German Leaflet
(Fall, 1918)
See a different version at History Matters.


In Two Colored Women with the American Expeditionary Forces, Addie W. Hunton and Kathryn M. Johnson describe the experiences of African-Americans in Europe during World War I (both as soldiers and as YMCA volunteers). The YMCA sponsored entertainment and educational or uplifting activities for the soldiers in Europe. It was unusual among World War I agencies in that it attempted to be interracial in services and staff. Hunton and Johnson found that there was "very little exception to the rule that the colored soldiers were generally and wonderfully helped by the colored" staff, and they also report that "official heads of the Y.M.C.A. at Paris were in every way considerate and courteous to its colored constituency." Still, even in the YMCA, some whites' behavior was "to be deplored"; in many cases the white staff "brought their native prejudices with them."

This leaflet (reproduced in Hunton and Johnson's book) was dropped from German airplanes over African-American troops on September 3, 1918. - smv



TO THE COLORED SOLDIERS OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY

- hello - boys - what - are - you - doing - over - here - fighting - the - germans - why - have - they - ever - done - any - harm - of - course - some - white - folks - and - lying - english-american - papers - told - that - ought - to - be - wiped - out - for - sake - humanity - democracy - is - personal - freedom - all - citizens - enjoying - same - rights - socially - before - law - do - enjoy - as - people - in - america - land - or - not - rather - treated - there - second - class - citizens?

Can you get into a restaurant where white people dine? Can you get a seat in a theatre where white people sit? Can you get a seat or a berth in a railroad car, or can you even ride in the South in the same street car with the white people?

And how about the law? Is lynching and the most horrible crimes connected therewith, a lawful proceeding in a Democratic country? Now all this is entirely different in Germany, where they do like colored people; where they treat them as gentlemen and as white men, and quite a number of colored people have fine positions in business in Berlin and other German cities. Why, then, fight the Germans only for the benefit of the Wall Street robbers, and to protect the millions that they have loaned to the English, French, and Italians?

You have been made the tool of the egotistic and rapacious rich in America, and there is nothing in the whole game for you but broken bones, horrible wounds, spoiled health, or death. No satisfaction whatever will you get out of this unjust war. You have never seen Germany, so you are fools if you allow people to make you hate us. Come over and see for yourself. Let those do the fighting who make the profit out of this war. Don’t allow them to use you as cannon fodder.

To carry a gun in this service is not an honor but a shame. Throw it away and come over to the German lines. You will find friends who will help you."




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