This book was about the hardships and mistreatments of the outstanding 761st african american tank battalion, the only black us tank battalion, in world war ii. African americans played a significant role in the united states armed forces during world war ii, serving all branches of the military. Oclcs webjunction has pulled together information and resources to assist library staff as they consider how to handle coronavirus. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Beginning in november 1944, they engaged the enemy for 183.
African american liberators in the netherlands february 23, 2018 by megan harris the following is a guest blog post by sebastiaan vonk and mieke kirkels, historians in the netherlands working to research, document, and commemorate the history of african american soldiers stationed in the netherlands during world war ii. The first black panthers liberated concentration camps your comments the forward welcomes reader comments in order to promote thoughtful discussion on issues of importance to the jewish community. A detailed and informative history is told in the book entitled the 761st black panther tank battalion in world war ii an illustrated history of the first african american armored unit to see combat, by joe wilson, jr. African american soldiers in world war ii in their own words this lesson plan was created by paul larue and his students at washington high school. The story of the 761st black panther tank battalion, the decorated all africanamerican unit who served with valor during world war ii. This is a comprehensive record of the 761st tank battalion, the first african american armored unit to enter combat. Jun 16, 2008 on the battlefields of world war ii, the men of the african american 761st tank battalion under general patton broke through enemy lines with the same courage with which they broke down the racist limitations set upon them by others proving themselves as tough, reliable, and determined to fight as any tank unit in combat. The original black panthers fought in the 761st tank. Wilson 2006, paperback, alternate at the best online prices at ebay. Assigned at various times to the third, seventh and ninth armies, the black panthers fought major engagements in six european countries and participated in four major allied campaigns, inflicting,000 casualties on the german army and capturing or destroying thousands.
Also included is a list of african american world war ii veterans belatedly and mostly posthumously awarded medals of honor on january, 1997. Feb 04, 2020 in october of 1944, the 761st tank battalion became the first african american tank battalion to see combat in world war ii. The 761st was made up primarily of african american soldiers, who by federal law were not permitted to serve alongside white troops. The 761st fought under general george patton during the battle of the bulge. Pfeifer discusses not only the history of the units battle record, marginalized by racism, but also the experiences of individual men who suffered many injustices. The 761st was the first of its kind, the first africanamerican tank unit to go into combat. The 761st were known as the black panthers after their units distinctive insignia. Ironically, this unit, which had been previously discriminated against, helped liberate the nazi concentration camps of dachau and buchenwald. An illustrated history of the first african american armored unit to see combat. On the battlefields of world war ii, the men of the africanamerican 761st tank battalion under general patton broke through enemy lines with the same courage with which they broke down the racist limitations set upon them by others proving themselves as tough, reliable, and determined to fight as any tank unit in combat. The 761 st tank battalion was one of a small number of african american tank units. African americans in the united states army in world war ii.
Constituted 15 march 1942 in the army of the united states, the battalion was activated 1 april 1942 at camp claiborne, louisiana. They were part of the reinforcements that helped to save the city of bastogne that turned the tide of the battle. African americans in the united states army in world war ii quantity. Buy the 761st black panther tank battalion in world war ii. The african american 761st tank battalion in world war ii by charles w. Sasser is a solid contribution to this growing literature that anyone interested in wwii andor issues of segregationrace relations in the middle of the 20th century should pick up.
A powerful wartime saga in the bestselling tradition of flags of our fathers, brothers in arms recounts the extraordinary story of the 761st tank battalion, the. Dec 03, 2007 the 761st tank battalion was formed in the spring of 1942 and was the first african american tank battalion to see combat in the second world war. The africanamerican 761st tank battalion in world war ii ebook written by charles w. Charles w sasser on the battlefields of world war ii, the men of the africanamerican 761st tank battalion under general patton broke through enemy lines with the same courage with which they broke down the racist. The africanamerican 761st tank battalion in world war ii.
The epic story of the 761st tank battalion, wwiis forgotten heroes. Brothers in arms is the actual, heroic account of the 761st tank battalion, an african american armored unit that fought in world war ii. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read pattons panthers. Assigned at various times to the third, seventh and ninth armies, the black panthers fought major engagements in six european countries and participated in four major allied campaigns, inflicting,000 casualties on the german army and capturing or destroying thousands of. The original black panthers were the 761st tank battalion, the first allblack armored battalion of world war ii. In 1998, the 761 st tank battalion deactivated received a presidential unit citation, the highest award that a unit can receive. Their logo depicting a black panther, as well as their nickname, was later adopted. In october of 1944, the 761st tank battalion became the first african american tank battalion to see combat in world war ii. See more ideas about american soldiers, wwii and world war. The 761 st was the first group of african american tankers to reach france. Known primarily for being the first african american armored unit to see combat in world war ii and as future baseball star jackie robinsons onetime outfit, the 761st tank battalion was forged in a devils cauldron of heat and prejudice at camp claiborne, louisiana. The first black panthers liberated concentration camps.
Pbs american experience segment concentrating on the heroics of the 761st tank battalion, who played a key role in spearheading general george pattons offensive across western europe. The first of these was one of the sources for abduljabbars book. The africanamerican 761st tank battalion in world war ii sasser, charles w. On june 9, 2009, a stretch of highway 9 running through pottawatomie county, oklahoma, where ruben rivers grew up, was named in his honor u. Examples include the 92nd infantry division and the 761st black panther tank battalion, which led a 183day thrust by american forces from france to germany, and the praise by gen. The 761st black panther tank battalion in world war ii. The africanamerican 761st tank battalion in world war ii by charles w sasser online at alibris.
Pattons panthers on the battlefields of world war ii, the men of the africanamerican 761st tank battalion under general patton broke through enemy lines with the same courage with which they broke down the racist limitations set upon them by others proving themselves as tough, reliable, and determined to fight as any tank unit in combat. The battalion received a presidential unit citation for its actio. Pattons panthers on the battlefields of world war ii, the men of the african american 761st tank battalion under general patton broke through enemy lines with the same courage with which they broke down the racist limitations set upon them by others proving themselves as tough, reliable, and determined to fight as any tank unit in combat. Augustines college in raleigh, north carolina and an adjunct professor of history at fayetteville state university. The african american 761st tank battalion in world war ii. For those whod like to read excellent histories of the 761st and 784th tank battalions, see the 761st black panther tank battalion in world war ii and the 784th tank battalion in world war ii, both by joe wilson, jr. Beginning in november 1944, they engaged the enemy for 183 straight. List of books and articles about african americans and world. The first black panthers liberated concentration camps the. Free shipping due to covid19, orders may be delayed. The 761st was made up primarily of africanamerican soldiers, who by federal law were not permitted to serve alongside white troops. Brothers in arms is the actual, heroic account of the 761st tank battalion, an africanamerican armored unit that fought in world war ii. Drawing on this impressive stable of experts from ancient, medieval, modern, contemporary, and military history, the history reader offers articles, interviews, insights, and further reading for history buffs and book lovers everywhere. The 761st tank battalion was formed in the spring of 1942 and was the first african american tank battalion to see combat in the second world war.
His latest project will take him back to world war ii once again, this time to tell the tale of the 761st tank battalion, a unit of africanamerican army servicemen whose war effort earned them a. Numerous and frequentlyupdated resource results are available from this search. African american liberators in the netherlands folklife today. Martins press has published awardwinning history books on a range of subjects. The 761st tank battalion was an independent tank battalion of the united states army during world war ii. On the battlefields of world war ii, the men of the african american 761st tank battalion under general patton broke through enemy lines with the same courage with which they broke down the racist limitations set upon them by others proving themselves as tough, reliable, and determined to fight as any tank unit in combat. The 761st tank battalion african american soldiers by kathryn browne pfeifer, for ages 9 to 12, published by twentyfirst century books 1994, discusses the history of the units battle record and individual experiences, and has a chronology of african american service in the u. The 761st was the first of its kind, the first african american tank unit to go into combat. Eisenhower for the efforts of the blackonly 99th fighter squadron. The book chronicles the lives of young black men from all over the united states who registered for the draft or volunteered in the united states army in 1942. They were known as the black panthers after their units distinctive insignia. The 761st tank battalion africanamerican soldiers by kathryn browne pfeifer, for ages 9 to 12, published by twentyfirst century books 1994, discusses the history of the units battle record and individual experiences, and has a chronology of african american service in the u.
Known as the first african american tank unit to see combat in world war ii as well as future baseball great jackie robinsons onetime outfit, the 761st tank battalion emerged from adversity. Feb 01, 2016 known as the first african american tank unit to see combat in world war ii as well as future baseball great jackie robinsons onetime outfit, the 761st tank battalion emerged from adversity. An illustrated history of the first african american armored unit to see combat new ed by joe wilson isbn. And, by the end of the war, the black panthers had fought their way. The book followed many different individual experiences from the tank battalions soldiers during their time in the war. The history of the black soldiers of the 761st tank battalion, which served with distinction during world war ii, is well presented in this entry in the africanamerican soldiers series. The story is told through the eyes of william mcburney, a tank gunner in the 761st tank battalion, the first africanamerican tank unit in wwii. Book critique pattons panthers the book that i decided to do a critique on was the book pattons panthers by charles w sasser. Charles w sasser on the battlefields of world war ii, the men of the african american 761st tank battalion under general patton broke through enemy lines with the same courage with which they broke down the racist.
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