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Americas Nazis: A Democratic Dilemma a History of the German American Bund

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Dr Susan Canedy has explored the Amercian Nazi movement with a sharp, clear lens. Particularly adept at examining the allure of Nazism as a movement with some attraction for Depression-era America and our dispossessed. Certainly a work to consider in an era wherein isolationism and xenophobia appear to be slowly rearing their ugly heads again. Highly recommend this work to anyone who wishes to look at our society from every angle.

FROM THE INSIDE COVER OF THE DUST JACKET-An illustrated history of the German American Bund of the 1930's and 40's. This study uses the development of the Nazi Bund to highlight the problems inherent in cultural isolation within a society which may threaten a functioning democracy. Canedy traces the isolation and concomittant prejudice which result when an ethinc minority's process of assimilation is interrupted by war, national fervor and political upheaval. Her work also demonstrates the problems which democractic government encounters in attempting to contain and manage what is percieved as a threat to national security. While most Americans probably thought that the demise of the American Nazis conclusively proved that "it can't happen here" Canedy's work shows how precariously the issues of civil rights, freedom of association, and political advocacy are balanced.

Susan Canedy's meticulously researched account brings to life an importanty chapter of American history and is especially pertinet in this time of resurgent"nazi" political sentiment in both United States and Europe.