During World War I, many Native Americans from around 26 tribes were enlisted to fight on the Allies’ side. German troops were extremely adept at intercepting and interpreting the Allies’ code. On Oct. 26, 1918, Choctaw soldiers were stationed as code talkers at field company headquarters. The Choctaw language was largely unknown to German troops, and the Allies were finally at an advantage. Once the tactic proved successful, the Allies began employing other Native soldiers.
In World War II, Native Americans were specifically recruited for the war as code talkers. The most complex code was developed by the Navajo and contained over 600 terms. It was used in the Pacific theater (the portion of the war fought in Asia).
