"A Christian Looks
At the Religious Right"
Under Cover by John Roy Carlson
World Pub., N.Y., N.y., 1943. 544 pages.
My own personal copy of the award winning book UNDER COVER, belonged to Rosalie Israel who purchased the work in 1946. The fact that Rosalie was Jewish makes the copy more personable since it was the work that exposed the American connection to German Fascism in America during World War II.
The author's name is a pseudonym to protect him from the many threats on his life. His real name was Arthur Derounain. He immigrated to the U.S. with his family as a boy and witnessed the slaying of his Armenian Archbishop priest in New York City at the hand of Fascists. This had a bearing on his life because of the closeness he had toward the minister. After becoming a journalist, "John Roy" wanted to aid his adopted country in its fight for Democracy. He saw his work as an underground writer working both for the FBI and newspapers as his contribution to the nation he loved. Throughout his work one notes his affection for Democracy and his disdain for those who would attack it.
The author even tried to get into the Communist underground in America but found them too shrewd to infiltrate. His work in Fascism in the nation was much easier to get in to. Many publishers and larger magazines would not touch the stuff Carlson wrote because it was too sensitive. Eighteen publishers turned down the original manuscript before E. P. Ditton took the risk. The result was a best seller that turned the author into a national figure. The book mentions the names of prominent citizens as well as politicians.
The author was born in Armenia and witnessed the ravaging armies who terrorized his family. Fleeing to America he entered public schools. One of his first teachers kept him after school to teach him English and the efforts paid off in his becoming one of the nation's most read authors. Carlson trained himself to be an actor and adopted the customs of groups he sought to report on in the nation. At one time he even moved to an Italian section of the city to learn the language and accents of the peoples there.
Current Biography mentions the raving reviews given the work saving the "Chicago Tribune". Upon reading the work you can see why. The Chicago paper was revealed as having sympathy with the anti war effort that the paper was highly vocal about.
Carlson's expose' of Fascism in the U.S. during the late thirties and during the war is a little known historical movement in the nation. He relayed the information that just before the war there were twenty-four Bund camps in the U.S. pg. 108 These were German sympathizers with some of the financial support for such activities coming from Germany itself. The connection with German money infiltrating into the nation to keep the country out of the war in Europe is alarming. Hitler invested over $300 million in propaganda in other nations and helped to support over 20,000 organizations in the United States. pg. 112 Carlson revealed that the America First Committee, which sought to keep the nation out of the war, was supported and underwritten by Nazi money both from the nation and abroad. pg. 131 Under the guise of patriotism, ministers and politicians sought to impose their Nazi propaganda onto the American public. Carlson thought their pleas of Christianity were just a rouse to get people on board. pg. 133 The book connects Christian ministries as well as regional Klu Klux Klan leaders with the Nazis. pg. 135 A connection that can still be found in the nation even today. A common thread in these political systems is the fighting of Communism. During this season in American history as well as German, it was accepted protocol to even use Fascism to attack Communism. Groups like the Silver Shirts, Christian Front (founded by a famous Catholic Priest), Bund and Klan dotted the landscape of the nation. pg.. 137
One of the themes of the hard American Right was the belief that Democracy was nothing but Communism with mob rule. They referred to the government as a Republic instead of a Democracy. Democracy was called "mobocracy". Some of the national leaders desired that refugees from Europe should be sterilized to protect the nation. pg. 138.
The mood for politics was set by the New Deal, which was hated by the many industrial leaders of the nation who formed teams of rufkins to attack unions. Many of these leaders were anti-Semites who called the New Deal the "Jew Deal". They viewed FDR as leaning toward socialism. pg. 141 Typical of the political viewpoints were automatic pistols sold by "patriots" which were called "kike-killers". There were two sizes, a smaller one for the ladies. pg. 145.
The work contains the under pinning of the Religious Right of today. Connections with early leaders found in the book and their viewpoints can be found in the contemporary enterprise. To these patriotic preachers one was either a "Christian patriot or a blood sucking Communist". pg. 39 These ministers had a national following through their newspapers and radio broadcasts. They were able to pack civic arenas across the nation with their presence. One common tactic was to call everything against Nazi aims as either Jewish or Communist. pg. 74. Many modern prophets have shortened the terms to one word. . .liberal.
Carlson often writes of the violence connected with the "Christian" mob. As one leader remarked, "I am not content to walk in the footsteps of Christ. I will walk ahead of Him with a club". pg. 79. Roy quotes Hitler to explain the religious fervor which was based more on emotion than it was facts. pg. 132. Campaigns like "Jews gotta be wiped out!" were replaced with more religious slogans. Agendas named "Christ or Chaos!" and "For Christ and Constitution" proved to be popular replacements. pg. 151 At one church meeting the speaker promised to kill FDR if nobody else would. pg. 173. "Where one would least expect to find Nazi propaganda at work--in the Church-- I found it organized as effectively as outside the church". pg. 176.
Catholic spin off groups were formed to meet secretly in homes across the nation. Spin offs like the Circle of Seven were other organizations to provide cell supporters of the Christian persuasion in the country. pg. 229 The author's insight on the linking of Christianity with Nazis is best summed by his statement, "The familiar device of a demagogue exploiting the name of Christ for political purposes has always disgusted me." pg. 294.
The reader will be shocked to read about the wide spread anti-Semitism found in the nation during this time. Little known facts about men like Henry Ford, U.S. legislatures and prominent citizens are troubling. Many leaders in this movement did not buy into the anti-Jew propaganda, but found it helpful in drawing a following. pg. 83. Jews were blamed for everything from the assassination of Lincoln, the Depression and even to the War. pg. 142. Mississippi Congressman John Rankin condemned American Jews as war mongers and traced problems in the economy to Jewish bankers in Europe. When a Jewish Congressman collapsed and died upon entering the House to hear such bigotry, American Nazis praised the Congressman from Mississippi for his patriotism. pg. 233. The anti-Semitism was so threatening from these groups, Vendell Willkie said, "I consider anti-Semitism in America as a possible criminal movement and every anti-Semite as a possible traitor to America." pg. 406.
Of peculiar interest is the chapter on Nazi work in Harlem. Nazi agents and leaders sought to recruit Blacks into German sympathizers. A little known fact that even found some Black leadership in sympathy. This fact, in spite of White Supremacists sentiments among Nazis, is one of American history's strange secrets.
One of the key figures of the Nazi-American movement was Father Charles Coughlin the Catholic Priest. Many of his followers advocated violence toward Jews in the nation. pg. 32. Coughlin blamed Jews for the Depression and moral problems in society. He was known to receive funding from the Third Reich. Coughlin helped to spawn the anti-Semitic fervor in the nation by his broadcasts. pg.36. At rallies across the country, the audience would often cheer Hitler, Franco and Father Coughlin in the same setting. pg. 40. The priest, who once delivered a speech at the Democratic Party National Meeting, often promoted violence. pg. 54. Coughlin took his Jew bating message to the American home through the media he operated. His newspaper had over a million subscribers. Many of his followers performed acts of violence and even an alleged act of terrorism. Bibles, bayonets and photos of Coughlin often decked the decorations of meeting halls. pg. 90. One group of followers was charged with conspiracy to overthrow the government. pg. 106. The priest maintained a large parish school on a 30 acre plot with a huge building and publishing house for his newspaper. He was wealthy and devoted followers would come to his Detroit amusement park in the summers. He was a big player in finances in the area. He employed scores of laborers and often praised Adolf Hitler. Roy found it a bit odd to find a minister of the Gospel with such views. pg. 176.
Gerald Smith, a pastor in the Christian Church, was another key figure in the movement. Gerald openly taught followers the Fascist salute. Roy has Smith advocating violence in a subtle way. pg. 294. Smith was instrumental in the forming of Silver Shirt Storm troops in the nation. pg. 304. The book states that Gerald received money from deep pockets who wanted to keep unions in check. Gerald toured the nation equipped with a body guard. pg. 323.
Gerald Winrod was the Mid West's leader in Fascism. The Lutheran minister had direct contacts with Nazi Germany. His newsletters promoted prominent anti-Semites in the nation and sold the PROTOCOLS. His sudden political fame brought him wealth and a following. He pranced around Kansas and the region proclaiming that Communism was a Jewish organization. pg. 176. He also believed Roosevelt had Jewish ancestry as reported from his Nazi sources. pg 375. Other accounts speak of prominent leaders in Fascism going to Texas and boasting they had the backing of popular preachers in the state. pg. 435 Of peculiar interest was the work Methodist Norman Vincent Peale did for the movement. pg. 475.
Popular with the Right during these days was the book, THE PROTOCOLS OF ZION. Roy mentions the work several times in his manuscript. He carries an explanation of the source of the book and it's evident fabrication. pg. 24.
The summation of the author's point is found in the first paragraph of the preface. He believed that American Fascism was a spearhead poised to stab at Democracy. pg. 9. To those who believed the fear overstated, he quotes the same indifference found in Hitler's Germany. pg. 107. Nazis in America saw themselves as being like a pinch of salt during the war. They could ruin a lot of good coffee with a little salt. pg. 513. These men (and women) were not to be taken lightly. Carlson knew that he would be a marked man and his life endangered for the rest of his days. pg. 519. How many authors can claim such courage?
Don Wilkey
November, 2004
Endnotes:
1. Roy Carlson, UNDER COVER, Word Pub. Co., Cleveland, Ohio, 1943. pg. 161.
2. "Understanding the Christian Roots of My Depression," Houston Americans United email, Sept. 16, 2004.
3. Barry Hankins, GOD'S RASCAL, Univ. Press Of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky, 1996, pg. 165.
4. George Marsden, UNDERSTANDING FUNDAMENTALISM, Eerdmans, Grand Rapids, Mich. , 1991, pg. 195.
5. Robert Dreyfuss, "Reverend Doomsday", ROLLINGSTONE, Feb. 19. 2004.
6. www.ethicsdaily.com Sept. 13, 2004.
7. John George, COMMUNISTS, KLANSMEN, OTHERS ON THE FRINGE, Prometheus, Buffalo, N.Y., 1992, pg. 245.
8. Chandler Davidson, RACE AND CLASS IN TEXAS POLITICS, Princeton Press, Princeton, N.J. 1990.
9. Speeches of the German American Bund Madison Square Garden, Feb. 20, 1939. Published by The Truth at Last, P.O. Box 1211 Marietta, Ga. 30061.