German-American Bund Uniforms

[jerseygary]

While poking around as a Boy Scout in NJ in the early 1980's I found out the Scout camp I often went to was formerly called Camp Nordland which was built for the German-America Bund in the mid 1930's. Ever since I have been interested in this organization but have found any info and photographic reference hard to come by. I'd like to do a study of the uniforms worn by the Bund but other than blurry photos and films I do not have enough detail to proceed. I found this footage from Camp Bergwald in NJ which is interesting but again the footage is blurry:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GCC3GMzE0Us

There are some shots of boys and girls in what looks like HJ uniforms. I wonder what particular differences there were between the German and American versions. Anybody have anything to add to this fascinating but forgotten bit of American history?

[Michael Fay]

Californinia Silver Shirts

Cant post much,
I have seen a reprduction Camp Nordland advertising poster a few years back.
-- there were many many organizations (maybe small, but still) that were pro nazi, or pro fascist or pro German or pro Extreme right wing at the time... in 30's USA. Even, the Catholic Father Coughlin radio shows were pro-nazi, and especially anti Semitic.

I know that on the west coast the fascist group known as the Silver Shirts was popular. They wore fascistic uniforms in silver -grey.The leader mr. Pelly was based at one time in LA and I have read that The Silver Shirts had so much backing in San Diego that the local police let them use the Police shooting range for practice.
This era was a time when the Klan was still big....especially in California. YES, CALIFORNIA!
There were Cross Burnings in Long beach.
This all tied together politically at times....if you get mt drift.

Finally one of the big draws was that big business may have had a soft spot for Fascism, as it looked to be the antidote to Communism. I can never stress this last bit enough.

[DocumentsGuy]

There is an excellent book about the German-American Bund (DAB) called "Wunderlich's Salute". At one time I purchased all the author's research for the book but subsequently sold the stuff. Also look for "Freinds of New Germany" (F.O.N.G.) the forerunner of the DAB.

[Erich B.]

About 12 or 13 years ago I found a large amount of Silvershirt material that had all been the property of a San Diegan. There was a cup and saucer from, if memory serves, Camp Siegfried, papers and correspondence with Pelley prior to the sedition trial, and boxes of magazines, pamphlets, and books. Most of the stuff went to one collector, but I saved a small amount of the paperwork. If I can, I'll post a scan or two.
Erich

[Ed.Anderson,Jr.]

I believe Roger Bender is working with a author on a book on the Bund.
Regards, Ed. ....

[Bob Coleman]

A few years back, a collector had a magnificent display of German American Bund items at the Badger Military Show in Wisconsin. Although not an area I collect, the display was outstanding and quite educational. While discussing the material with the owner, I mentioned that my grandfather had a business right in the heart of the German American community in Chicago. He leased a building from a Bund member. Following Germany's declaration of war on the USA, someone firebombed grandpa's business! The gentleman showed me a magazine from the Chicago Bund. To my amazement, their headquarters building was one block north of the family business on a very busy street in Chicago. I recognized a picture of the building, which in the 1960's was a tavern with a rental hall on the second floor. I would presume it served similar purposes when it was the headquarters for the Bund. Of interest to me was the standard swastika flag, which flew from a roof flag pole above the entry door.

[luftwaffe blue]

Interesting thread, what happened to Bund leaders after the US entered the war?
The BUF leaders were i believe mainly interned in the UK and their uniforms based on the Italian fascists, Sean

[ETN]

Interesting thread, what happened to Bund leaders after the US entered the war?
The BUF leaders were i believe mainly interned in the UK and their uniforms based on the Italian fascists, Sean

The leaders of the American Bund were also interned. Fritz Kuhn, the head roach, was convicted of embezzlement from the Bund. After the war, he died in Munich in 1951.

[ErichS]

I read that Hitler was embarrassed by Kuhn and the Bund and did not support it. Kuhn was given a cold reception when he went to Germany to meet with Hitler. A few years ago a collector had a major Bund display at the MAX.

[Chris Lee]

Bund

At one time I had a nice collection of Bund items, which my buddy now has. He`s expanded it quite nicely and I`ll see if I can get pictures of his items. I believe he has several hats and armbands plus assorted other items. Quite rare stuff if you ask me, and very overlooked in this collecting field.

[Chris Lee]

Bund

I just talked to my buddy and he said he`d bring several items over to photograph, so hopefully I can have some pics. up by tomorrow

[Scott C.]

Last year's SOS had a nice display of Bund items - I believe the owner was writing a book on the subject.

[luftwaffe blue]

Item Toby is selling on E-stand from the Bund..

[luftwaffe blue]

rear

[stonemint]

Wow-- a RED mother's cross--never saw/heard of it before. I studied the Bund in college, but never their uniforms, badges and insignia. I didn't know they even had a Frauenschaft organisation.

Gottlieb had a nice visor out of Milwaukee--I will see if I can dig up a pic.