by Michael Cikraji (Author)
During Cleveland's Great Depression, in an age of turmoil and time of upheaval, grew the first seeds of American Nazism. Complete with swastika flags, Hitler Youth, armed fascists and alleged intricate Jewish/Communist conspiracies, Cleveland was caught in the tempest of the frightening rise of National Socialism. The city fostered an explicitly Nazi German-American Bund, a covert Silvershirt Legion detachment and prominent diplomatic agents from the Third Reich, furiously struggling to advance the cause of American fascism. These elements came crashing headlong into the stiff resistance of the press, Jewish groups, and most prominently the city's German-American community. Festooned with photos, and meticulously documented, this book examines the fundamental, timeless questions of American allegiance, the responsibilities of democratic governance, the security threats of "Un-American" activities, and the passions, motivations and dreams of American immigrants. In the most unlikely of places, here is a case-study true story of the fascinating, bewildering and terrifying rise of American Nazism.
Author Biography
I have been a lifelong Cleveland area resident. I grew up in Bay Village and received my BA in history and political science from Ashland University in 1998, and my MA in history from Cleveland State University in 1999. In addition, I got a secondary education license for social studies. My varied job experience has included work as a newspaper copy editor, lifeguard, library research assistant, food service worker, lesson plan writer, community college instructor, e-check emissions examiner and high school social studies teacher. I'm currently an adjunct history instructor at Notre Dame College, and an advanced industrial inspector at Swagelok Company in Solon. I have traveled my fair share, particularly in Western and Central Europe, where I have spent time sightseeing, studying and working. My favorite foreign language is German. I have always had a passion for interesting, unique history, and of course good beer... as this book testifies.