The Black Panthers and WWII
The Black Panthers Drive into Germany: The 761st Tank Battalion, 1945
This article provides an in-depth description of several harsh battles that the 761st fought in. The 761st fought in some of the most famous and important battles on the Western Front including the Battle of the Bulge, and contributed to some of the Allies’ most important victories, for example when breaking through the German’s defense across the Siegfried Line. After fighting for days on end (in one case the 761st fought for 183 days without relief, something that nearly no other white battalions had to endure) the 761st pushed the Germans back across 6 European countries. Beyond strengthening the Allies’ push forward, the 761st was shocked by the sights they witnessed when on May 2 heroically liberating Gunskirchen concentration camp in Austria and liberated 15,000 Hungarian Jews. Despite their countless heroic efforts, the 761st still faced racism after the war and had to wait 33 years until official recognition.
If you would like to learn about the details of the battles, the reflections of soldiers including Leonard Smith, or the liberation of the concentration camps this is a great resource.
The Original Black Panthers Fought in the 761st Tank Battalion During WWII
This article focuses heavily on the obstacles that the 761st Tank Battalion fought both on the Front but also back home in America. Providing an overview of the racist sentiments that shaped their initial military service, and inspired their nickname of “Black Panthers Unit,” this article also includes examples of activism by soldiers including Jackie Robinson. After following the battalion’s progress through the war, the article includes a moving poem titled, “The Black Messiah,” written by Sonia Schreiber Weitz after the 761st liberation of Gunskirchen subcamp of the Mauthausen concentration camp. The article concludes by focusing on the advocacy efforts the battalion faced when continuing their fight against anti-black racism after the conclusion of the war.
Drawing on Samuel Marquis’s book Soldiers of Freedom: The WWII Story of Patton’s Panthers and the Edelweiss Pirates this article begins by highlighting the account of Sergeant William McBurney in the final year of the war as the 761st participated in several of the most important battles that led to the Allied victory, including the famous Battle of the Bulge. The article follows the efforts of the 761st to prove themselves as a powerful fighting force and then advocate for the desegregation of the army and further rights for Black Americans. The article showcases the efforts and eventual praise the 761st earned during the years following the war.
This resource is ideal for anyone curious about distinct soldiers’ perspectives, the battles fought against racism, and the 761st experiences fighting in the war. Moreover, students can use this article as a tool to guide further reading if they should choose to read Marquis’ book on the 761st.
“Come Out Fighting: The 761st – The Black WWII Battalion That Liberated Hitler’s Camps” 2002 doc.
This documentary follows the story of the 761st and includes images, film, and testimonies from historians and members of the first all-Black Panthers Tank Battalion. Beginning with a brief history of racism in the military, the film looks at the racism the soldiers faced when enlisting and throughout their training. There is even a story of in which Black soldiers face officers who belonged to the KKK. These instances pushed the 761st to become the best performing battalion in the army. We then hear from the soldiers about horrors they saw while fighting in the war, and the terror they faced when liberating the Gunskirchen concentration camp. The story of the liberation is told from the perspective of both the liberators and survivors. When entering the camp Leonard Smith reflected that “you only thought about slavery, doing to black people, I didn’t something like that would happen to them. I didn’t know the Germans were that evil that they would want to do this to people.” While the soldiers were shocked by the conditions they witnessed, upon seeing their liberators, camp survivor Irene remembers: “I had never seen a black person before. And he comes right to me and gives me the bicycle with a big back of chocolate. I think this was the first time I was happy in many many, many, years.” After returning home, despite all their bravery and success in Europe, the soldiers faced a racist society and had to fight for their recognition until eventually earning commendation and working towards equality in the military and beyond.
This documentary provides an exceptional overview of all aspects of the 761st battalion’s experience in the war. Including the testimony of several soldiers, this film follows the racism in the military, the 761st role in the battle, their liberation of the concentration camps, and the fight for equality once they returned home.
2015 Honours: The 761st Tank Battalion (Narrated by Jo Mantegna)
A short film of approximately 5 minutes, this video provides an overview of the 761st tank battalion’s effort and heroism while fighting in WWII. This video pays special attention to the Black Panthers’ role in the famous Battle of the Bulge and the acts of heroism of several soldiers including Sgt. Rubin Rivers and William Crecy.
For those who want to learn more about the Battle of the Bulge and stories of individual bravery, this is a great video to watch.
