all black units in u.s.a. military ww2 tank tank destroyer

The 827th Tank Destroyer Battalion was activated on 20 April 1942, at Camp Forrest, Tennessee, one of five such battalions created that year. Early service African-American soldiers from an unknown unit manning a M3 GMC halftrack during training, circa 1943. A further five were activated in 1942, and four (in addition to two planned, but later canceled) in 1943. Two black tank destroyer units were formed that December, as tank destroyer battalions were treated as a separate arm of service. The first black armored units, which had been a matter of great public interest, were activated in early 1941. In response to growing pressure for a more equal distribution, the White House issued a statement in October 1940 which, while reaffirming segregation, provided that, 'Negro organizations will be established in each major branch of the service'. In practice, almost all combat units in the pre-war period were white. This caused tension between the Department and operational commanders, with the latter generally unwilling to provide places for black combat units. The mix of combat and support service units was, in theory, to be roughly equal between both groups. Black soldiers could be led by white officers, but not vice versa, and unit composition was to be strictly controlled by the War Department. The US Army's basic wartime racial policy, established in 1937, dictated that both whites and African Americans were to be inducted into the Army in equal proportions and strength, but that they were to be assigned to segregated units.

It was withdrawn in February, and assigned to rear-area duties while it nominally remained active for the remainder of the war, it had been effectively disbanded.

However, its overall combat record was marred by severe disciplinary problems and insufficient training. It saw action during Operation Nordwind in January 1945, where elements of the battalion performed creditably. It was activated in April 1942 as a segregated African American unit, deploying to Europe at the end of 1944 and attached to 12th Armored Division. The 827th Tank Destroyer Battalion was a tank destroyer battalion of the United States Army active during the Second World War.

All black units in u.s.a. military ww2 tank tank destroyer