From the foundational battlefields of the Revolutionary War, to the Civil War that finally broke the shackles of slavery, to WW2’s celebrated Tuskegee Airmen, and to the complex conflicts of the present day, African Americans have fought in every single war of the United States. Some are famous, like the Buffalo Soldiers of the Civil War and the aforementioned Tuskegee flyers. But others not so much. The Harlem Hellfighters are one such group. Their story is a story of courage both on and off the battlefield as they fought the Germans in Europe and racism at home.
The Harlem Hellfighters were an African American regiment of the United States Army that served during World War I. The regiment, officially known as the 369th Infantry Regiment, was made up primarily of African American soldiers from Harlem, New York, and was led by white officers. The Harlem Hellfighters were one of the first African American units to be sent to fight in Europe during World War I, battled Germany longer than nearly any other regiment, and they were known for their bravery and determination in the face of adversity.
The Harlem Hellfighters were formed in 1916 as part of the New York National Guard. They were formed after years of lobbying by Black leaders in Harlem, and the majority of the regiment was made up of recruits from that neighborhood – hence that part of the nickname. But the regiment also included African Americans from all across the NY-NJ-CT-PA area. The recruits ranged from teenagers to school teachers to mailmen, and their motivations also ranged widely – from search for adventure to patriotism to wanting to be part of something special. But one of the main driving forces, spoken or unspoken, was the belief that their service in the war would bring recognition and better treatment for African Americans by their White neighbors. Unfortunately, this was not to be.
The regiment trained at Camp Whitman, New York, before being sent to fight in France in 1918. They would fight in some of the most significant battles in WW I. However, the regiment was initially assigned to labor duties, such as digging trenches and building roads. The White command structure at the time did not believe that African Americans made good soldiers, believing racist tropes that Black soldiers could not bear the stresses of war, or that they were cowardly and would flee the battlefield. But the necessities of war would eventually give them the opportunity to fight on the front lines.
The French needed reinforcements and the commander of the American Expeditionary Force, General Black Jack Pershing, decided to lend the 369th Regiment to the French. Amongst the White American Army, the members of the Regiment had faced discrimination, sometimes outright hostile racism. White soldiers in the US Army refused to serve with the Black soldiers. But from the French, the Harlem Hellfighters received a very different treatment. The French treated them no differently than any other French unit and for the most part, showed no particular racist behavior or attitude nor did they segregate the 369th in any way. The French were actually used to working with African soldiers from their colonial possessions like Senegal, and in any event, they were facing a manpower shortage so they welcomed any help they could get with open arms.
In the spring of 1918, the Harlem Hellfighters were sent to the front lines in the Second Battle of the Marne. In September of the same year, they fought in the Meuse-Argonne sector of France. This was one of the largest and deadliest battles of World War I, and it was the final major offensive of the war for the American Expeditionary Forces. In this battle, more than a million American and French troops attacked the German lines. The Harlem Hellfighters were assigned to the French 16th Division and were tasked with taking heavily fortified German positions in the area. They fought bravely and successfully and were one of the first units to break through the German lines. In July, they fought alongside the French army in the Battle of Château-Thierry . The battle was a significant victory for the Allies, as it prevented the German army from reaching Paris. Later at the Battle of Sechault in September 1918, the Harlem Hellfighters were part of the successful attack on the German stronghold of Sechault, which was a key objective in the Meuse-Argonne offensive. This battle was one of the most notable achievements of the regiment during the war. They were also the first American unit to reach the Rhine River, the last objective of the war.
The Harlem Hellfighters served 191 days on the front lines, longer than any other American unit during World War I. They faced significant challenges and discrimination from white American soldiers, but they proved their bravery and determination by fighting alongside the French army and became one of the most decorated units of the war. They were awarded the Croix de Guerre, the highest military honor awarded by the French government, for their bravery and determination.
After the war, the Regiment returned to the United States in 1919 to a heroes’ welcome. On February 17, 1919, they marched down New York’s Fifth Avenue in a victory parade in the French formation – 16 troops abreast – a proud symbol of their fighting history with their French counterparts. They were celebrated for their service and were honored with a parade through the streets of Harlem. However, despite their heroic actions, they faced discrimination and racism upon their return, and many struggled to find employment or receive veterans benefits. In fact, the years between WW I and WW II were tragically some of the most violent and persecuted time for African Americans in US history.
The legacy of the Harlem Hellfighters lives on today, as they were trailblazers for African American soldiers, showing that they could fight and serve with the same valor and distinction as any other soldier, despite facing racial discrimination.
The Harlem Hellfighters were also known for their cultural contributions, as they brought jazz music to France and introduced the French to the African American culture. Many of their members were also talented musicians, and they performed in various venues, spreading the music and culture of Harlem all around Europe.
Recognition and honor from the Regiment’s home country had to wait several decades. In the 1980s and 90s various landmarks were named after the Hellfighters – such as the 369th Regiment Armory in Harlem and the Harlem Hellfighter Drive – formerly the Harlem River Drive. In 2006 a twelve-foot monument was erected to honor the Regiment in New York – although this was a belated copy of a monument that already existed in France. And in 2015 President Obama awarded a posthumous Congressional Medal of Honor to a member of the Regiment, Henry Johnson.