Overview

In the late 1930s, the German-American Bund, led by its popinjay dictator Fritz Kuhn, was a small but powerful national movement, determined to conquer the United States government with a fascist dictatorship. They met in private social halls and beer garden backrooms, gathered at private resorts and public rallies, developed their own version of the SS and Hitler Youth, published a national newspaper and - for a brief moment of their own imagined glory-seemed poised to make an impact on American politics. But while the American Nazi leadership dreamed of their Swastika Nation, an amalgamation of politicians, a rising legal star, an ego-charged newspaper columnist, and denizens of the criminal underworld utilized their respective means and muscle to bring down the movement and its dreams of a United Reich States. Swastika Nation is a story of bad guys, good guys, and a few guys who fell somewhere in between. The rise and fall of Fritz Kuhn and his German-American Bund at the hands of these disparate fighters is a sometimes funny, sometimes harrowing, and always compelling story from start to finish.

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9781250056016

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Reviews

[An] engrossing retelling... The New York Times Impeccably researched and forcefully written. Chicago Tribune Told with relish and undisguised disdain. Kirkus Reviews A breathtaking story of a lost piece of American history--a powerfully written, expertly researched tale packed with fascinating characters and riveting action. Jonathan Eig, New York Times bestselling author of Luckiest Man The frightening, compulsively readable story...A vivid and enlightening look at a largely forgotten episode of American history. Gary Krist, New York Times bestselling author of City of Scoundrels ...fast-paced...a fresh account of a well-documented era. Publishers Weekly This is narrative nonfiction at its best, a gripping tale that's impossible to put down. Karen Abbott, author of American Rose Arnie Bernstein is a master storyteller Here's a book with a cast of bigger-than-life characters A powerful, riveting story. John McNally, Award-winning author of The Book of Ralph No novelist would have dared to pass off the bumptious Fritz Kuhn, his dim-witted associates, or his improbable harem of divorced socialites as real-life characters. But for a few years in the 1930s, the Bundesfuhrer purveyed his bizarre blend of Hitler-worship, Jew-hatred, and star-spangled patriotism to audiences of thousands--while the likes of Walter Winchell, Thomas Dewey, Fiorella LaGuardia, and Meyer Lansky worked separately and sometimes together to bring him down. Swastika Nation reminds us that when it comes to the politics of hatred, truth is stranger than fiction--and nothing is new under the sun. Arthur Goldwag, author of The New Hate: A History of Fear and Loathing on the Populist Right Bernstein wraps his arms around an amazing cast and spins a tale that will readers breathless--it's that good. An astonishing read by a wonderful writer. Gregg Olson, New York Times best-selling author of Starvation Heights

[An] engrossing retelling... -- The New York Times Impeccably researched and forcefully written. -- Chicago Tribune Told with relish and undisguised disdain. -- Kirkus Reviews A breathtaking story of a lost piece of American history--a powerfully written, expertly researched tale packed with fascinating characters and riveting action. --Jonathan Eig, New York Times bestselling author of Luckiest Man The frightening, compulsively readable story...A vivid and enlightening look at a largely forgotten episode of American history. --Gary Krist, New York Times bestselling author of City of Scoundrels .. .fast-paced...a fresh account of a well-documented era. -- Publishers Weekly This is narrative nonfiction at its best, a gripping tale that's impossible to put down. --Karen Abbott, author of American Rose Arnie Bernstein is a master storyteller...Here's a book with a cast of bigger-than-life characters...A powerful, riveting story. --John McNally, Award-winning author of The Book of Ralph No novelist would have dared to pass off the bumptious Fritz Kuhn, his dim-witted associates, or his improbable harem of divorced socialites as real-life characters. But for a few years in the 1930s, the Bundesfuhrer purveyed his bizarre blend of Hitler-worship, Jew-hatred, and star-spangled patriotism to audiences of thousands--while the likes of Walter Winchell, Thomas Dewey, Fiorella LaGuardia, and Meyer Lansky worked separately and sometimes together to bring him down. Swastika Nation reminds us that when it comes to the politics of hatred, truth is stranger than fiction--and nothing is new under the sun. --Arthur Goldwag, author of The New Hate: A History of Fear and Loathing on the Populist Right Bernstein wraps his arms around an amazing cast and spins a tale that will readers breathless--it's that good. An astonishing read by a wonderful writer. --Gregg Olson, New York Times best-selling author of Starvat

"""[An] engrossing retelling..."" --The New York Times ""Impeccably researched and forcefully written."" --Chicago Tribune ""Told with relish and undisguised disdain."" --Kirkus Reviews ""A breathtaking story of a lost piece of American history--a powerfully written, expertly researched tale packed with fascinating characters and riveting action."" --Jonathan Eig, New York Times bestselling author of Luckiest Man ""The frightening, compulsively readable story...A vivid and enlightening look at a largely forgotten episode of American history."" --Gary Krist, New York Times bestselling author of City of Scoundrels ""...fast-paced...a fresh account of a well-documented era."" --Publishers Weekly ""This is narrative nonfiction at its best, a gripping tale that's impossible to put down."" --Karen Abbott, author of American Rose ""Arnie Bernstein is a master storyteller...Here's a book with a cast of bigger-than-life characters...A powerful, riveting story."" --John McNally, Award-winning author of The Book of Ralph ""No novelist would have dared to pass off the bumptious Fritz Kuhn, his dim-witted associates, or his improbable harem of divorced socialites as real-life characters. But for a few years in the 1930s, the Bundesführer purveyed his bizarre blend of Hitler-worship, Jew-hatred, and star-spangled patriotism to audiences of thousands--while the likes of Walter Winchell, Thomas Dewey, Fiorella LaGuardia, and Meyer Lansky worked separately and sometimes together to bring him down. Swastika Nation reminds us that when it comes to the politics of hatred, truth is stranger than fiction--and nothing is new under the sun."" --Arthur Goldwag, author of The New Hate: A History of Fear and Loathing on the Populist Right ""Bernstein wraps his arms around an amazing cast and spins a tale that will readers breathless--it's that good. An astonishing read by a wonderful writer."" --Gregg Olson, New York Times best-selling author of Starvation Heights"

[An] engrossing retelling... -- The New York Times Impeccably researched and forcefully written. -- Chicago Tribune .. .told with relish and undisguised disdain. -- Kirkus Reviews .. .fast-paced...a fresh account of a well-documented era. -- Publishers Weekly As there are few other works specifically on this topic - none aimed at a popular audience and many out of print - this is an adequate overview of the history of the Bund. Recommended for those interested in the time period and the U.S. Nazi movement. -- Library Journal This is narrative nonfiction at its best, a gripping tale that's impossible to put down. --Karen Abbott, author of American Rose This is a breathtaking story of a lost piece of American history--a powerfully written, expertly researched tale packed with fascinating characters and riveting action. --Jonathan Eig, New York Times best-selling author of Luckiest Man Arnie Bernstein is a master storyteller...Here's a book with a cast of bigger-than-life characters...A powerful, riveting story. --John McNally, Award-winning author of The Book of Ralph No novelist would have dared to pass off the bumptious Fritz Kuhn, his dim-witted associates, or his improbable harem of divorced socialites as real-life characters. But for a few years in the 1930s, the Bundesfuhrer purveyed his bizarre blend of Hitler-worship, Jew-hatred, and star-spangled patriotism to audiences of thousands--while the likes of Walter Winchell, Thomas Dewey, Fiorella LaGuardia, and Meyer Lansky worked separately and sometimes together to bring him down. Swastika Nation reminds us that when it comes to the politics of hatred, truth is stranger than fiction--and nothing is new under the sun. --Arthur Goldwag, author of The New Hate: A History of Fear and Loathing on the Populist Right Swastika Nation is the frightening, compulsively readable story of the rise of the German-American Bund of the 1930s. Arnie Bernsteinf

Author Information

Arnie Bernstein learned firsthand about American Nazis as a high school student, when a group of neofascists threatened to march in his neighborhood, known for its large Jewish population. Bernstein has been interviewed by The New York Times, BBC Radio, NPR, PBS, and for numerous documentaries. He's lectured at DePaul University, the Chicago History Museum, and other respected venues, and has received numerous grants and awards. Bernstein is the author of Bath Massacre, and he lives in Chicago.

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