
Harlem
Hell Fighters -
369th Infantry Regiment
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Harlem Hellfighters Facts for kids: Fast Fact Sheet
Fast, fun facts and Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ's) about the Harlem Hellfighters.
Who were the Harlem Hellfighters? The Harlem Hellfighters
were a regiment in the 369th Infantry who heroically
fought on the front lines and the whole regiment received the French Croix
de Guerre, a medal awarded to soldiers from Allied
countries for bravery in combat.
Who were the most famous Harlem Hellfighters?
The names of the most famous Harlem Hellfighters were
Henry Lincoln Johnson, Needham Roberts and James Reese
Europe.
Why were the Harlem Hellfighters
important? Their bravery during WW1 changed the
American public's opinion on African American soldiers
and helped pave the way for future African American
soldiers.
Where did the Harlem Hellfighters
fight? They fought on the
Western Front, notably in the Battle of
Chateau-Thierry and the Battle of Belleau Wood during
the Aisne-Marne Campaign (27 May - 5 June 1918).
Harlem
Hellfighters
Facts for kids
The following fact
sheet contains interesting facts and information on the all-black
369th regiment - the Harlem Hellfighters for kids.
Facts about
the Harlem Hellfighters and African Americans in WW1
Harlem Hellfighters
Fact 1: The "Harlem Hellfighters" was an all-black
National Guard unit, the 369th Infantry, that was among the first
American forces to arrive in Europe during World War I. The 369th
Infantry was originally the 15th New York (Colored) Regiment.
Harlem Hellfighters
Fact 2: The 369th regiment commenced basic
training at Camp Whitman in July 1917 then reassigned to
Spartanburg, South Carolina to complete their training.
They were deployed to France and reached the Western
Front in January 1918.
Harlem Hellfighters
Fact 3: The "Harlem Hellfighters" received
their nickname from the German enemy who referred to
them as Hell Fighters - 70% of the 369th Infantry
considered Harlem to be their home.
Harlem Hellfighters
Fact 4:
The 369th was under the command of mostly white
officers including their commander, Colonel William Hayward. The 92d
and 93d Divisions had some black officers, although white officers
dominated the command structure.
Harlem Hellfighters
Fact 5:
The African Americans in WW1 served in racially
segregated units and most were limited to serving in labor
battalions - the Harlem Hellfighters were an exception.
Harlem Hellfighters
Fact 6: General John J. Pershing assigned the
369th to the 16th Division of the French Army. The 369th
were trained to use French weapons and they wore French
helmets - the French helmet became the official patch of
the unit.
Harlem Hellfighters
Fact 7:
The 369th bravely fought on the
Western Front, the fighting zone in France and Flanders during WW1,
notably in the Battle of Chateau-Thierry and the Battle of
Belleau Wood during the Aisne-Marne Campaign (27 May - 5 June 1918)
Harlem Hellfighters
Fact 8: The Hell Fighters served for more
than 6 months on the front lines and suffered more than
1400 casualties
Harlem Hellfighters
Fact 9: The Hell fighters" never lost a
prisoner or gave up a foot of captured ground. Their
motto was "God damn, let's go."
Harlem Hellfighters
Fact 10: The Harlem Hellfighters spent 191
days in front line trenches, more than any other
American unit. They were the first unit to cross the
Rhine into Germany.
Continued...
Facts about
the Harlem Hellfighters and African Americans in WW1
1916 Harlem Hellfighters
for kids
The info about the Harlem Hellfighters provides interesting facts and
important information about this important event that occured during the presidency of the 28th President of the United States of America.
Harlem
Hellfighters
Facts for kids
The following fact
sheet continues with interesting facts and information on the
all-black 369th regiment - the Harlem Hellfighters for kids.
Facts about
the Harlem Hellfighters and African Americans in WW1
Harlem Hellfighters
Fact 11: Corporal Henry Johnson and Private Needham
Roberts were famous Hell Fighter heroes. In May 1918 Johnson and
Roberts were defending a lookout post on the Western Front when they
were attacked by a German unit. Both were wounded but they refused
to surrender. Corporal Henry Johnson and Private Needham Roberts
were the first Americans awarded the Croix de Guerre.
Harlem Hellfighters
Fact 12: Hell Fighter, James Reese Europe, was
the first African-American officer to lead troops into
battle during WW1 and survived a poison gas attack. He
became the regimental jazz band leader and famously
introduced jazz music to the French and British.
Harlem Hellfighters
Fact 13: The regiment was relieved on December
12, 1918 from assignment to the French 161st Division,
and returned to the New York Port of Embarkation.
Harlem Hellfighters
Fact 14: The 369th was the first New York unit
to return to America, and was the first unit to march up
Fifth Avenue from the Washington Square Park Arch to
their armory in Harlem marching to the music of their
regimental jazz band leader, James Reese Europe.
Harlem Hellfighters
Fact 15:
The 369th was demobilized on February 28, 1919 at Camp
Upton at Yaphank, New York, and returned to the New York
Army National Guard.
Harlem Hellfighters
Fact 16: The whole regiment was awarded the
French military honor, the Croix de Guerre, and 171 of
the officers and troops received individual citations
for bravery, more than any other American unit in WW1.
Harlem Hellfighters
Fact 17: African American soldiers were
originally nicknamed "Buffalo Soldiers". The original
Buffalo Soldiers were members of the U.S. 10th Cavalry
Regiment of the United States Army, and given the
nickname by Native Americans. The nickname "Buffalo
Soldiers" became synonymous with all of the African
American regiments until the emergence of the Harlem
Hell Fighters.
Harlem Hellfighters
Fact 18:
400,000 African Americans were drafted under the 1917
Selective Draft Act but only 42,000 African American
soldiers, including the Harlem Hellfighters, served
overseas as combat troops.
Harlem Hellfighters
Fact 19: The Harlem Hellfighters continue to
serve the nation at home and abroad. They returned home
in January 2005 from a year long deployment overseas
where they provided logistical support for the United
States and allied forces in Southern and Central Iraq.
Harlem Hellfighters
Fact 20: Author Max Brooks, the son of actress
Anne Bancroft and actor Mel Brooks, wrote a novel called
'The Harlem Hellfighters' which was published in 2014
containing a fictionalized account of the experiences of
the African American 369th Infantry Regiment.
Harlem Hellfighters
Fact 21: Sony Pictures has purchased the
rights to create a movie version of the novel to be
produced by Will Smith via his production company
Overbrook Entertainment
Facts about
the Harlem Hellfighters and African Americans in WW1
Facts
about the Harlem Hellfighters: American entry
and US role World War I
On April 6, 1917 the United States
Senate declared war on Germany
and fought with the allies in WW1. For additional
facts and information refer to the following links: .
Black
History for kids: Important People and Events
For visitors interested in African American History
refer to
Black History - People and Events.
A useful resource for
teachers, kids, schools and colleges undertaking
projects for the Black History Month.
Harlem Hellfighters for kids - President Woodrow Wilson Video
The article on the Harlem Hellfighters provides detailed facts and a summary of one of the important events during his presidential term in office. The following
Woodrow Wilson video will
give you additional important facts and dates about the political events experienced by the 28th American President whose presidency spanned from March 4, 1913 to March 4, 1921.
Harlem Hellfighters
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Interesting Facts about Harlem Hellfighters for kids and schools
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Key events
and Harlem Hellfighters for kids
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The Harlem Hellfighters, a major
event in US history
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Woodrow Wilson Presidency from March 4, 1913 to March 4, 1921
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Fast, fun facts about the Harlem Hellfighters
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Foreign & Domestic
policies of President Woodrow Wilson
● Woodrow Wilson Presidency and
Harlem Hellfighters for schools,
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