Issue link: http://educator.cta.org/i/1060790
B R A D L E Y W . H A R T 'S new book, "Hit- l e r 's Am e r i c a n Fr i e n d s , T h e T h i rd R e i c h's S u p p o r t e r s i n t h e U n i t e d St at e s," t el l s a stor y that ha s n e ver appeared in school textbooks: There w e re p o w e r f u l h o m e g r o w n a n t a g - o n i s t s , r a n g i n g f r o m Mi d w e s t e r n Catholic priests to congressmen, who protected and promoted Hitler and the Nazi doctrine. "Support for the Nazis in this coun- try was far greater than historians and the general public appreciated," says Hart, a CTA/California Faculty Association member and Fresno State University assistant professor in the Media, Communications and Journalism department. He says he hopes the book, which made TIME magazine's fall "must-read" list, "prompts some good discussions — especially at this moment in history." Based on Hart's research on the eugenics movement and far right in Britain, "American Friends" examines American support for Hitler, which Hart says "took a number of forms and came from varying motives. e German American Bund, an organization of ethnic Ger- mans living in the United States, was openly supportive of Hitler," as was Midwestern Catholic Father Charles Coughlin, an early right- wing radio star who broadcast anti-Semitic tirades. ere were even members of Congress who used their franking privilege — sending mail at cost to American taxpayers — to distrib- ute German propaganda. Hart says unions feature prominently. "C ertainly, organized labor made a major push against these groups and far right orga- nizations. Big business was key to the Nazi success, and the only way to resist these heavily funded groups, and the only way citizens could push back in an organized fashion, was to organize against them. Unions played a critical role in this period and continue to in our society today." Fo r o u r f u l l i n t e r v i e w w i t h H a r t , s e e " Me m b e r 's B o o k I s a TIME Magazine Must-Read" at CaliforniaEducator.org. —Cynthia Menzel Book Hits the Big-TIME: "Hitler's American Friends" 64 cta.org CTA & You Let CVT show you and your chapter members the right path. More Choices and Value-Added Benefits Healthcare can be confusing with all the plans, options and variables. CTA members have different family healthcare situations and need to have choices, as well as plans, that meet their needs. That's what California's Valued Trust is all about. More choices, more options and people to help your Association and its members through the complex journey of healthcare benefits. For more information, visit www.cvtrust.org or call 800-288-9870