Primary Source Spotlight: Harlem Hellfighters

The Harlem Hellfighters was a German nickname for the African-American 369^th Infantry Regiment, which ended up lauded for its valor. The regiment was also famous for its musicians, led by Lieutenant James Reese Europe. Discover more with this collection of secondary and primary sources.

Secondary sources

• Harlem Hell Fighters: African-American Troops in World War I Headlines and Heroes blog February 12, 2019
• African-American WWI ‘Harlem Hell Fighters’ proved their mettle, patriotism in combat U.S. Army February 1, 2018
• One Hundred Years Ago, the Harlem Hellfighters Bravely Led the U.S. Into WWI Smithsonian May 14, 2018
• Who Were the Harlem Hellfighters? The Root 11/11/13
• Harlem’s Rattlers & the Great War Library streaming webcast
• Harlem Hellfighters History

Historical newspaper articles

• Our Gallant Heroes Reach America The Bystander. (Des Moines, Iowa), 21 Feb. 1919
• 369th Infantry historical newspaper coverage
• New York Negro Regiment historical newspaper coverage
• Col. Little Writes Book on Fighting 15th Regiment The Detroit Tribune. (Detroit, Mich.), 06 June 1936

Images

• African American recruits for the 15th New York National Guard Regiment
• Needham Roberts, 369th U.S. Infantry

1919 Sheet music

• I’ve come back to you
• The shell shock shake

Related resource collections

• James Reese Europe background & primary sources
• World War I primary sources & other resources
• Primary Source Spotlight: African American History & Culture