“The Harlem Hellfighters,” A New Documentary About Unsung Black WWI Heroes, to Premiere on the HISTORY Channel

Executive produced and narrated by “Good Morning America” co-anchor Robin Roberts, the documentary tells the story of a brave African American military unit that faced grueling battles both abroad and in their homeland

One of the greatest untold Black American World War I stories will be featured on The HISTORY Channel on Sunday. Titled The Harlem Hellfighters, the one-hour documentary explores the little-known history of the extraordinary leadership, sacrifice, and courage of the 15th New York National Guard – an all-Black military unit that later became part of the 369^th Infantry and one of the best military regiments of WWI.

The Harlem Hellfighters played a pivotal role in helping France, an American ally, defeat Germany in 1918 and preserve democracy. The Black soldiers served 191 days in front-line combat, fearlessly fighting the Germans longer than any other American regiment of WWI. They never lost ground to the Germans or had a man taken prisoner. However, the regiment lost 1,400 men – nearly half of their unit – and endured severe causalities. Their fearless fighting earned them France’s highest military medal and the nickname “Harlem Hellfighters” by their terrified German enemies. Yet, despite their tremendous sacrifice, the servicemen did not receive the recognition or respect they deserved. Instead, they were met with racially charged violence, discrimination, and segregation when they returned home to the United States.

“The story of the Harlem Hellfighters is one that showcases tremendous courage and sacrifice that has been largely overlooked. That changes now,” said Good Morning America co-anchor Robin Roberts, who executive produced and narrated the documentary. After recently becoming aware of their rich history, Roberts says she wanted to bring the story to life.

“My father was a Tuskegee Airman, and I’m very proud that many people are aware of what they did in World War II. When the History Channel approached me about the Harlem Hellfighters, I did not know who they were. And when I did more research and found that these incredibly brave courageous men, what they did in World War I, I felt just as a proud military brat that I am, I wanted more people to celebrate them, to know about their heroism, and know their story,” Robins told BLACK ENTERPRISE.

The Harlem Hellfighters features archival footage and imagery from the period as well as interviews from notable historians, professors, authors, and descendants of key figures of the military unit, including Sergeant Henry Johnson and James Reese Europe, a prominent American bandleader-turned-soldier who is largely credited for bringing jazz to France.

Robins said that she hopes viewers walk away with a sense of “celebration of the act of bravery of the Harlem Hellfighters.”

“They were claiming a stake to this country. They were loving it when it didn’t love them back,” she added.

This marks the second time that Roberts partnered with the HISTORY Channel to executive produce and narrate a documentary about Black war heroes. In 2021, the channel released Tuskegee Airmen: Legacy of Courage, a documentary that explored the legendary group of African American pilots who helped end segregation in the military.

Watch The Harlem Hellfighters on the HISTORY Channel on Sunday, February 4 at 9 p.m. ET/PT. The documentary will stream the next day on history.com, The HISTORY Channel app, and across major TV providers’ VOD platforms. For more information, visit: https://www.history.com/specials/harlem-hellfighters.