Buffalo Soldiers in the 1930s

The 1930s was defined by the Great Depression. As the country struggled for food, housing, and employment the Army continued to shrink in size. The Army dwindled to just over 180,000 men on active duty. Their morale and pay continued to be low. There weren’t enough weapons to train adequately, and when weapons were to be had there was often no ammunition.

At the end of the decade war clouds in Europe were forming due to World War Two. US military involvement would not come until the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941.