Europe Victory Parade of 1945 held in Innsbruck on May 9th
On May 9, 1945, the 103rd Infantry Division of the Seventh US Army celebrated Victory in Europe Day (V-E Day) in Innsbruck, Austria. The parade on Rennweg marked the occasion, attended by the Cactus Division and attached units, including the 614th Tank Destroyer Battalion and the 761st Tank Battalion. However, film and photographic documents do not show the African American GIs from these battalions participating in the parade.
The 614th Tank Destroyer Battalion and the 761st Tank Battalion were composed of African American GIs, who had made significant contributions to the war effort. The 614th, led by white officers, was recognized for its combat contributions, earning a Distinguished Unit Citation. One of its members, 1st Lt. Charles Leroy Thomas, distinguished himself in combat near the German border in December 1944.
The 761st Tank Battalion, famously known as the "Black Panthers," was active alongside units such as the 103rd Infantry Division during the European campaign. Although specific individual names from the 761st present at the 103rd Infantry Division's V-E Day celebration in Innsbruck are not detailed, the battalion's historical significance as a prominent African American combat unit in WWII is well established.
Following the soldiers, a Polish delegation, possibly freed forced laborers in Tyrol, marched in the parade. A platoon from the 614th Battalion had previously been involved in the occupation of the Brenner Pass, but was not present in the parade on Rennweg.
It is worth noting that Reich President Karl Dönitz had signed the full surrender of German forces in Berlin the day before the parade in Innsbruck. Actors of the anti-Nazi resistance in Tyrol displayed a large bilingual banner during the parade, which read: "Welcome to Austria. The war is over. Austria will rise again. The Austrian Movement of Liberty welcomes our liberators. America helps Austria regain its freedom."
The National Archives (RG 111, LIB 1247) is the source of this information about the parade and the absence of African American GIs in the documented footage. Despite their absence from the parade, the African American GIs from the 614th and 761st Tank Destroyer Battalions had played a crucial role in the final victory over Nazi Germany, representing the valor and dedication of Black soldiers in the war. Among them, individuals like 1st Lt. Charles L. Thomas of the 614th stand out as exemplars of heroism. Specific detailed rosters or individual names at the Innsbruck event are not available in the provided sources.
The 614th Tank Destroyer Battalion and the 761st Tank Battalion, despite not being depicted in the parade footage, made significant contributions to the war effort, particularly in the European campaign. Among these battalions, the 761st Tank Battalion, also known as the "Black Panthers," was a prominent African American combat unit during World War II.
