Kenneth Fisher

The German American’s Story

            Widely known through traditional historical studies is the plight and trials of the European Jewish individual during World War II.  The persecution of the Jews under Hitler is widely the reasons for much Jewish immigration into many countries outside Europe, including the United States but rarely talked about is the Non-Jewish German immigrant’s plight and trials of this same time period. I took a German history course in my undergraduate studies, during which was born a question into my mind that I never knew how to voice until now:  How different is the immigration narrative of the German immigrant during World War II, from the traditional immigrant narrative?  How difficult was it for these individuals who, disagreeable with Nazi Germany, fled their home countries to take refuge amongst people who saw their home as their enemy? 

            I took my newly formed question to the web in search of answers.  First, I found myself filtering through the Wikipedia’s article on German American’s (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/German_American).  This article makes note of the existence of some understandable Anti-German sentiment amongst the populace of the Untied States of America during the second world war.  The Alien Registration Act of 1940 required German immigrants to register with the federal government, and restricted their travel and right to the ownership of property. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/German_American) Some 11,000 individuals of German heritage, some of whom were American citizens, were interned by the United States under the Alien Enemy Act of 1789.  (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/German_American)  In the 1940’s, Angel Island’s Immigration Station was transformed into a short term prisoner of war camp at which 277 German prisoners were held.  (http://www.cr.nps.gov/nr/travel/wwIIbayarea/ang.htm)

            This political climate, added into the mix with cultural tensions left after the first world war, and the added pressure of the second world war made many German American’s the target of harsh treatment and prejudice.  Many German Americans, feeling pressured by the governmental and public distrust of their homeland, rushed their assimilation into the main culture by changing the names of their businesses, and even their families, to blend into American main stream. (http://memory.loc.gov/learn/features/immig/german8.html)

            Some German Americans reacted to the public and governmental heat by defending their loyalty to the United States when questioned, and severing ties to Europe.  On the United States side, President Roosevelt made it a point to appoint German Americans to key military positions in order to combat the growing Anti-German sentiments in an effort to curtail hostilities before they reached the level of 1917-18.  Among these great individuals is General Dwight D. Eisenhower, Admiral Chester Nimitz, Gerneral Carl Spaatz, and Republican leader Wendell Willkie.

            In answer to my earlier question, the immigrant narrative of the German Immigrant during World War II is vastly different than the traditional immigrant narrative.  The German’s during this period were immigrating into a country that was hostile towards their presence.  America becomes suspicious of outsiders when in military conflict with their native nations.  The same can be seen with Japanese American’s of the same Era, of Muslim-Americans/immigrants in today’s society.  Its as though we place the sins of the nation upon the heads of every member of that ethnic group that enters into our midst.  Though this trend has some footing in security, it’s a dangerous one.  Where do we reacting in suspicion and simply let people live their lives?  Should we act upon the notion that just because the German American’s in World War II, or the Muslim American’s today, are here they mean us harm?  In the case of the German Americans, at least they can Americanize their name, and blend into American society if they don’t wish to endure the prejudices.