Response for August 31
From the Journal article A Breath of Freedom:
“Black soldiers experienced their occupation duty in Germany as a moment of liberation. Both in Great Britain before the invasion of Normandy and in France during the advance into Germany, black GIs had reported that sense of liberation because of the kindness the white civilian population in those countries had shown them” (43).
It is completely embarrassing and honestly disturbing that black American soldiers found more solitude and comfort in a war torn country that had previously slaughtered millions of Jews than their own home country. Sadly, it is undoubtedly true that black soldiers were treated with perpetual malice and violence in the United States during this time. The readings in class have enlightened many to the systemic racism in terms of oppression, verbal abuse, discreditation, and even physical attacks through the military during World War II. Discussed throughout the piece written by Höhn and Klimke, is the idea that black soldiers were happily overwhelmed with the respect and kindness that they received in Germany. The article highlights how the soldiers were treated like “‘human beings’ and ‘men’” in Germany and continues to explain that many were filled with sadness to return home (43). It seems remarkable to me that in a country that utilized scare tactics, promoted racist sentiments, exploited countless lives, and orchestrated mass genocide could be more welcoming and respectful to black troops than their own home country. In fact, to even further escape systemic racism and the constant fear of racially motivated attacks, an incredible 85% of black soldiers that enlisted in 1946 asked to be posted in Europe (53). Sadly, racism in the military persisted in Europe. The article discusses how one white American soldier verbally and eventually physically attacked a black soldier who was walking with his white girlfriend in Germany (58). This attitude persisted as many army officials promoted a color line in Germany, a form of perpetuating Jim Crow laws in Europe. It is infuriating to think of the treatment black servicemen and women were met with after fighting in such a bloody war, especially when so many did not survive.
“[The son of a black GI] also remembered his father marveling at the ease with which he and his wife could be together in Germany: ‘Things that were unthinkable for an interracial couple to do in the U.S. or on the U.S. military base [in Germany] could be done naturally by them in almost any German town and in the countryside’” (Höhn and Klimke, 49-50).
ReplyDeleteConsider the argument that the U.S. Military became an avenue for African Americans to be seen as equal and be treated with equality through their hard work of rising in rank to earn the “respectable” title often associated with the military. I believe that this notion does not truly explain why African Americans enlisted in the military prior to President Truman’s Executive Order 9981, which gradually desegregated the U.S. military (Knauer, 180). So why would African Americans look towards the military as an institution for equality in the first half of the twentieth century, when they were kept in segregated units and rarely saw combat? I argue that the experiences of African Americans in the U.S. Military were able to raise questions and debates at home that helped formulate into desegregation in the United States. One example of this is presented in the “A Breath of Freedom” journal article. The article explains that the experiences of black GI’s from the American Occupation Force in Germany from 1945-1949 were mostly positive in that there was no underlying institution of segregation as was the case in America through Jim Crow laws. Most Germans looked kindly on black GI’s, classifying them as “friendlier” than the white GI’s (who operated with arrogance drawn from their conquering Nazi Germany), with white German women becoming sexual or marital partners with some black GI’s. The fair treatment black GI’s experienced in Germany raised questions about their hypocritic homeland: Why are the racist and evil Nazis in Germany treating black GI’s with more respect that the country that sent them to fight for a democratic cause? This hypocrisy, which was echoed throughout papers such as the Chicago Defender and the Pittsburgh Courier helped to bring societal critiques back home. As such, black GI’s, through social critiques of the military’s hypocrisy and segregation, were able to help advance the issue of civil rights in the U.S.
"The Negro Soldier" propaganda film reaches beyond just being a small mistruth. It uses the sermon of a respectable African-American pastor to promote the lies and falsehood of the American culture at that time. The military promoted the ability to fight for freedom and defeat the Nazi occupation while on the home front Jim Crow segregation is in full swing. Personally, I see this as a huge stereotype of how racist our government was, for they completely dismissed the prominent truth in front of them. Within the speech by the pastor he claims to forget the racism at home and fight for a bigger purpose. Although these black soldiers left to defend their country not knowing if their families would be taken care of. This is the definition of service and yet they received no respect for it. Another disheartening thing to learn is the perception of the Germans by the black soldiers. On page 43 in the reading "Breathe of Freedom" by Hohn and Klikme it says “Black GI’s had reported that sense of liberation because of the kindness the white civilian population in those countries had shown to them.” This statement doesn’t sit well in me, the idea that a culture that caused the systematic genocide of millions of Jews offered an inclusive atmosphere. As a ROTC cadet I know a small amount of the commitment and sacrifice that these men and women gave up to protect our country, so the way these service members were treated after the war is utterly disrespectful. They endured and gave up just as much as their fellow white soldier next to them.
ReplyDeleteWill Kitsch
The film The Negro Soldier and the article A Breath of Freedom by Maria Höhn and Martin Klimke represent the two different sides of American culture during WWII and the period of German reconstruction afterwards in regards to race. Whereas in A Breath of Freedom, it describes the actions of the American commanders in an attempt to prevent African American soldiers from serving in Europe, the movie is a recruitment film for black Americans that uses propaganda to convince them to join the American military. The article describes how in postwar Germany, the white American commanders seemed to do all that they could to make life for the black troops as close to Jim Crow America as they could. On the other hand though, the film uses propaganda to portray military involvement as a way for African Americans to escape any negative scenario they may face at home. The film convinces black Americans that joining the war is a good idea by having the only people that speak be respected members of the church and it details many past black soldiers achievements and tries to convince the African American population that it is their duty to follow in their footsteps. Also, it shows just how great life must be for a black soldier; all the amenities they must get with this position and how much respect they must command. These two resources bring up the question as to why so much work was put into recruiting African American soldiers when those in charge of the military did not want them to be involved?
ReplyDeleteA Breath of Freedom shows the hypocrisy of the United States in trying to bring democracy to Nazi Germany, but still practicing Jim Crow at home and trying to institute it in occupied Germany. Despite their blatantly racist past, the German people accepted and embraced African-American brought to their country. Despite their Anti-Semitism, the Germans harbored very little prejudice to African-Americans. An African-American soldier walking down the street with a white German woman drew rude stares, they were not faced with violence or Lynch mobs like in the American South. They were respected because they wore the uniform of the victors. Germans were astonished with the exclusion of African-Americans and confused by the separation between the races, which is ironic being that the Germans were the racists and in need of “re-education.”
ReplyDeleteThe Negro Soldier shows the participation of African-Americans throughout American history beginning with Crispus Attucks whom was killed during the Boston Massacre and shows their participation through WWI. I view this film as urging African-Americans to participate in the Armed Forces during WWII because of their valiant service in past conflicts and because more opportunities have presented themselves.
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