Figure 1.-- Some 3 million American servicemen were stationed in britain or passed through Britain (1942-45). About 8 percent were African-American. The American were part of a segregated U.S. military and the Americans brought their segregation polices with them. Black American soldiers noticed how the British people tended to have had different attitudes toward them than their fellow Americans. (The same thing had occurred in France during World War I.) The Americans acted on their own. They designated towns near to American bases 'black' or 'white' and segregating pubs and dances along race lines. This included dances held for black GIs one evening and whites the next. Thousands of mixed-race British babies were born during the War. The British called them brown babies. All these children were born illegitimate because the American commanding officers refused black GIs permission to marry. About half of the children were raised in children’s homes. Here we see a scene outside Holnicote House children's home about 1946-47. There were few adoptions. The British Home Secretary blocked adoption by the African-American fathers. The Adopotion Act only allowed adoption by British subjects or relatives.

Before the War, Btitain made an effort to save Jews with the Kndertranspot Program. It was a miniml effort, but it was more than other countries did. Of course many more Jews had entered the Netherlands and Fabnce illgally and were not forced back. Britain did not have a border with Germany and thus more difficult to enter or was wooling to accept the adults and fmilies floodiung nto the Nertherlnds and France. As the War unfolded, once the Panzers wre stopped at the English Chnnel, Britain became one of the few plascs in Europe where Jews were safe. Tragically Britain had only a very small Jewish populatiom and after the fall of France (June 1940), it was virtually imposible for Jews to reach Btitain. Legal racial descrimination, as far as we know, did not exist in Britain itself. Some 3 million American servicemen were stationed nin britain or passed through Britain (1942-45). Some 8 percent were African-American. The American military was segregated and the Americans brought their segregation polices with them to Britain. Black American soldiers noticed how the British people tended to have had different attitudes toward them than their fellow Americans. (The same thing had occurred in France during World War I.) A British contributor reports. "American Army commanders asked local communities to support the U.S. military rules and segregate facilities. The major concern were pubs and dancing venues. The towns around the many U.S. miltary bases as far as I know refused to comply."[Ferguson] (This may have been done by some local commnders and we do not know how far up the chain of command this went. The Americans acted on their own. They designated towns near to American bases 'black' or 'white' and segregating pubs and dances along race lines. This included dances held for black GIs one evening and whites the next. [Bland] We know of no incidents between British civilians and Black American servicenen. There were incidents between Black and White American Servicemen. The best known incident occurred at Bamber Bridge near Prestion in Lancanshire. Our British contributir adds, "Three pubs at Bamber Bridge put put up signs saying 'Blacks' which meant the community was not segregated and blacks were welcomed." It is widely believed that the MPs that responded behaved in a racist manner. The whole affair was hushed up at the time in the name of potential adverse impact on the war effort. Britain was the world's greatest imperial power with a still vast empire. The situation in the colonies was different. Here institutionalized racism in Africa, and Asia was very much a part of colonial rule. This was no small matter. The Indian Army in particular was very important to the British war effort. There are issues with how colonial troops were treated. Another issue is the Bengal famine and chargesthat race was involved in he British response. Britain at the time, however, did not have a substantial minority population, despite their huge multi-ethnic Empire. After the War, immigration from the Empire did cause problems or probably more correctlly stated, the reaction of the British to this immigration caused problems. This included issues in the schools. This immigrtion primrily came from post-War India/Pakistan and the West Indies, but Government imposed segregation was never instiututed.

British Jews

Britain had a very small Jewish population. Jews in the county bengitted by the growing espect for civil liberties giving britin a repouttion for tilernce. Britain even ha a very imprtant prime-miniter of Jewish abcestry--Benjamin Disraeli. What developed in Britin was a kind of polite anti-Semitism. There were no phsical attacks or anti-Semetic legislation, but a definite social separation. Britain was largely unffected by the Fascism and anti-Semetism sweeping Euorpe. Oswald Mosely received press coverage, but not real support in Parliament.

Saving Europan Jews

Before the War, Btitain made an effort to save Jews with the Kindertranspot Program. It was a miniml effort, but it was more than other countries did. Of course many more Jews had entered the Netherlands and Fabnce illgally and were not forced back. Britain did not have a border with Germany and thus more difficult to enter or was wooling to accept the adults and fmilies floodiung nto the Nertherlnds and France. The Brutish maintained very strict entry policiies.

The Holocaust

As the War unfolded, once the Panzers wre stopped at the English Chnnel, Britain became one of the few plascs in Europe where Jews were safe. Tragically Britain had only a very small Jewish populatiom and after the fall of France (June 1940), it was virtually imposible for Jews to reach Btitain. britain was the first to know about the mass murder of Jews after the Germans invaded the Soviet Union. Bletchley Park broke down the reports to nBerlin of the Einsarzgruppen about the number of men, women, and children bein murdered. There wee so many of these messages repootung these killings reporting essenbtially the sanme thing that Bletchley asked the Prime-minister's office if it should continue reporting. In time of war all kinds of reports circulate. And at first, they could not be confirmed. The decrypts from Bletchely was uncontrverabke evudence. Churchill was horrified, but could not come out openly with precused detaild because it woulkd give away the ultra secret. In a broadcasted speech he spoke out, "None has suffered more cruelly than the Jew the unspeakable evils wrought upon the bodies and spirits of men by Hitler and his vile regime. The Jew bore the brunt of the Nazi's first onslaught upon the citadels of freedom and human dignity. He has borne and continued to bear a burden that might have seen beyond endurance. He has not allowed it to break his spirit; he has never lost the will to resist. Assuredly in the day of victory the Jew's suffering and his part in the struggle will not be forgotten." (Nocember 14, 1941). This was a stronger statement than any thing President Roosevelt made. Both had made it ckear that German authorities would ve brought to justice. This did not stop the killing, but the euinstazgruppen tightened their reporting. And then the SS begabnopning the death campos in occupied Poland (May 1942). When news reached London that the Germans had begun deportingh Jews from Paris. Churchill again spole out, "... the most bestial, the most squalid and the most senseless of all their offences, namely, the mass deportation of Jews from France, with the pitiful horrors attendant upon the calculated and final scattering of families. This tragedy fills me with astonishment as well as with indignation, and it illustrates as nothing else can the utter degradation of the Nazi nature and theme, and degradation of all who lend themselves to its unnatural and perverted passions." (June 1942). Britain and america had mnade it ckea earky on that NAZI war criminals would be broiught to justice. This was set in stone by Moscow Declration (November 1, 1943). It followed the wording of Churchill's proposal. The Allies would pursue 'the ranks of the guilty to the uttermost ends of the earth' and would deliver them to their accusers 'in order that justice may be done'. And given the bttkefield successes, it has increasing import. President Roosevelt was, however, correct that NAZI maleonous could only be stopped by winnning the War abd destoying he NAZI regime.

British Law

Legal racial descrimination, as far as we know, did not exist in Britain itself. Children of all races attended public schools together. The sme we think was also the case of children's hiomes. We are not entitly sure why the children pictured here are all mixed race infants (figure 1). business could deny services for whtever reasons. This was primarily an issue at restaurats and hotels.

American Servicemen

Some 3 million American servicemen were stationed nin britain or passed through Britain (1942-45). Some 8 percent were African-American. The American military was segregated and the Americans brought their segregation polices with them to Britain. Black American soldiers noticed how the British people tended to have had different attitudes toward them than their fellow Americans. (The same thing had occurred in France during World War I.) A British contributor reports. "American Army commanders asked local communities to support the U.S. military rules and segregate facilities. The major concern were pubs and dancing venues. The towns around the many U.S. miltary bases as far as I know refused to comply."[Ferguson] (This may have been done by some local commnders and we do not know how far up the chain of command this went. The Americans acted on their own. They designated towns near to American bases 'black' or 'white' and segregating pubs and dances along race lines. This included dances held for black GIs one evening and whites the next. [Bland] We know of no incidents between British civilians and Black American servicenen. There were incidents between Black and White American Servicemen. The best known incident occurred at Bamber Bridge near Prestion in Lancanshire. Our British contributir adds, "Three pubs at Bamber Bridge put put up signs saying 'Blacks' which meant the community was not segregated and blacks were welcomed." It is widely believed that the MPs that responded behaved in a racist manner. The whole affair was hushed up at the time in the name of potential adverse impact on the war effort.

British Empire

Britain was the world's greatest imperial power with a still vast empire. The situation in the colonies was different. Here institutionalized racism in Africa, and Asia was very much a part of colonial rule. This was no small matter. The Indian Army in particular was very important to the British war effort. There are issues with how colonial troops were treated. Another issue is the Bengal famine and chargesthat race was involved in he British response. Britain at the time, however, did not have a substantial minority population, despite their huge multi-ethnic Empire. After the War, immigration from the Empire did cause problems or probably more correctlly stated, the reaction of the British to this immigration caused problems. This included issues in the schools. This immigrtion primrily came from post-War India/Pakistan and the West Indies, but Government imposed segregation was never instiututed.

Sources

Bland, Lucy. "Thousands of mixed-race British babies were born in World War II and adoption by their black American fathers was blocked," theconversation.com (May 16, 2019).

Ferguson, William. E-mail message (July 21, 2022).

Created: 5:43 PM 7/20/2022
Last updated: 12:16 PM 7/21/2022