Draft:Burnings of German Books in the United States 1917 to 1918

Overview and Map
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This article deals specifically with the destruction of German literature and similar, identity-forming works in the USA in relation to WW1 and not with the general anti-Germanism before, during or after.

During the First World War in the USA there were numerous anti-German attacks on people and property.



Causes and similarities
The widespread resentment against newly immigrated groups, which was directed not only against Germans but also Irish, Italians, Catholics, Jews, Chinese etc. (keyword: Know Nothing Party), formed the basis that after the beginning of the First World War was used to "solve the problem with the German language" by incited MOBs. Although there were occasional courageous dissenting voices (by headmasters or e.g. in the press), the majority remained mute because of the practiced lynch "justice" or participated fanatically in the book burnings. School break-ins and subsequent book burnings were perpetrated with conspicuous frequency by pupils or "unknowns", often after they had previously protested against the continuation of German lessons in the class. One can presume that the students hoped that their actions would also reduce their expenses for the rest of the school year. Despite the dissenting voices, important events repeatedly triggered waves of book burnings, which - possibly also centrally controlled - were fueled by external people and organizations.

As special events were named the entry of the USA into the war, the armistice with the German Empire and ship sinkings (Tuscania (troop transporter;1918); Lusitania (arms transporter with among other things US passengers as "meat shields" 1915), etc.).

Some individuals explicitly stepped forward in calling for book burnings e.g. various Superintendents and James Pershing (brother of Gen. John J. Pershing; " I want to see every German newspaper in America confiscated and every German text book burned.”).

Also companies, e.g. the "Anaconda Copper Mining Company" (A.C.M.; in Butte, Montana) were or are suspected of being involved in the anti-German book burnings for economic reasons. Presumably, American companies also incited paid murderers and lynch mobs against trade unionists, socialists and opponents of the war in the period between 1914 and 1918 (Frank Little (unionist); Robert Prager). Since the German-speaking workforce has traditionally brought higher or larger sections of the population more comprehensive school education from "the fatherland", hostility on the part of the companies towards the "educational culture" of the workers is obvious.

Even if fear of disloyalty and demonstrating one's own loyalty were frequently cited as the motive for the book burnings, one can assume that the German "educational culture" was viewed by large parts of the US population as snooty to autocratic, at least behind closed doors. Statements by various US Presidents up to 1945 in this regard are known.

A clear lever against German as a language and German literature was the propaganda denigration as "Hun language" or "Teuton language" ("teutonic books"). For this purpose, the allegedly martial character of the so-called "Hun Speech" by Kaiser Wilhelm II in 1900 (the authenticity of which is highly disputed) was projected onto the language as a whole. Unexplained and surprising despite reprisals is that the "German=Hun" propaganda caught on so well, although the educated class of the population saw the atrocities of other states (Boer War<->concentration camps; Russian Empire<->Circassian genocide; UK-Benin War; Belgian Congo-Freestate<->quasi-slavery; etc.) were known and could serve as a reference.

It is also scientifically unclear to what extent it is likely that the massive book burnings in the USA (and France) in 1914-1918 had a decisive influence on the book burnings that began in 1933 in the Third Reich.

This article inevitably only gives an incomplete overview of the number of book burnings and the extent of the burned books, documents, pictures, etc., since not every book burning was reported on and not all newspaper reports are freely accessible. There is a survivorship bias in the data. Given that entire US states have condescendingly enacted book burnings, one can expect many more incidents in many more communities.

Addendum: A special event are the book burnings in Menominee High School. While other incidents were only reported once or over a maximum of 1-2 months, the reporting regarding Menominee High School spanned the months of May to November. In this case, an alleged revenge action on the school took place. It is possible that the extensive reporting was used to track down supposed "Hun sympathizers" who could then be dealt with by the lynch mob or the dysfunctional "judiciary". Nothing is known of other supposed or real acts of revenge.