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| German American Bund leader Fritz Kuhn speaks at a meeting. New York, 1938. |
This newspaper was forged in the fight against fascism; born to serve as a soldier in the endless battle of freedom against totalitarianism.
It’s a good story. In 1941, with war raging across Europe, the mighty Chicago Tribune was a voice for xenophobia and isolation. It was more than happy to let Hitler — whom the paper admired — keep Europe (as were, it should be remembered, the vast majority of Americans).
So Marshall Field III begat the Chicago Sun, as a newspaper that would have President Franklin Roosevelt’s back as he tried to prepare a reluctant nation for the ordeal he could see looming ahead. The Sun rose on Dec. 4, 1941, and three days later, the Japanese attacked the American fleet at Pearl Harbor, drawing the U.S. into the war.
The bad timing — the paper lost its primary purpose 72 hours into its existence — is a reminder that newspapering was always a struggle. That is why, in late 1947, the flickering Sun joined forces with the Chicago Daily Times, which I usually identify as a scrappy, photo-packed, sports-obsessed tabloid begun in 1929. And leave it at that.
But there was more to the paper. I did not realize until this week that the Times also went after fascism in a big way. Not until my attention was drawn to “Nazi Town, USA.” The latest installment of the PBS American Experience series dropped this week (You can watch free online). It looks at the German American Bund in the 1930s, a nationalist organization ready to remake the country.
“The Bund’s vision was an America ruled by white Christians,” historian Bradley Hart says early in the program. “And they thought that Nazism was entirely consistent with American ideals.”
Americans who aligned with Hitler tried to build an active support network for Nazism, drawing in families with a national string of wholesome-seeming summer camps. All the while vigorously denouncing Jews. Preparing an organization of eager traitors, ready to facilitate takeover when the Germans finished with Europe and decided it was our turn to bear the yoke.
“They were against democracy,” says historian William Hitchcock, “and thought that America would be a kind of star in a constellation of pro-Nazi governments around the world.”
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Thank you..I hope you can keep this topic front and center. Our house is on fire.
ReplyDeleteI saw the PBS doc a little over a week ago. That lunatic Kuhn ended up in prison after they found out he was embezzling the Bund's cash to pay for a mistress & then after the war started, the feds imprisoned & then denaturalized him & deported him back to Germany after the war. Germany then tried him under their Denazification laws & sent him to prison, where he escaped, was recaptured & spent a couple of years at hard labor.
ReplyDeleteFrom Wikipedia: "While in prison, Kuhn reportedly sent a message to columnist Walter Winchell, who had helped lead media counterattacks against the Bund back in New York City. It read: "Tell Herr Vinchell, I will lift to piss on his grafe [sic]."
Kuhn croaked in total ignominy in 1951, but Winchell died in 1972.
He & his rotten followers were totally insane, just like their Nazi leaders in Germany.
Yes! Thank you for this and the reminder of the PBS episode...it popped up in an email recently but is now on a list. And thx for the info above as well. Yes house on fire
DeleteThanks for the short history about the Sun-Times, and for the tip about "Nazi Town" ("Coming to a Red State near YOU!"). Something to utilize Passport for besides treacly dramas about "Merrie Olde."
ReplyDeleteWhat kind of a heartless meanie would hold such an opinion about the charming British imports that are so prized by the WTTW audience? Oh, wait. I agree! ; )
DeleteMy wife pretty much insists that we watch "All Creatures Great and Small." While I must admit that it represents a somewhat comforting change-of-pace from the ever-more-disturbing real world and many "realistic" current dramas, "treacly" really nails it! Excellent word.
A good and necessary post. This goes hand in hand with the 100-plus years (and counting) when we let the old confederacy win the civil war with their segregation laws and state-sponsored oppression of Black Americans. This democracy of ours never came easy and if we lose it, it'll be a long time gone.
ReplyDeleteHey buddy - Fighting Fascism is liking fighting against America! Wait a minute... :P
ReplyDeleteI'm often reminded of the lone Hannukah Menora being lit across the street from waving Nazi flags in Kiel Germany. A symbolic image, seared into my minds eye.
ReplyDeleteAre we closer to November 9, 1938 or January 27, 1945.
I never thought I’d see this same horror happening in my own nation. History is repeating itself. Lest we forget.
DeleteI was not fully aware of that sobering bit of history. Strange how we humans don’t really evolve, just keep doing the self-destructive things over and over.
ReplyDeleteSuperb column. And of course in the 30's here, there were those being drawn and fooled by Communism too, thinking that was the answer to reform. Both evil, opposite extremes then and now.
ReplyDeleteCheers to the Sun for opposing the Nazis. Likewise for the SunTimes being on the right side of the political battles. Mostly. But recently the paper ran a small story about a taxiway collision of two jets at O'Hare, so insignificant that one crew didn't know they'd been hit. The make of the aircraft was not a contributing factor. But the story's header mentioned Boeing as the maker of both planes, repeated this in the story, and the accompanying art was a color photo of a Boeing logo. Unnecessary overkill, in my opinion, and could be seen as biased against a company for unrelated issues.
ReplyDeleteAfter the prominent swastika, I couldn't not note all the fedoras.
ReplyDeletejohn
And not one of those fedora wearers can be seen cheering on the scum!
DeleteYou're right, Clark St., and none of the onlookers seem any too enthusiastic, not even the marchers for that matter, but they all seem to be marching in step, which is all you need in a fascist state.
DeleteI still cannot get over the recent history that the Tribune wouldn't endorse Hillary in her run against Trump!
ReplyDeleteThe Cleveland PBS station ran "Nazi Town" twice last week, so I watched it twice. I first learned about the Bund as a kid in junior high, 65 years ago, while watching a superb NBC documentary called "Life In The Thirties"...it may be on YouTube. It showed the same beating at the rally in New York. When I saw that again last week, I couldn't help but think about the Orange Man and his cultists. How long before he starts ranting about Communist Marxist Jews and inciting pogroms? If he is eventually "reinstalled"...this is one Jew who will not go quietly.
ReplyDeleteI enlarged a couple of the 1937 Sun stories...and they make for chilling reading. The Bund was big here in Cleveland, too, where there are a lot of Germans. Back then, many of the Germans here were both WWI veterans and recent immigrants. One of them was interviewed, under the headline "Nazi Torturer Tells All"...or something similar.
The Sun story went into sickening detail about what he did to "Communists, Jews, spies, and traitors to the Party"...and he showed off his weapons and torture devices...clubs, whips, knives, chains, pipes, and more. He was a sick and sadistic and twisted Nazi...of which there were many.
He described his activities in Germany, where he had worked...and killed...for Hitler in the early days. He did more of the same in the U.S. Except for the killing. He was eagerly anticipating doing that, especially to Jews.. His tales made the reporter, who wore the brown shirt and combed his hair like Adolf, extremely nervous. What was he after all, but a traitor and a spy? The American fascists in the Bund, like their German counterparts, attracted a lot of sickos.
The sickos in Europe easily progressed from breaking bones and heads to torture and murder, and finally to genocide. Today's home-grown fascists, who also want a white Christian America, are not much different. Millions of Americans either ignore the rightists and neo-Nazis and think they are insignificant, or else they laugh them off. A year from now, they may not be so laughable anymore. We ignore them at our peril. Better get ready...2024 is going to be a hard year. And vote Blue...while you still can.
Good column. You don't cite it but I presume/hope that you have read Prequel: An American Fight Against Fascism by Rachel Maddow. Many think of her as a talking head on MSNBC but she is a superb scholar. If you haven't already read it, get to your local library or bookstore and get this book.
ReplyDeleteNope, can't say I have. BUt I'll look out for it.
DeleteChris Hayes did a two hour discussion with her on his podcast Why Is This Happening? Worth checking it out. I saw her on the book tour in October. Fascinating stuff.
DeleteI watched that documentary as well, not shocked so much at the fact that the bund existed (knew the history a bit) but was a bit surprised at the number of people at the rallies and how they targeted young people, though that’s a page from the “in Germany” playbook at the time. Works here for organized crime and gangs too. But I did mentally substitute the orange criminal for Kuhn, MTG for his assistant, Giuliani for his lawyer, and ex General Kelly for his street commander and confederate flags for the swastikas. Matched right up!
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