| Hysteria Part 12. The Roaring Twenties: Keeping the Hun on Tap a bit longer... |
| Mother's in the kitchen, washing out the jugs, Sister's in the pantry, bottling the suds. Father's in the cellar, mixing up the hops. Johnny's on the porch, watching for the cops |
The Anti-Saloon League called Milwaukee brewers "the worst of all our German enemies" and
dubbed their beer "Kaiser brew". When it was disclosed that German-American brewers such as
Joseph Uhlein, Gustave Pabst and members of the Miller family had supported Arthur Brisbane's
purchase of the Washington Times as a means of fighting Prohibition, the industry was accused of
abetting German propaganda and obstructing the nation's war effort. The brewers' allegedly "disloyal
behavior" was the subject of a Senate investigation ordered in September, 1918, and a month later
President Wilson signed a bill prohibiting the manufacture of intoxicating beverages after May 1,
1919, and their sale after the first of the following July.
dubbed their beer "Kaiser brew". When it was disclosed that German-American brewers such as
Joseph Uhlein, Gustave Pabst and members of the Miller family had supported Arthur Brisbane's
purchase of the Washington Times as a means of fighting Prohibition, the industry was accused of
abetting German propaganda and obstructing the nation's war effort. The brewers' allegedly "disloyal
behavior" was the subject of a Senate investigation ordered in September, 1918, and a month later
President Wilson signed a bill prohibiting the manufacture of intoxicating beverages after May 1,
1919, and their sale after the first of the following July.
Before Prohibition, there were 1,700 German taverns in Chicago, and there was one bar per every
30 households in Milwaukee. Detroit had 105,000 residents in 1870.,,,and 29 breweries! From 1919
to 1933, Prohibition's ban on selling alcohol gave rise to massive criminal activity. Shortly before
Prohibition, Detroit had 1,500 bars, but by 1925 officials estimated the number of blind pigs in the
city anywhere from 5,000 to 25,000. By 1927, liquor distribution, manufacturing and selling had
become Detroit’s second largest industry, exceeded only by the production of cars. The Purple Gang
and other mobsters ran rum back and forth from Canada to Detroit so frequently that the Windsor
Tunnel connecting Canada and Detroit was dubbed the "Windsor Funnel".
30 households in Milwaukee. Detroit had 105,000 residents in 1870.,,,and 29 breweries! From 1919
to 1933, Prohibition's ban on selling alcohol gave rise to massive criminal activity. Shortly before
Prohibition, Detroit had 1,500 bars, but by 1925 officials estimated the number of blind pigs in the
city anywhere from 5,000 to 25,000. By 1927, liquor distribution, manufacturing and selling had
become Detroit’s second largest industry, exceeded only by the production of cars. The Purple Gang
and other mobsters ran rum back and forth from Canada to Detroit so frequently that the Windsor
Tunnel connecting Canada and Detroit was dubbed the "Windsor Funnel".
| Meanwhile, back in the "Bacchus-dominated" Fatherland.... |
Food prices increased and bread was a luxury. The German population plummeted sharply. Actual
starvation was reported to be particularly high in jails, asylums, and other institutions where inmates
only had limited access to an passable adequate food ration. Cases of tuberculosis, rickets, influenza,
dysentery, scurvy and hunger oedema became common. The death rate of children between the ages
of 1 and 5 years rose by 50 per cent and among children from 5 to 15 years by 55 per cent.
starvation was reported to be particularly high in jails, asylums, and other institutions where inmates
only had limited access to an passable adequate food ration. Cases of tuberculosis, rickets, influenza,
dysentery, scurvy and hunger oedema became common. The death rate of children between the ages
of 1 and 5 years rose by 50 per cent and among children from 5 to 15 years by 55 per cent.
Meanwhile, the ongoing hunger blockade fragmented any hopes for recovery. Germany, like the
victors, was in a state of post war shock and mourning, and then made to suffer further by the
enormous and unrecoverable economic losses through the dictates of Versailles. Germany received
no compensation for the government possessions it lost (estates, forests, railway tracks, etc.) All
merchant ships larger than 1600 tons and half of all those between 1000 and 1600 tons had to be
surrendered. Railroads, roads, river crossings, long-distance cables, natural resources and agricultural
lands were all taken, controlled and gobbled up among the victors. Although the English hunger
blockade was not lifted, Germany was compelled to deliver large numbers of livestock and coal
annually to France, Belgium, and Italy. Germany also had to deliver coke, benzene, tar, dyes,
medicines and other chemical products, even at the price of leaving her own people without basic
human necessities. Her best farmlands, which would have been her salvation, had been severed from
her and given away to the newly created Poland.
victors, was in a state of post war shock and mourning, and then made to suffer further by the
enormous and unrecoverable economic losses through the dictates of Versailles. Germany received
no compensation for the government possessions it lost (estates, forests, railway tracks, etc.) All
merchant ships larger than 1600 tons and half of all those between 1000 and 1600 tons had to be
surrendered. Railroads, roads, river crossings, long-distance cables, natural resources and agricultural
lands were all taken, controlled and gobbled up among the victors. Although the English hunger
blockade was not lifted, Germany was compelled to deliver large numbers of livestock and coal
annually to France, Belgium, and Italy. Germany also had to deliver coke, benzene, tar, dyes,
medicines and other chemical products, even at the price of leaving her own people without basic
human necessities. Her best farmlands, which would have been her salvation, had been severed from
her and given away to the newly created Poland.
The food shortages across Germany led to bitterness and cynicism. Germany was extremely isolated
after the end of the war, yet the anti-German hate machine was still grinding away and urging people
not to do business with Germans, making trade was hard to come by. She was suddenly the new
pariah of the western world with its government turned on its head. It was a land of deprivation,
mourning, hunger... and anger.
after the end of the war, yet the anti-German hate machine was still grinding away and urging people
not to do business with Germans, making trade was hard to come by. She was suddenly the new
pariah of the western world with its government turned on its head. It was a land of deprivation,
mourning, hunger... and anger.
Germans carving meat from a dead horse, left. In addition to the
hunger, there had been massive loss of life in the war as Germany
suffered the loss of almost 2 million young men with another 4.3 million
wounded. After killing thousands of soldiers, the infamous Spanish flu
virus also reached Germany and took aim at over 400,000 civilians who
died of the disease by 1918.
hunger, there had been massive loss of life in the war as Germany
suffered the loss of almost 2 million young men with another 4.3 million
wounded. After killing thousands of soldiers, the infamous Spanish flu
virus also reached Germany and took aim at over 400,000 civilians who
died of the disease by 1918.
Other nations were also being urged to continue to boycott German products,
and imports were at a standstill. Because of fixed beer prices, the brewing
industry suffered heavier losses, leading to further merging. In 1923, the
domestic sales came to 50% of the sales of 1913. While "Once a German.."
and "Remember the Hun" were sentiments spitefully pounded into the world's
brain well after the war's end even after the Armistice, hate songs about the
Kaiser continued to be published: 'Hang the Kaiser to the Sour Apple Tree',
'We've Turned His Moustache Down', 'We Sure Got the Kaiser, We Did',
and 'The Kaiser Now is Wiser' all came out after war's end. It wasn't until the
second half of the twenties that any improvement came to German breweries.
and imports were at a standstill. Because of fixed beer prices, the brewing
industry suffered heavier losses, leading to further merging. In 1923, the
domestic sales came to 50% of the sales of 1913. While "Once a German.."
and "Remember the Hun" were sentiments spitefully pounded into the world's
brain well after the war's end even after the Armistice, hate songs about the
Kaiser continued to be published: 'Hang the Kaiser to the Sour Apple Tree',
'We've Turned His Moustache Down', 'We Sure Got the Kaiser, We Did',
and 'The Kaiser Now is Wiser' all came out after war's end. It wasn't until the
second half of the twenties that any improvement came to German breweries.
World War I had injured the breweries in Germany severely. Only a small portion of raw materials
was left for brewing purposes so that beer had to be diluted. Beer export almost ground to a halt. In
the beginning of the twenties, inflation forced beer prices up. The record price for one litre of beer
was documented at 275,000,000,000 Marks!
was left for brewing purposes so that beer had to be diluted. Beer export almost ground to a halt. In
the beginning of the twenties, inflation forced beer prices up. The record price for one litre of beer
was documented at 275,000,000,000 Marks!
The German government was is chaos while the Communists, socialists, anarchists and others vied
for control. Germany struggled with illness, starvation, a new form of government, massive unrest,
bitter disappointment and resentment over the harsh terms of the Versailles treaty.
for control. Germany struggled with illness, starvation, a new form of government, massive unrest,
bitter disappointment and resentment over the harsh terms of the Versailles treaty.
| All bad things come to an end....sometimes |
An estimated 100,000 people turned out to cheer for the legalization of beer in New York City during
a day-long Beer Parade on May 14, 1932. Some 40,000 Detroiters held a similar event in the Motor
City on the same day. Marchers in the parade chanted "Who wants a bottle of beer?," baiting
spectators to call back, "I do!" At 12:01 a.m. on April 7, 1933, brewery whistles around the country
heralded the return of beer. Throughout the night before (dubbed "New Beer's Eve") excited beer
drinkers lined up outside breweries for their first taste of legal beer. In Milwaukee, crowds were said
to have been 50,000-strong at the breweries. There was activity again in German beer halls as well.
World War One was ended but not over. It had just been the breeding ground for World War Two.
a day-long Beer Parade on May 14, 1932. Some 40,000 Detroiters held a similar event in the Motor
City on the same day. Marchers in the parade chanted "Who wants a bottle of beer?," baiting
spectators to call back, "I do!" At 12:01 a.m. on April 7, 1933, brewery whistles around the country
heralded the return of beer. Throughout the night before (dubbed "New Beer's Eve") excited beer
drinkers lined up outside breweries for their first taste of legal beer. In Milwaukee, crowds were said
to have been 50,000-strong at the breweries. There was activity again in German beer halls as well.
World War One was ended but not over. It had just been the breeding ground for World War Two.
| "Remember the Hun!" |
Beer would be a luxury in the post World War One years in Germany. Things were very bleak, with
unemployment between 20 and 40 per cent. Humanitarian conditions within Germany had already
desperately deteriorated because of England's merciless hunger blockade which is said to have
eventually caused the deaths of a million Germans. Under the blockade, the food supply declined
until the diet in Germany was reduced initially to bread and potatoes, and then, with a failed potato
crop in 1916, to turnips as the principal staple. 88, 232 Germans starved to death in 1915 and
121,114 in 1916. Only the very young, invalids, expectant mothers and the elderly were permitted
milk. The blockade had also created scarcities in raw materials that were vital to German civilian
survival such as heating coal and fertilizer supplies vital to agriculture.
unemployment between 20 and 40 per cent. Humanitarian conditions within Germany had already
desperately deteriorated because of England's merciless hunger blockade which is said to have
eventually caused the deaths of a million Germans. Under the blockade, the food supply declined
until the diet in Germany was reduced initially to bread and potatoes, and then, with a failed potato
crop in 1916, to turnips as the principal staple. 88, 232 Germans starved to death in 1915 and
121,114 in 1916. Only the very young, invalids, expectant mothers and the elderly were permitted
milk. The blockade had also created scarcities in raw materials that were vital to German civilian
survival such as heating coal and fertilizer supplies vital to agriculture.
Yet this sinister blockade continued even after Germany signed an armistice in 1918, party at the
insistence of France, but mostly by young Winston Churchill's demands. In his March 3, 1919
speech to the British House of Commons, Churchill flatly stated: "We are holding all our means of
coercion in full operation...we are enforcing the blockade with vigour. Germany is very near
starvation. The evidence I have received shows the great danger of a collapse of the entire structure
of German social and national life, under the pressure of hunger and malnutrition." Even after
armistice, the Royal Navy sent warships into the Baltic to stop German fishing boats from catching
sardines which provided necessary protein for their hungry infants and children. The inhumane
blockade was not lifted until June, 1919. Even then, grave and terrible damage was still inflicted.
insistence of France, but mostly by young Winston Churchill's demands. In his March 3, 1919
speech to the British House of Commons, Churchill flatly stated: "We are holding all our means of
coercion in full operation...we are enforcing the blockade with vigour. Germany is very near
starvation. The evidence I have received shows the great danger of a collapse of the entire structure
of German social and national life, under the pressure of hunger and malnutrition." Even after
armistice, the Royal Navy sent warships into the Baltic to stop German fishing boats from catching
sardines which provided necessary protein for their hungry infants and children. The inhumane
blockade was not lifted until June, 1919. Even then, grave and terrible damage was still inflicted.
As Germans ate dogs, crows, zoo animals and rodents after the war, the international community
shunned them and things grew more perilous. The cost of the war bordered on $40 Billion, or in
modern terms close to $1100 Billion, destroying the German economy. The glorious German Empire
was murdered in its youth, and its people humiliated.
shunned them and things grew more perilous. The cost of the war bordered on $40 Billion, or in
modern terms close to $1100 Billion, destroying the German economy. The glorious German Empire
was murdered in its youth, and its people humiliated.
On October 17, 1929, one of the most prosperous eras in American history came to a crashing halt.
Black Tuesday had struck with unbelievable force, and the nation was plunged into economic
depression. The crusade to repeal Prohibition took on new zeal and "Beer For Prosperity" became
the anti-Prohibition battle cry. Illegal profits from beer had totaled $3.5 million per week in Chicago
alone where there were also between 350 and 400 gangland murders per year directly stemming from
the illegal booze business. With a bleak economy and record unemployment it was obvious that
legalizing beer would create new jobs virtually over- night and bring in desperately needed new
government revenue in the form of beer taxes, but for a while these arguments fell on deaf ears.
Black Tuesday had struck with unbelievable force, and the nation was plunged into economic
depression. The crusade to repeal Prohibition took on new zeal and "Beer For Prosperity" became
the anti-Prohibition battle cry. Illegal profits from beer had totaled $3.5 million per week in Chicago
alone where there were also between 350 and 400 gangland murders per year directly stemming from
the illegal booze business. With a bleak economy and record unemployment it was obvious that
legalizing beer would create new jobs virtually over- night and bring in desperately needed new
government revenue in the form of beer taxes, but for a while these arguments fell on deaf ears.
In 1919, the U.S. Government issued a report titled "Relating to charges
made against The United States Brewer's Association and Allied Interests"
which feebly attempted to prove that German-American brewers had
more loyalty to Germany than to the U.S.A. Thus the 1920s were
ushered in. German Americans viewed Prohibition as the final assault on
what was left of their neighborhoods and culture. Beer gardens were a
huge part of their social lives, but even small, local saloons were targeted
as unpatriotic.
made against The United States Brewer's Association and Allied Interests"
which feebly attempted to prove that German-American brewers had
more loyalty to Germany than to the U.S.A. Thus the 1920s were
ushered in. German Americans viewed Prohibition as the final assault on
what was left of their neighborhoods and culture. Beer gardens were a
huge part of their social lives, but even small, local saloons were targeted
as unpatriotic.
| "Everything in this country that is pro-German is Anti-American. Everything that is pro-German must go.The German press. The teaching of German in the elementary schools, at least. German Alliances and the whole German propaganda must be abolished. A great American patriotism is essential to national existence. Any alliance that weakens it, is an enemy and should be treated as such. The brewers and allied liquor trades that back such an alliance should suffer the same penalty. If Prohibition is so obnoxious to this class of Germans as statements indicate, they will either be compelled to change their habits and adjust themselves to the new environment, or else find some beer-soaked, Bacchus-dominated spot in the fatherland and go there. Americans are too patriotic to harbor an enemy of the public good within her borders, when by prohibiting it they can better carry out the purpose of government and promote the general welfare." The Anti-Saloon League |
The propagandists had successfully recreated the image of Germans and rewritten German history.
They had invented the new world pariah: a merciless, deformed thug from a tainted race genetically
"different" from others, one inevitably prone to violence and cruelty who set about to "control the
world" through secret cabals and intricate plotting, and one who, above else, worshipped gold.
They had invented the new world pariah: a merciless, deformed thug from a tainted race genetically
"different" from others, one inevitably prone to violence and cruelty who set about to "control the
world" through secret cabals and intricate plotting, and one who, above else, worshipped gold.
Even with peace, the propagandists were busy keeping the hate alive with calls to ‘Hang the Kaiser’
and ‘Make Germany Pay’. The 1918 short film 'The Leopard’s Spots', also called 'Once a Hun,
Always a Hun', depicted two German soldiers brutally attacking a woman and her baby in a French
town then appearing after the war as commercial travellers trying to sell their wares in an English
village. A brave English shopkeeper notices the words ‘made in Germany’ on the bottom of a pan
they are selling and he throws them out of the shop. A caption appears warning: ‘There must be no
trading with these people after the war’.
and ‘Make Germany Pay’. The 1918 short film 'The Leopard’s Spots', also called 'Once a Hun,
Always a Hun', depicted two German soldiers brutally attacking a woman and her baby in a French
town then appearing after the war as commercial travellers trying to sell their wares in an English
village. A brave English shopkeeper notices the words ‘made in Germany’ on the bottom of a pan
they are selling and he throws them out of the shop. A caption appears warning: ‘There must be no
trading with these people after the war’.
During Prohibition, German "strongholds" were especially vulnerable to the long, dry arm of the law
and under constant suspicion due to their seemingly genetic attraction for beer, and Germans
descended from early settlers in the Frankenmuth, Michigan area were no exception. Not quite able
part with the amber nectar, they simply made it themselves. Zehnder's hotel in Frankenmuth was
owned and operated by descendants of the first settlers, and they had poured their hearts and souls
into maintaining a clean, well-run establishment. Now and then, they would secretly serve some of
their home brew to a few local families and even some special out-of-town friends. It all came to a
fiendishly brutal end when, on July 30, 1930, near the last chapter of Prohibition, both the Zehnder's
and Fischer's Hotel across the street were surprised by a raid of ten armed federal agents.
and under constant suspicion due to their seemingly genetic attraction for beer, and Germans
descended from early settlers in the Frankenmuth, Michigan area were no exception. Not quite able
part with the amber nectar, they simply made it themselves. Zehnder's hotel in Frankenmuth was
owned and operated by descendants of the first settlers, and they had poured their hearts and souls
into maintaining a clean, well-run establishment. Now and then, they would secretly serve some of
their home brew to a few local families and even some special out-of-town friends. It all came to a
fiendishly brutal end when, on July 30, 1930, near the last chapter of Prohibition, both the Zehnder's
and Fischer's Hotel across the street were surprised by a raid of ten armed federal agents.
The proprietors were both well-respected town fathers and community leaders with no other offenses
of any kind, but when these small town boys went to trial on August 4, 1930, the Judge fined
Zehnder an extraordinarily harsh $5,000 fine and Fischer with the absolute maximum of $10,000,
although in a spurt of "kindness", he offered to deduct $1,200 from the fines if the offenders were
willing to have their beautifully hand-crafted oak bars smashed into schmidtereens, which they were.
Fischer's fine was the highest paid in the history of Prohibition in the United States.
of any kind, but when these small town boys went to trial on August 4, 1930, the Judge fined
Zehnder an extraordinarily harsh $5,000 fine and Fischer with the absolute maximum of $10,000,
although in a spurt of "kindness", he offered to deduct $1,200 from the fines if the offenders were
willing to have their beautifully hand-crafted oak bars smashed into schmidtereens, which they were.
Fischer's fine was the highest paid in the history of Prohibition in the United States.