Memorial to Black US Soldiers Who Died in WW2 Quietly Removed

 

In the Netherlands, a quiet but troubling change at a U.S. military cemetery is drawing attention on both sides of the Atlantic. Informational plaques honoring African American soldiers who helped defeat Nazi Germany have been removed from the visitors’ center at the Netherlands American Cemetery in Margraten the only U.S. military cemetery in the country.

Nearly 1 million African American service members fought in Europe during World War II, yet their contributions were historically overlooked. At Margraten alone, 174 Black soldiers are buried or memorialized. More than 8,200 Americans rest there, with another 1,700 listed as missing.

Dutch media first reported that two panels focusing on African American troops including one telling the story of Technician Fourth Class George H. Pruitt, a young telephone engineer from New Jersey who died while saving a fellow soldier had been taken down. Another panel explained the U.S. military’s segregation policies during WWII and how many Black soldiers later became active in the civil rights movement.

These panels were installed in 2024 after advocacy from U.S. officials and Dutch researchers. But they were removed this summer without notifying local authorities. That lack of communication raised questions, especially as the Trump administration and its Pentagon leadership have been rolling back diversity and inclusion initiatives across multiple federal institutions.

The American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC), which manages the site, says the displays rotate periodically and that four other panels still feature African American service members. However, researchers from the Black Liberators project argue this doesn’t explain why the crucial panel on segregation a defining part of Black soldiers’ WWII experience was taken down.

The situation echoes similar recent controversies. Earlier this year, Arlington National Cemetery removed references to the history of Black and female service members from its website. After public outcry, the Pentagon also restored its webpage honoring Major General Charles Calvin Rogers, a Black Medal of Honor recipient whose page had been abruptly removed.

For many in the Netherlands, this is more than an academic issue. African American troops not only fought in Europe they also helped build the Margraten cemetery itself in 1944. Dutch researchers emphasize that families chose to leave their loved ones buried there, and local communities continue to honor these soldiers’ sacrifice.

Officials and historians across the region are now discussing whether an additional memorial may be needed to ensure Black service members receive the recognition they deserve.

Supporters of the panels say their message is simple: the story of WWII cannot be told honestly without acknowledging the role African American soldiers played both in defeating fascism abroad and in pushing for equality at home.