Old Nazis, the New Right, and the Republican Party: Domestic fascist networks and their effect on U.S. cold war politics [Hardcover]

Russ Bellant (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Bellant convincingly documents three arguments in this short, journalistic book. First, many people who had been active in Nazi or pro-Nazi groups in Eastern Europe in the 1930s and 1940s subsequently came to this country, often under the auspices of the Displaced Persons Commission. Second, many of these emigres then became active in political and ethnic groups affiliated with the Republican Party, providing financial and electoral support and crusading relentlessly against Communism. Third, and most important, some of the most unsavory elements of the anti-Communist right gained a foothold in official foreign policy circles under Reagan. Bellant's case is strong and disturbing, but his book is terribly organized, and the meaningful arguments are mixed in with overstated claims (especially the suggestions of a fascist conspiracy) and charges based only on political disagreement, not malfeasance. An optional purchase.
-Timothy Christenfeld, Columbia Univ.
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 148 pages
• Publisher: South End Press; 3 Sub edition (July 1, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0896084191
• ISBN-13: 978-0896084193
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 5.8 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.7 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 2.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,162,045 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

41 of 51 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Details Nazi & fascist penetration of American politics, June 15, 1999

By 

[e-mail] (Edinburg, Texas) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Old Nazis, the New Right, and the Republican Party: Domestic fascist networks and their effect on U.S. cold war politics (Hardcover)

At the end of World War II, the U.S. government secretly brought many Nazis into the U.S. As detailed in "Quiet Neighbors" and other books examining the U.S. government's program for infiltrating Nazis into the U.S., these Nazis quietly integrated themselves into the American socio-political system. Bellant examines the penetration by Nazis and fascists of the American political system, focusing specifically on how Nazis and fascists have gained influence and leadership positions in the Republican Party. While the book needs to be revised and updated, it is excellent in presenting the underlying foundation of the Reagan and Bush presidencies. Valuable reading for anyone seeking to understand the agenda of the Republican right.

22 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent research and clarifies the far right's delusions, November 4, 2004

By 

B. Ward (Mt.Auburn, Illinois United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Old Nazis, the New Right, and the Republican Party: Domestic fascist networks and their effect on U.S. cold war politics (Paperback)

This book is very understandable. It draws a direct connect between the fascist ideology and today's radical right. I recommend this book so people can understand just how dangerous the far right is in the U.S.A.

4 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Good idea, but apples, oranges, and a whole lot of bananas, February 27, 2009

By 

lector avidus (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Old Nazis, the New Right, and the Republican Party: Domestic fascist networks and their effect on U.S. cold war politics (Paperback)

In this book, Russ Bellant looks into the links between old Nazis and other extremists and the fringes of the Republican party during the Cold War.

My concerns about this book are not at all with its subject, but with the book's lack of seriousness. Extremists, violence, and terrorism have no place in democracies; unfortunately this book is so short that it leaves its readers pretty confused.

Many people in Eastern Europe were trapped with only disgusting options; the Communists had genocided millions in the Ukraine in the 1920s during the Holodomor and eventually screwed up all of Eastern Europe, but their only nearby rivals, the Germans, also had disgusting politicians. Some of the Eastern Europeans jumped out of the frying pan and into the fire not because they were right-wing thugs at heart, but because they were deathly afraid of Stalin and his concentration camps. However wrong their politics, it's inaccurate to insinuate that they got caught up in those circles because they were true-believing Fascists. Some were dangerous, some were kooky, and some were in a really rotten neighborhood at the wrong time, and treating all of them as the same sort of menace misrepresents the subject of this book.

In my opinion, this book is a polemic that would be a useful resource for more research, but it is most definitely not a judicious exposé.

Its readers - and this topic - deserve more and better.