The number of people claiming German ancestry dropped steeply after the War, far more than could
be accounted for by emigration or mortality. The number of people who admitted German heritage in
Illinois, for example, declined from 191,000 in 1914 to 112,000 in 1920.
be accounted for by emigration or mortality. The number of people who admitted German heritage in
Illinois, for example, declined from 191,000 in 1914 to 112,000 in 1920.
Michigan was well stocked with Germans as well. German immigration to Detroit began before 1820
and increased following the failed 1848 German revolutions. As early as 1875, there were eight
separate German singing groups in Detroit. The Harmonie Society in Detroit offered singing, food,
bowling and social life for many years and ranked with other cultural societies such as the Carpathia
Club, Saenger Halle and the Schwaben Unterstitzungs Verein and Schwaebische Maennerchor.
There were workers' halls (Arbeiter Halle), Turnvereins, and scores of clubs and publications for
each and every separate ethnic German group within the city, with schools and churches catering to
these Germans. There were once numerous German grocers, butchers, breweries and factories.
In 1914, when war broke out in Europe, the Carpathia Club singers rallied to the cause of providing
relief for widows and orphans of German and Austro-Hungarian soldiers. The Society sponsored
several benefit concerts and the first concert netted $898.50. The money was channeled to the needy
in Europe through the Red Cross. The Society continued these benefit activities until 1917, when the
United States entered the war, when it was prohibited from holding any more benefit concerts.
and increased following the failed 1848 German revolutions. As early as 1875, there were eight
separate German singing groups in Detroit. The Harmonie Society in Detroit offered singing, food,
bowling and social life for many years and ranked with other cultural societies such as the Carpathia
Club, Saenger Halle and the Schwaben Unterstitzungs Verein and Schwaebische Maennerchor.
There were workers' halls (Arbeiter Halle), Turnvereins, and scores of clubs and publications for
each and every separate ethnic German group within the city, with schools and churches catering to
these Germans. There were once numerous German grocers, butchers, breweries and factories.
In 1914, when war broke out in Europe, the Carpathia Club singers rallied to the cause of providing
relief for widows and orphans of German and Austro-Hungarian soldiers. The Society sponsored
several benefit concerts and the first concert netted $898.50. The money was channeled to the needy
in Europe through the Red Cross. The Society continued these benefit activities until 1917, when the
United States entered the war, when it was prohibited from holding any more benefit concerts.
The Bismarck Hotel became Hotel Randolph, German
Hospital was renamed Grant Hospital and the Hotel
Kaiserhof was changed to the Hotel Atlantic. The Bismarck
Beer Gardens was rechristened as Marigold Gardens, the
Germania Club became the Lincoln Club, the Kaiser
Friedrich Mutual Aid Society became George Washington
Benevolent Aid Society, and the Chicago Athletic Club fired
its German-born employees. A Chicago women's
organization called the “Use Nothing German” club burned
and broke various “products of Hun-land” in a display of
patriotism. When all alien German employees in the city of
Chicago were fired or told to step down,
Hospital was renamed Grant Hospital and the Hotel
Kaiserhof was changed to the Hotel Atlantic. The Bismarck
Beer Gardens was rechristened as Marigold Gardens, the
Germania Club became the Lincoln Club, the Kaiser
Friedrich Mutual Aid Society became George Washington
Benevolent Aid Society, and the Chicago Athletic Club fired
its German-born employees. A Chicago women's
organization called the “Use Nothing German” club burned
and broke various “products of Hun-land” in a display of
patriotism. When all alien German employees in the city of
Chicago were fired or told to step down,
In 1900, as part of the "German Triangle", one out of every four Chicagoans had either been
born in Germany or had a parent born there. Thousands upon thousands more had German ancestry.
The established German community was economically successful, owning many businesses and
much of the housing. There were also large numbers of recent Polish and Bohemian immigrants, and
tensions arose with nationalistic, lower income Poles and Czechs who tended to view Germany as
the only obstacle left to the nationhoods of their homelands. The CPI instigated this situation further,
and once hysteria gained momentum, a Polish Alderman presented a bill to rename German-named
streets. 1,000 Polish-Americans attended the unannounced, secret meeting and signed the petition.
They were successful. Coblentz Street became McLean, Lubeck became Dickens, Frankfort became
Charleston and Hamburg became Shakespeare. All of the east-west streets in one neighborhood had
German names in 1880 and none did after the change.
born in Germany or had a parent born there. Thousands upon thousands more had German ancestry.
The established German community was economically successful, owning many businesses and
much of the housing. There were also large numbers of recent Polish and Bohemian immigrants, and
tensions arose with nationalistic, lower income Poles and Czechs who tended to view Germany as
the only obstacle left to the nationhoods of their homelands. The CPI instigated this situation further,
and once hysteria gained momentum, a Polish Alderman presented a bill to rename German-named
streets. 1,000 Polish-Americans attended the unannounced, secret meeting and signed the petition.
They were successful. Coblentz Street became McLean, Lubeck became Dickens, Frankfort became
Charleston and Hamburg became Shakespeare. All of the east-west streets in one neighborhood had
German names in 1880 and none did after the change.
Above left: This Chicago statue of Goethe in Lincoln Park was vandalized and painted yellow in
1918 after the city did not remove it by mob demand. In Pennsylvania, the unveiling of the
monument on the right (click) by Albert Jaegers to the 1683 founding of Germantown by Francis
Daniel Pastorius was postponed because of anti-German sentiment during the War and it was boxed
up by the War Department until 1920.
1918 after the city did not remove it by mob demand. In Pennsylvania, the unveiling of the
monument on the right (click) by Albert Jaegers to the 1683 founding of Germantown by Francis
Daniel Pastorius was postponed because of anti-German sentiment during the War and it was boxed
up by the War Department until 1920.
In 1913 Bloomington, Illinois there were German-language schools, a German-language weekly
newspaper and two major German churches. German Day celebrations included a re-creation of
Berlin's “Unter den Linden”, with buildings draped with German and American flags. The festivities
opened with a grand concert at the Coliseum which opened with “Die Wacht am Rhine” which brought
the enthusiastic, cheering crowd to its feet. The Central Illinois Saengerbund followed with another
popular performance. Schools closed so that children could watch the parade whose floats included
both Columbia, representing America, and Germania, with 25 young women on horseback carrying
German flags. The local newspapers said that the German immigrant exemplified the “humble
virtues” of citizenship and that the “Teuton” had “solid and sturdy worth, manhood, good humor,
good nature and good sense." Four years later, this goodwill was entirely forgotten and German
language newspapers, church services and schools came to a crashing halt.
newspaper and two major German churches. German Day celebrations included a re-creation of
Berlin's “Unter den Linden”, with buildings draped with German and American flags. The festivities
opened with a grand concert at the Coliseum which opened with “Die Wacht am Rhine” which brought
the enthusiastic, cheering crowd to its feet. The Central Illinois Saengerbund followed with another
popular performance. Schools closed so that children could watch the parade whose floats included
both Columbia, representing America, and Germania, with 25 young women on horseback carrying
German flags. The local newspapers said that the German immigrant exemplified the “humble
virtues” of citizenship and that the “Teuton” had “solid and sturdy worth, manhood, good humor,
good nature and good sense." Four years later, this goodwill was entirely forgotten and German
language newspapers, church services and schools came to a crashing halt.
Even now, Germans are still the largest white ancestral group in Michigan, representing over 2.6
million descendants, or 22% of the state's population. But there is no trace of "German town" in
today's blighted city of Detroit and little mention of its once proud German culture.. which vanished.
million descendants, or 22% of the state's population. But there is no trace of "German town" in
today's blighted city of Detroit and little mention of its once proud German culture.. which vanished.
| Hysteria Part 9; Our Lost Heritage Continued |
A typical assault on any German studies in the US university
system is the one which took place on the University of Michigan,
a college which was actually modeled on the typical German
university and had a long, renowned and respected Germanic
educational and cultural tradition. Before the war, over a quarter
of the students were enrolled in classes in the Department of
Germanic Languages and Literature. After the bullying "National
Security League" was founded to exterminate "un-American"
values, German-purging replaced the historically peaceful campus.
system is the one which took place on the University of Michigan,
a college which was actually modeled on the typical German
university and had a long, renowned and respected Germanic
educational and cultural tradition. Before the war, over a quarter
of the students were enrolled in classes in the Department of
Germanic Languages and Literature. After the bullying "National
Security League" was founded to exterminate "un-American"
values, German-purging replaced the historically peaceful campus.
In May of 1918, a large bonfire of German textbooks marked the beginning of the "War Chest"
campaign in Butte, Montana. The use of German in public and private schools was banned by the
Montana State Council of Defense. When the Fergus, Montana school board was tardy in complying
and continued its German language classes, a mob stormed the school and presented an ultimatum to
the principal to deliver the books. 500 people encircled the school while a group went in to retrieve
the books. The principal was then forced to kiss the American flag and proclaim his loyalty. While
the books were burned the crowd sang the 'Star Spangled Banner'. The use of German in Montana
churches was also banned, a law that was enforced even after the armistice.
campaign in Butte, Montana. The use of German in public and private schools was banned by the
Montana State Council of Defense. When the Fergus, Montana school board was tardy in complying
and continued its German language classes, a mob stormed the school and presented an ultimatum to
the principal to deliver the books. 500 people encircled the school while a group went in to retrieve
the books. The principal was then forced to kiss the American flag and proclaim his loyalty. While
the books were burned the crowd sang the 'Star Spangled Banner'. The use of German in Montana
churches was also banned, a law that was enforced even after the armistice.
Meanwhile, in South Dakota, 75 students broke into a Yankton high school and threw all of the
German books in the Missouri River. In Colorado, a German book burning rally drew hundreds. In
Kansas, a German parochial school was burned down, and in May, 1918, the Knoxville Tennessee
school board voted unanimously to remove the study of German language from their public schools.
German books in the Missouri River. In Colorado, a German book burning rally drew hundreds. In
Kansas, a German parochial school was burned down, and in May, 1918, the Knoxville Tennessee
school board voted unanimously to remove the study of German language from their public schools.
Even old New Orleans joined in, tossing out German books and changing Berlin Street to Pershing
Street. Louisiana passed Act 114, making all expressions of German culture and heritage, especially
the printed or spoken use of the German language, illegal in the state despite a huge German
settlement in the bayou country. In the area around Ebenezer, Georgia where German speaking
Salzburgers were the first settlers in the early 18th century, businesses with German-sounding names
took on new names. The German Mutual Fire Insurance Company became the Atlanta Mutual Fire
Insurance Company and the German-American club was renamed the Lexington Society.
Street. Louisiana passed Act 114, making all expressions of German culture and heritage, especially
the printed or spoken use of the German language, illegal in the state despite a huge German
settlement in the bayou country. In the area around Ebenezer, Georgia where German speaking
Salzburgers were the first settlers in the early 18th century, businesses with German-sounding names
took on new names. The German Mutual Fire Insurance Company became the Atlanta Mutual Fire
Insurance Company and the German-American club was renamed the Lexington Society.
Teachers and professors of German birth or heritage were either fired or harassed all over the nation
from Ivy league schools to small midwestern colleges. Rudolph Blome was named president of
Northern Arizona Normal School in 1909. Immediately recognized as gifted and enthusiastic, he
enthusiastically lent his heart and professionalism to the campus. Under his successful leadership,
class size grew from 68 to 300. He developed scores of activities, including inter-scholastic sports,
and he expanded the facilities. One of the school's finest presidents, he was forced to leave because
of his German birth and education For months, the school and the students rallied against his
removal but he was nevertheless dismissed in the spring of 1918. He never recovered and died
broken hearted three years later in California.
from Ivy league schools to small midwestern colleges. Rudolph Blome was named president of
Northern Arizona Normal School in 1909. Immediately recognized as gifted and enthusiastic, he
enthusiastically lent his heart and professionalism to the campus. Under his successful leadership,
class size grew from 68 to 300. He developed scores of activities, including inter-scholastic sports,
and he expanded the facilities. One of the school's finest presidents, he was forced to leave because
of his German birth and education For months, the school and the students rallied against his
removal but he was nevertheless dismissed in the spring of 1918. He never recovered and died
broken hearted three years later in California.
These scenarios took place all over America in all levels of education both public and private, even in
North Dakota where a German and French teacher at Grand Forks High School was forced to resign
in 1917 because of suspicion she was a "German sympathizer" and at the City University of New
York, who reduced by one credit every course in German. The assault did not end with armistice,
either. In 1919, Governor William Hobby of Texas vetoed appropriations for the German department
at The University of Texas at Austin.
North Dakota where a German and French teacher at Grand Forks High School was forced to resign
in 1917 because of suspicion she was a "German sympathizer" and at the City University of New
York, who reduced by one credit every course in German. The assault did not end with armistice,
either. In 1919, Governor William Hobby of Texas vetoed appropriations for the German department
at The University of Texas at Austin.
Beethoven was banned in Pittsburgh. The German repertoire of the New York Metropolitan Opera
Company was replaced with Italian and French works. Shortly after Frederick A. Stock, the German
conductor of the Chicago Symphony, was fired, Dr. Karl Muck, the German-born conductor of the
Boston Symphony, began to be harassed by onlookers at his concerts. Having been cleared of any
doing wrong or 'suspicious activity' in two grueling Federal investigations, Muck was suddenly
arrested on March 25, 1918, and placed in an internment camp as a "dangerous enemy alien." His
crime was the fact that, despite warnings, he was still including German music in some repertoires.
Company was replaced with Italian and French works. Shortly after Frederick A. Stock, the German
conductor of the Chicago Symphony, was fired, Dr. Karl Muck, the German-born conductor of the
Boston Symphony, began to be harassed by onlookers at his concerts. Having been cleared of any
doing wrong or 'suspicious activity' in two grueling Federal investigations, Muck was suddenly
arrested on March 25, 1918, and placed in an internment camp as a "dangerous enemy alien." His
crime was the fact that, despite warnings, he was still including German music in some repertoires.
When Omaha orchestra leader Otto Scharf was staying in a Nebraska Hotel on April 22, 1918, it was
smeared with yellow paint by the "Council of Defense". When the hotel proprietor tried to stop them,
he was painted as well. Scharf was then arrested for disturbing the peace.
smeared with yellow paint by the "Council of Defense". When the hotel proprietor tried to stop them,
he was painted as well. Scharf was then arrested for disturbing the peace.
The Daughters of the American Revolution also denounced famed violinist Fritz Kreisler when he
tried to take the stage in Pittsburgh. After Baltimore, Washington and Cleveland also canceled his
performances, Kreisler retired for the duration of the war.
tried to take the stage in Pittsburgh. After Baltimore, Washington and Cleveland also canceled his
performances, Kreisler retired for the duration of the war.
It is interesting to note that although Germany, historically a land of great music, produced so many
musical geniuses through the ages, German musicians of the World War One era have been almost
completely ignored by the media. Most talented German composers of the early twentieth century,
such as Max Reger, Hans Pfitzner and Franz Schmidt, have received very little if any recognition.
musical geniuses through the ages, German musicians of the World War One era have been almost
completely ignored by the media. Most talented German composers of the early twentieth century,
such as Max Reger, Hans Pfitzner and Franz Schmidt, have received very little if any recognition.
Vienna born Dr. Ernst Kunwald was the conductor of the Cincinnati
Symphony Orchestra from 1912 to 1917. In November of 1917, the
Daughters of the American Revolution pressured the public safety
director of Pittsburgh to forbid "a German" (Kunwald) from conducting
his orchestra which was on tour in that city. The United States Marshals
Service arrested he and his wife on December 8, 1917, left, and
released him from jail the next day when he resigned as conductor. On
January 12, 1918, he was interned under the Alien Enemies Act and
imprisoned at Fort Oglethorpe in Georgia and joined by fellow
conductor Karl Muck.
Symphony Orchestra from 1912 to 1917. In November of 1917, the
Daughters of the American Revolution pressured the public safety
director of Pittsburgh to forbid "a German" (Kunwald) from conducting
his orchestra which was on tour in that city. The United States Marshals
Service arrested he and his wife on December 8, 1917, left, and
released him from jail the next day when he resigned as conductor. On
January 12, 1918, he was interned under the Alien Enemies Act and
imprisoned at Fort Oglethorpe in Georgia and joined by fellow
conductor Karl Muck.
| The Band did not Play on: The Assault on German Music |
The Liederkranz Societies were under constant fire, and since Germans were so predominant in
American music culture, many were victims of hate. All German and Austrian sheet music was
removed and burned in many libraries.
American music culture, many were victims of hate. All German and Austrian sheet music was
removed and burned in many libraries.
In 1915, St. Louis German Americans were
raising money, left, for their German brethren in
the homeland who were suffering immensely
from the British hunger blockade. But within
two years, the city's biggest newspaper pledged
to "absolutely eliminate once and for all, any and
every single trace of anything German" in its fair
city. Shortly after, Berlin Avenue was renamed
Pershing, Bismark Street became 4th Street and
Kaiser Street was changed to Gresham. A ways
distant, Luxembourg, Missouri became Lemay.
raising money, left, for their German brethren in
the homeland who were suffering immensely
from the British hunger blockade. But within
two years, the city's biggest newspaper pledged
to "absolutely eliminate once and for all, any and
every single trace of anything German" in its fair
city. Shortly after, Berlin Avenue was renamed
Pershing, Bismark Street became 4th Street and
Kaiser Street was changed to Gresham. A ways
distant, Luxembourg, Missouri became Lemay.
By 1880, 46 percent of St. Louis, Missouri public school kids were German and 20,000 youngsters
still received lessons in German every day. Dozens of German breweries and newspapers were
operating in the city.
still received lessons in German every day. Dozens of German breweries and newspapers were
operating in the city.
The evidence on which Kunwald was interned was not "divulged", but
in a memo dated December 19, 1917 from J. Edgar Hoover to the US
Attorney General, it was stated that Kunwald had once conducted the
Star-Spangled Banner before a concert in which he told the largely
German-American audience that he "also expressed sympathy for his
homeland." He was was deported to Königsberg where he continued to
conduct until he moved to Berlin in 1928. Left: Muck, top; Botton:
Kunwalt and his wife being escorted to prison
in a memo dated December 19, 1917 from J. Edgar Hoover to the US
Attorney General, it was stated that Kunwald had once conducted the
Star-Spangled Banner before a concert in which he told the largely
German-American audience that he "also expressed sympathy for his
homeland." He was was deported to Königsberg where he continued to
conduct until he moved to Berlin in 1928. Left: Muck, top; Botton:
Kunwalt and his wife being escorted to prison
When they requested that an official inquiry be made into the loyalty of all University of Michigan
faculty, the regents at first ignored the request. However, in October of 1917, Professor Carl E.
Eggert of the German Department was dismissed for allegations that he was "pro-German", and also
in 1917, Professor Ewald Boucke, a German national, was forced into requesting a leave of absence
for the duration of the war, a request that was granted "indefinitely". When he asked for
reinstatement at the end of the war, he was denied. The University was cleansed of all faculty
suspected of "pacifism or subversive" thoughts, and a violent end came to the Germanic studies
programs, where enrollment in German courses at the University plummeted from 1,300 to 150.
Even the local German newspaper, the Washtenaw Post, was barred from the U.S. Post Office,
faculty, the regents at first ignored the request. However, in October of 1917, Professor Carl E.
Eggert of the German Department was dismissed for allegations that he was "pro-German", and also
in 1917, Professor Ewald Boucke, a German national, was forced into requesting a leave of absence
for the duration of the war, a request that was granted "indefinitely". When he asked for
reinstatement at the end of the war, he was denied. The University was cleansed of all faculty
suspected of "pacifism or subversive" thoughts, and a violent end came to the Germanic studies
programs, where enrollment in German courses at the University plummeted from 1,300 to 150.
Even the local German newspaper, the Washtenaw Post, was barred from the U.S. Post Office,
The cartoon second from left reads, "Those who spread Kultur". Next to it, a Utah internment camp.
