1944 – D-Day: Black Troops Fight in Normandy

On June 6, 1944, Allied forces launched the D-Day invasion of Normandy, and among them were thousands of African American troops. Despite serving in segregated units, Black soldiers played vital roles in logistics, engineering, and frontline combat. Units like the 320th Barrage Balloon Battalion were instrumental in protecting the landing zones from German aircraft. These troops faced the double burden of confronting fascism abroad while enduring racism at home. Their valor on the beaches of Normandy highlighted the hypocrisy of American segregation and laid groundwork for President Truman’s 1948 order to desegregate the armed forces. Though often omitted from mainstream war narratives, Black soldiers at D-Day exemplified patriotism, courage, and a demand for dignity—both on foreign shores and upon returning to the United States.