There were more than 5,000 black men in the Navy, but mostly all of them were in the Navy, but mostly all of them were waiters and kitchen attendants.waiters and kitchen attendants.

The Marine Corps didn’t accept African The Marine Corps didn’t accept African Americans.Americans.

There were several all-black state There were several all-black state National Guard units.National Guard units.

World War IWorld War I Although the military was extremely segregated, Although the military was extremely segregated,

there was political pressure from black there was political pressure from black newspapers and the NAACP to commission black newspapers and the NAACP to commission black officers to lead black troops.officers to lead black troops.

Eventually they allowed black officers, but they Eventually they allowed black officers, but they were confined to lower ranks and couldn’t be were confined to lower ranks and couldn’t be promoted past Captain.promoted past Captain.

There was an officer training school at Fort Des There was an officer training school at Fort Des Moines, IowaMoines, Iowa

The overall command of black units was in white The overall command of black units was in white hands.hands.

Lieutenant Colonel Charles Lieutenant Colonel Charles YoungYoung

An African American soldier who had already An African American soldier who had already served in Cuba, the Philippines, Haiti, and Mexico. served in Cuba, the Philippines, Haiti, and Mexico.

He was eligible to lead black and white troops in He was eligible to lead black and white troops in World War I.World War I.

Several white soldiers complained and he was Several white soldiers complained and he was eventually forced to retire with the military eventually forced to retire with the military authorities claiming he had high blood pressure.authorities claiming he had high blood pressure.

Young insisted he was healthy and he rode a horse Young insisted he was healthy and he rode a horse from his home in Xenia, Ohio, to Washington D.C., from his home in Xenia, Ohio, to Washington D.C., to prove it.to prove it.

But he remained on the retired list until he was But he remained on the retired list until he was given command of a training unit five days before given command of a training unit five days before the war ended.the war ended.

World War IWorld War I Most white military leaders and politicians Most white military leaders and politicians

embraced racial stereotypes and didn’t expect embraced racial stereotypes and didn’t expect much from black soldiers.much from black soldiers.

As in earlier wars, black troops were discriminated As in earlier wars, black troops were discriminated against, abused, and neglected.against, abused, and neglected.

At Camp Hill, Virginia, black men lived in tents At Camp Hill, Virginia, black men lived in tents with no floors, blankets, or bathing facilities.with no floors, blankets, or bathing facilities.

White men didn’t salute any black troops and White men didn’t salute any black troops and black officers weren’t allowed admission to black officers weren’t allowed admission to Officers’ Clubs. Officers’ Clubs.

World War IWorld War I

Military authorities didn’t expect to use Military authorities didn’t expect to use black troops in combat.black troops in combat.

The military preferred to employ black The military preferred to employ black troops in road construction, and as cooks troops in road construction, and as cooks and bakers.and bakers.

Of ore than 380,000 black men who Of ore than 380,000 black men who served in WWI, only 42,000 went into served in WWI, only 42,000 went into combat.combat.

That’s 3% of the entire U.S army.That’s 3% of the entire U.S army.

World War IWorld War I Black troops were offered little combat training.Black troops were offered little combat training. During WWI black regiments received harsh During WWI black regiments received harsh

criticism for their mistakes in combat.criticism for their mistakes in combat. White soldiers were more concerned with White soldiers were more concerned with

reminding Negro soldiers that they were Negro, reminding Negro soldiers that they were Negro, rather than being concerned about having them rather than being concerned about having them be effective in war.be effective in war.

The 368The 368thth regiment received some of the worst regiment received some of the worst criticism. While fighting alongside the French they criticism. While fighting alongside the French they fell back in disorder. fell back in disorder.

Some soldiers fled and after the battle 4 men Some soldiers fled and after the battle 4 men were sentenced to death and one to life in prison.were sentenced to death and one to life in prison.

The 369The 369thth Regiment Regiment

White officials bashed on a lot of the black White officials bashed on a lot of the black regiments for their weaknesses in battle and regiments for their weaknesses in battle and they ignored the commendable achievements they ignored the commendable achievements of the 369of the 369thth-372-372ndnd regiments. regiments.

The 369The 369thth regiment was the biggest standout of regiment was the biggest standout of all black regiments.all black regiments.

They had an outstanding combat record and They had an outstanding combat record and they fought alongside the French in some of they fought alongside the French in some of the heaviest fighting in the war for 91 days the heaviest fighting in the war for 91 days straight.straight.

The 369The 369thth Regiment Regiment

They never gave up a prisoner or lost a They never gave up a prisoner or lost a trench during battle.trench during battle.

There heroic fighting style earned them There heroic fighting style earned them the name “Men of Bronze”.the name “Men of Bronze”.

They lived up to their motto that they They lived up to their motto that they frequently shouted in battle which was..frequently shouted in battle which was..

Lets Go

French & Black TroopsFrench & Black Troops Before the war and throughout the war the Before the war and throughout the war the

French were unfazed by racist warnings French were unfazed by racist warnings from white American officials.from white American officials.

They praised the conduct of black soldiers They praised the conduct of black soldiers and accepted them as equals.and accepted them as equals.

Following the victory by the allies in WWI, Following the victory by the allies in WWI, French authorities awarded the Croix de French authorities awarded the Croix de Guerre to the men of the 369Guerre to the men of the 369thth, the 371, the 371stst, , and the 372and the 372ndnd regiments. regiments.

After WWIAfter WWI Black troops returned to America on segregated Black troops returned to America on segregated

ships.ships. Members of the 369Members of the 369thth regiment were not permitted regiment were not permitted

to join the farewell parade in New York City.to join the farewell parade in New York City. Even when white Americans offered praise it was Even when white Americans offered praise it was

shot down with racist stereotypes.shot down with racist stereotypes. The Milwaukee Sentinel offered a typical The Milwaukee Sentinel offered a typical

compliment: “Those two colored regiments fought compliment: “Those two colored regiments fought well, and it calls for special recognition. IS there no well, and it calls for special recognition. IS there no way of getting a cargo of watermelons over there?”way of getting a cargo of watermelons over there?”

THE ENDTHE END