German American Bund
The German American Bund was an organization of ethnic Germans living in the United States. Their pro-Nazi agenda supported US isolationism, avoidance of European conflicts for Germany’s benefit.
Key Facts
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The Bund’s agenda was fueled by antisemitism, strong anti-Communist sentiments, and fervent neutrality in European conflicts.
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Though exact estimates are unknown, the best estimate for membership of the Bund is 25,000.
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Activities of the Bund often led to clashes with other groups. One of their most infamous gatherings was in New York City in February 1939. The rally, 20,000 strong, sought to proclaim the rights of white gentiles and “true patriots.”
The Bund
The German American Bund, an organization of ethnic Germans living in the United States, was marked by a pro-Nazi stance.
Aside from its admiration for Adolf Hitler and the achievements of Nazi Germany, the German American Bund program included antisemitism, strong anti-Communist sentiments, and the demand that the United States remain neutral in the approaching European conflict.
Public opinion surveys of 1939 show that Fritz Kuhn, the leader of the German American Bund, was seen by the US public as the leading antisemite in the country.
Actual membership figures for the German American Bund are not known with certainty, but reliable estimates place membership at 25,000 dues-paying members, including some 8,000 uniformed Sturmabteilungen (SA), more commonly known as Storm Troopers.
The German American Bund carried out active propaganda for its causes, published magazines and brochures, organized demonstrations, and maintained a number of youth camps run like Hitler Youth camps.
Rallies
German American Bund activities often led to clashes—even street battles—with other groups, most notably with Jewish veterans of World War I. A February 1939 rally was held on George Washington's birthday to proclaim the rights of white gentiles, the "true patriots." This Madison Square Garden rally drew a crowd of 20,000 who consistently booed President Franklin D. Roosevelt and chanted the Nazi salutation "Heil Hitler."
Controversy
The German American Bund closely cooperated with the "Christian Front" organized by the antisemitic priest Father Charles Coughlin. The activities of the German American Bund led both Jewish and non-Jewish congressional representatives to demand that it be investigated by the House Un-American Activities Committee chaired by Martin Dies. The Committee hearings, held in 1939, showed clear evidence of German American Bund ties to the Nazi government.
Shortly thereafter, Kuhn was convicted of embezzling funds from the organization and was sentenced to prison. In the following years, a number of other German American Bund leaders were interned as dangerous aliens, and others were jailed for various offenses. By 1941 the membership of the organization had waned. After the United States entered World War II in December 1941, the US government outlawed the German American Bund.
Critical Thinking Questions
- How were political views protected in the United States? How did this change during wartime?
- Can a citizen be a patriot and disagree with his or her government’s foreign policy? Why or why not?
- Was the American public widely aware of the Bund?
- Should extremist organizations be banned? What are the consequences of limiting freedom of expression?
- How are political views protected, if at all, in your country?