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[8-3.1 CK 2]

INTEGRATION OF NEGRO AND WHITE TROOPS IN THE U.S. ARMY, EUROPE,
1952-1954

Note: This manuscript was prepared by historians assigned to the Headquarters of the United States Army, Europe in the mid-1950's. It was subsequently deposited at the Office of the Chief of Military History (OCMH; now US Army Center of Military History) for reference use by historians preparing the official history of the Army during the Cold War. It is typical of the kinds of detailed studies routinely carried out by the Europe-based historians during this era. The original is on file in the Historical Manuscripts Collection (HMC) under file number 8-3.1 CK 2, which should be cited in footnotes, along with the title. It is reproduced here with only those limited modifications required to adapt to the World Wide Web; spelling, punctuation, and slang usage have not been altered from the original. Where modern explanatory notes were required, they have been inserted as italicized text in square brackets. This item originally carried a CONFIDENTIAL security classification, but is now unclassified; all references to that past classification have been omitted. ]


INTEGRATION OF NEGRO AND WHITE TROOPS
IN THE U.S. ARMY, EUROPE
1952-54



HISTORICAL DIVISION
HEADQUARTERS
UNITED STATES ARMY, EUROPE
1956


FOREWORD

The first monograph on the utilization of Negro personnel in the European Command was presented in a study in the Occupation Forces in Europe Series entitled, "Negro Personnel in the European Command, 1 January 1946-30 June 1950." The current study on the integration of Negro and white troops in Europe forms a companion piece to the first study by covering the evolution of Army policy that ultimately led to integration.

The purpose of this study is to describe the motivations for integration, as well as the planning, execution, and operation of the program. An evaluation of the accomplishments of integration in the U.S. Army, Europe, forms the last part.

The author, Mr. Ronald Sher, with the assistance of Maj. R. A. Gugeler and Sp3 R. Gumerove, all of the Current History Branch, USAREUR Historical Division, conducted research in the files of headquarters in USAREUR, Seventh Army, and V Corps. Personnel intimately connected with the integration program at these headquarters and at unit level were interviewed.

Recent monographs and special studies published by the USAREUR Historical Division are listed on the inside cover opposite the title page. A limited number of these publications is available for distribution upon request to the Chief, Historical Division, USAREUR, APO 164.

s/Edward B. James

EDWARD B. JAMES
Colonel AGC
Chief, Historical Division

-ii-


Table of Contents

CONTENTS

FOREWORD ii
CHAPTER 1: THE USE OF NEGRO MANPOWER 1
1. Army Policies in Flux 1
2. Negro Troops on Europe 3
3. The Korean Experience 6
CHAPTER 2: PLANNING FOR INTEGRATION IN EUROPE 10
4. Initial Reactions 10
5. The Original Plan 11
6. Departmental Objections 13
7. The Plan Approved 14
CHAPTER 3: IMPLEMENTATION 15
8. The European Command Directive 15
9. Participation of Staff Divisions 16
10. Seventh Army Procedure 17
11. The Procedure for Seventh Army Artillery Units 19
12. Inclusion of Technical Services 20
13. Transfers from Replacement Depot 21
14. Integration and the Mandatory Education Program 22
15. A Question of Proportion 22
16. Percentage Adjustments 25
17. The Case of the 547th Engineer Combat Battalion 29
CHAPTER 4: EVALUATIONS 33
18. Completion of the Program 33
19. Public Relations 34
20. Crime Rates 36
21. Accomplishment of Objectives 36
APPENDIX A 41

Charts

Chart 1 Integration Packet Plan for Typical Battalion-Size Negro Unit 18
Chart 2 Possibilities of Assignment of Negroes from 547th Engineer Combat Battalion to Fourteen Combat Engineer Units 30

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