German-American Bund by Scott Freeland

[J. Duncan]

My apologies...somehow in the excitment of discourse I confused his name with another author whose book I also just purchased. Yes yes, it's SCOTT FREELAND, the book is "THEY TOO WERE AMERICANS". Thanks for correcting me before I continued making a fool of myself and confusing everyone.
Note:
* I tried to correct all my errors with the name but could only "edit" a few of them. The "edit" feature doesn't seem to be available on all of my previous posts. Thanks again Mark.

[Le Page]

I notice that the current narrative is that the Bund merely "crashed" these German cultural events at Hindenburg Park, and usurped them for their own ends. This clearly is not the case, as the period photographs and footage show. This was a private park and if the German-American organization who owned it were opposed to the Bund, they wouldn't have allowed them to have rallies etc.

[J. Duncan]

Freeland asserts that many journalists were invited to the camps in the hopes that they would report "fairly" on the Bund in their newspapers (they did not). These same journalists would later write that the Bund excluded others from these parks (which was not the case). Exclusion to the point of throwing any outsiders out or bullying people from the grounds. All of the negative reporting on the Bund led to much misunderstanding and "myth". These events were in actuality quite open to anyone who had an interest although I would imagine that if a Jew or Communist went around causing trouble with his mouth or fist he was duly escorted from the premises, and rightly so. The Bund was quite welcoming to guests (especially from other far-right groups) and were always wanting to distribute leaflets and sell pamphlets, books, literature, and crafts for money to expand the Bund coffers. They also sought more recruits, mostly those of Germanic descent, yet quite a number of people were Bund members without having been racially "German". Some of these groupings even crossed membership, as I think I read that a few Fascist italian groupers were also allowed to join the Bund as "honorary members". No doubt, there were also a few Klansmen who joined the Teutonia. The time period had a diverse range of "fascist-type" organizations and Freeland even found some rare photos of the very obscure "Crusader White Shirts". Some of my information also comes from Sander Diamond's older book "The Nazi Movement in the United States". The Bund even courted American Indians, and the rare photo of Indian Chief shaking hands with a Bund member is most interesting...the Chief's leathers have swastika adornments on them. These are not unusual since Indians used the swastika on their pottery and other art-works.

[J. Duncan]

Just a note on my above author confusion: The "other book" was LELAND Bell's "In Hitler's Shadow", which is another book about the Bund. I tend to collect books "en masse" depending upon my point of interest.

[EddyR]

Michael
Several drawbacks to the Millican book : It's hard to get (most copies out of UK) and quite pricey. It's only 136 pages and actually leaves you with the deflated feeling of wanting more so I guess it's somewhat disappointing. Especially when one compares with what a Freeland and Bender book can do with a more obscure subject. Sorry, but I took a look at my copy last night and I suddenly remembered these feelings as I thumbed through the pages. What's more, I have read so much now on BUF (more in-depth works) that the Millican book now seems rather amateurish, although the photos and color snapshots of artifacts are quite good. Upon another inspection, I would say "save your money" for a more comprehensive work, which is certain to eventually come. I have not read the Martin Pugh book, which looks interesting. Thanks for the reference.
I have begun reading the text of Freeland's opus (from the beginning), and I am quite pleased thus far. I'm really glad I got a hold of this book. It's giving me much enjoyment, waddling as I am through these "Greater Depression" years.

Apparently Roger Bender was contacted many years ago about publishing an illustrated book on the British Union of Fascists, he said that although he was interested personally there was nil interest in the USA where most of his books sell. The wonder book on the BUF isn't going to happen, there are dozens of books on every aspect of the BUF and of course most cover more or less the same ground, and there is not a gap in the market for another. The Millican book is not a history of the BUF, as it says on the cover it is about the BUF Uniforms , insignia etc, this would be why it is not a big book you can't invent what's not there!

[GermanAmericanWarehouse]

Scott Freeland will be appearing at Max Show 2011 Pgh PA to sign copies of his excellent book "They too where Americans..."

[Vikki]

Scott Freeland will be appearing at Max Show 2011 Pgh PA to sign copies of his excellent book "They too where Americans..."

You'd think that a company advertising the sale of a book could at least spell the book's title correctly.

~Vikki

[willi_klingel]

Good one Vikki
Willi K

[Le Page]

The section on the Hindenburg Park is very interesting. The Germans erected a large bust of Paul von Hindenburg. Freeland has several photos of it and the park, including either a then/now or what it looks like today.

I wanted to point out that the photos showing the park nowadays, are incorrect; they're of a park in nearby Glendale.

[Le Page]

The section on the Hindenburg Park is very interesting. The Germans erected a large bust of Paul von Hindenburg. Freeland has several photos of it and the park, including either a then/now or what it looks like today.

I wanted to point out that the photos showing the park nowadays, are incorrect; they're of a park in nearby Glendale.

Correction: I was wrong about that; upon closer inspection, they are indeed photos of Crescenta Valley / Hindenburg.

Also, it's interesting to note that recently a sign was officially erected in the park with the original name...This is unbelievable considering it's L.A. County. Here's an article about it from 2017- note the usual journalism, e.g., "L.A. County community grapples with its Nazi past", etc.: https://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la- ... story.html