Final answer:
White Germans demonstrated institutionalized racism towards black soldiers during the occupation, with instances where black American servicemen were denied service in favor of German POWs. Influential African American leaders documented these discriminatory practices, contributing to the advancement of the civil rights movement.
Step-by-step explanation:
The reaction of white Germans to black soldiers during their occupation exhibited various forms of institutionalized racism and exploitation. Black soldiers, along with other minorities, faced discrimination not only from the military hierarchy but also from white civilians. For example, German POWs were sometimes treated better than African American soldiers, as highlighted by incidents where German POWs were allowed to dine in restaurants that refused service to black American soldiers in uniform. The treatment of conquered populations and prisoners during the war further underscores the racism prevalent at the time, as seen in the forced labor, starvation, and brutal retribution exacted on various ethnic groups by the German forces.
Conditions for African American servicemen were dire enough to warrant investigation, as evidenced by the involvement of African American leaders like James Farmer and Walter White. These leaders outlined a memorandum of complaints and solutions regarding the mistreatment of black servicemen, which contributed to the burgeoning civil rights movement. The legacies of such treatment and the struggle for equality left an indelible mark on postwar America, influencing race relations and the fight for civil rights for many years to come.