Television

A Hidden Chapter Revealed in WWII History

WLRN Public Media

Published February 16, 2026 at 10:00 PM EST

America's segregated Army in the U.K. during WWII.

An in-depth look at Winston Churchill’s controversial decision to allow America’s segregated army into the U.K. during World War II, bringing in 15,000 Black troops who endured discrimination and hostility from white GIs.

10pm Thursday - SECRETS OF WWII: BLACK GIs IN BRITAIN - Documentary
Declassified documents reveal the hidden past of segregation & violence faced by Black GIs in Britain during WWII.

Secrets of World War II: Black GI's in Britain

In Secrets of WWII: Black GIs in Britain, presenter Nadifa Mohamed examines Winston Churchill’s contentious choice to admit America’s segregated military forces into the U.K. during World War II. Among them were 15,000 Black servicemen who faced prejudice and aggression from white American troops. The documentary delves into the tensions that followed, the violent confrontations that broke out like the “Battle of Bamber Bridge,” the British support of the Black troops, and the lasting impact of this wartime racism.

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