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What rifle did the Harlem Hellfighters use while serving with French forces?
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Harlem Hellfighters
Members of the 369th Infantry Regiment (Harlem Hellfighters) posing with their awards for gallantry in combat.
The Harlem Hellfighters, officially the 369th Infantry Regiment, were equipped with the French Lebel Model 1886 rifle while serving under French command during World War I.
Although the regiment was a unit of the United States Army, they were integrated into the French army because many American commanders were reluctant to deploy Black soldiers in combat roles. Consequently, the French provided the regiment with their standard-issue weaponry, including the Lebel rifle, as well as French helmets and other equipment, while the soldiers retained their American uniforms.