A Newcomer in a New Land
Shortly after the start of World War I, Hungarian newspapers reported on Perris Simon, a black man who had come from Congo to Berlin, then to Hungary as a child. Working as a doorman in Oradea, Simon spoke fluent Hungarian and dreamed of serving in the army.
A Battle for Acceptance
Although he did not have Hungarian citizenship, Simon persistently applied to join the army. After several refusals, he wrote to the Minister of Defence, expressing shame at staying behind while others fought. He even volunteered to serve as a corpsman if needed.
The Rise of Ali Mahmud
Later reports referred to the soldier as Ali Mahmud, said to be from Senegal. Ali reportedly enlisted, donned a Hungarian uniform, and trained with a rifle. Some passersby mistook him for a soldier in blackface, but Ali remained determined to serve honorably.
A Mystery Unresolved
Conflicting stories suggest he may have been called Mr. Bobby and come from Illinois. His fate after the war remains unknown. No records confirm if he stayed in Hungary, married, or settled down after fighting for a country he chose as his own.
During World War I, newspapers in Hungary reported on Perris Simon, a black man from Congo who came to Hungary as a child.
Working as a cinema doorman in Oradea, he spoke fluent Hungarian and dreamed of serving his adopted country as a soldier…🧵👇 pic.twitter.com/u23sPKbf8B
— Detective Tiger's Stories (@TigerDetective) April 29, 2025