Silver Shirt Legion of America - Revision history

𝗔𝗿𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗹: Text replacement - "Category:Organizations listed as subversive by the United States Attorney General" to ""

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Text replacement - "Category:Organizations listed as subversive by the United States Attorney General" to ""

← Older revision		Revision as of 12:36, 28 February 2024
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	[[Category:Shirt movements]]		[[Category:Shirt movements]]
	[[Category:Silver Shirts]]		[[Category:Silver Shirts]]
	~~[[Category:Organizations listed as subversive by the United States Attorney General]]~~


	[[es:Silver Legion of America]]		[[es:Silver Legion of America]]

𝗔𝗿𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗹: Text replacement - "Jew" to "jew"

2024-02-25T10:24:40Z

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	In the Fall of 1935 the Silver Shirts became largely inactive due to investigations of the McCormack-Dickstein committee <ref>[http://en.metapedia.org/wiki/House_of_Representatives_Un-American_Activities_Committee#Special_Committee_on_Un-American_Activities_.281934-1937.29 Special Committee on Un-American Activities (1934-1937)]</ref> but came back in 1936 when Pelley ran for President of the United States on the [[Christian Party of America\|Christian Party]] ticket.<ref>Testimony before the House of Representatives Un-American Activities, February 7, 1940</ref>		In the Fall of 1935 the Silver Shirts became largely inactive due to investigations of the McCormack-Dickstein committee <ref>[http://en.metapedia.org/wiki/House_of_Representatives_Un-American_Activities_Committee#Special_Committee_on_Un-American_Activities_.281934-1937.29 Special Committee on Un-American Activities (1934-1937)]</ref> but came back in 1936 when Pelley ran for President of the United States on the [[Christian Party of America\|Christian Party]] ticket.<ref>Testimony before the House of Representatives Un-American Activities, February 7, 1940</ref>

	In 1940 Pelley in testimony before the [[House of Representatives Un-American Activities Committee]] said he signed 25,000 credentials for Silver Shirt membership and had 75,000 sympathizers who were willing to contribute to his movement.<ref>Testimony before the House of Representatives Un-American Activities, February 7, 1940</ref> In 1935 it was estimated those who remained members peaked at 15,000.<ref>''William Dudley Pelley: a Life in Right-wing Extremism and the Occult'', by Scott Beekman, page 100</ref> One investigator claimed ~~Jews~~ who monitored the Silver Shirts and their publications contribute an estimated ten percent of the Silver Shirt revenue.<ref>[http://www.archive.org/stream/investigationofu193906unit#page/4260/mode/2up Testimony of Robert B. Barker, Investigator for the Special Committee on Un-American Activities, August 28, 1939, before the House of Un-American Activities Committee, page 4260]</ref>		In 1940 Pelley in testimony before the [[House of Representatives Un-American Activities Committee]] said he signed 25,000 credentials for Silver Shirt membership and had 75,000 sympathizers who were willing to contribute to his movement.<ref>Testimony before the House of Representatives Un-American Activities, February 7, 1940</ref> In 1935 it was estimated those who remained members peaked at 15,000.<ref>''William Dudley Pelley: a Life in Right-wing Extremism and the Occult'', by Scott Beekman, page 100</ref> One investigator claimed jews who monitored the Silver Shirts and their publications contribute an estimated ten percent of the Silver Shirt revenue.<ref>[http://www.archive.org/stream/investigationofu193906unit#page/4260/mode/2up Testimony of Robert B. Barker, Investigator for the Special Committee on Un-American Activities, August 28, 1939, before the House of Un-American Activities Committee, page 4260]</ref>

	==Accusations of foreign connections==		==Accusations of foreign connections==

𝗔𝗿𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗹: Text replacement - "Category:Legion" to ""

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← Older revision		Revision as of 09:17, 22 February 2024
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	[[Category:Silver Shirts]]		[[Category:Silver Shirts]]
	[[Category:Organizations listed as subversive by the United States Attorney General]]		[[Category:Organizations listed as subversive by the United States Attorney General]]
	~~[[Category:Legion]]~~

	[[es:Silver Legion of America]]		[[es:Silver Legion of America]]

𝗔𝗿𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗹: Text replacement - "Nationalist" to "Fascist"

2024-02-15T22:37:46Z

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	==See also==		==See also==
	* [[Lineage of American ~~Nationalist~~ organizations and individuals]]		* [[Lineage of American Fascist organizations and individuals]]
	* [[List of “Shirt” movements in America]]		* [[List of “Shirt” movements in America]]
	* [[International list of Shirt movements]]		* [[International list of Shirt movements]]
	* [[Murphy Ranch]]		* [[Murphy Ranch]]
	* [[American ~~Nationalist~~ Confederation]]		* [[American Fascist Confederation]]
	* [[Black Legion]]		* [[Black Legion]]

𝗔𝗿𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗹: Text replacement - "nationalist" to "fascist"

2024-02-15T17:41:21Z

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	The '''Silver Shirt Legion of America''' (previously '''Silver Shirts of America''' and '''Silver Legion of America''')<ref>[http://www.lib.washington.edu/specialcoll/findaids/docs/papersrecords/SilverShirtLegionofAmericaWashingtonStateDivision3242.xml Preliminary Guide to the Silver Shirt Legion of America Washington State Division Records 1933-1940]</ref> was an [[American ~~nationalist~~]] organization founded by [[William Dudley Pelley]] on [[January 30]], [[1933]], the day [[Adolf Hitler]] came to power in Germany. Pelley was a [[mystic]] and believed this auspicious date was the fulfillment of [[Pyramid Prophecy]].<ref>''Violence in America: Protest, Rebellion, Reform'', by Ted Robert Gurr, page 137</ref>		The '''Silver Shirt Legion of America''' (previously '''Silver Shirts of America''' and '''Silver Legion of America''')<ref>[http://www.lib.washington.edu/specialcoll/findaids/docs/papersrecords/SilverShirtLegionofAmericaWashingtonStateDivision3242.xml Preliminary Guide to the Silver Shirt Legion of America Washington State Division Records 1933-1940]</ref> was an [[American fascist]] organization founded by [[William Dudley Pelley]] on [[January 30]], [[1933]], the day [[Adolf Hitler]] came to power in Germany. Pelley was a [[mystic]] and believed this auspicious date was the fulfillment of [[Pyramid Prophecy]].<ref>''Violence in America: Protest, Rebellion, Reform'', by Ted Robert Gurr, page 137</ref>

	The group was commonly known as the '''Silver Shirts'''. Some writes have made the erroneous claim the Silver Shirt name was inspired by Hitler’s [[SS]] (''Schutzstaffel''). Pelley customarily referred to his members as "Silvershirts" in his literature.<ref>''Violence in America: Protest, Rebellion, Reform'', by Ted Robert Gurr, page 150</ref> On November 3, 1933 the Silver Shirts held their first meeting in Kreutzer Hall, East 86th Street, New York City.<ref>''Partners in Plunder, the Cost of Business'', page 222</ref> They were officially incorporated February 1934 in the state of [[Delaware]] as a patriotic fraternity.<ref>Testimony before the House of Representatives Un-American Activities, February 7, 1940</ref> The Silver Legion’s emblem was a [[Scarlet (color)\|scarlet]] '''L''' standing for love, loyalty, and liberation, which was featured on their flags and uniforms.<ref>[http://groups.yahoo.com/group/pelleyclub/message/390 The "L"]</ref>		The group was commonly known as the '''Silver Shirts'''. Some writes have made the erroneous claim the Silver Shirt name was inspired by Hitler’s [[SS]] (''Schutzstaffel''). Pelley customarily referred to his members as "Silvershirts" in his literature.<ref>''Violence in America: Protest, Rebellion, Reform'', by Ted Robert Gurr, page 150</ref> On November 3, 1933 the Silver Shirts held their first meeting in Kreutzer Hall, East 86th Street, New York City.<ref>''Partners in Plunder, the Cost of Business'', page 222</ref> They were officially incorporated February 1934 in the state of [[Delaware]] as a patriotic fraternity.<ref>Testimony before the House of Representatives Un-American Activities, February 7, 1940</ref> The Silver Legion’s emblem was a [[Scarlet (color)\|scarlet]] '''L''' standing for love, loyalty, and liberation, which was featured on their flags and uniforms.<ref>[http://groups.yahoo.com/group/pelleyclub/message/390 The "L"]</ref>
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	==Accusations of foreign connections==		==Accusations of foreign connections==
	There have been spurious claims Pelley and the Silver Shirts were financed with money and received support from [[National Socialist Germany]]. Pelley was tried twice for [[sedition]] in a court of law where none of these claims of support were ever proven. Pelley unlike some American ~~nationalists~~ from the 1930s never visited Germany nor meet with their National Socialist representatives. The only time Pelley meet with the leadership of the [[German American Bund]] was in [[Los Angeles]] when [[Fritz Kuhn]] was visiting the area and made a courtesy call.		There have been spurious claims Pelley and the Silver Shirts were financed with money and received support from [[National Socialist Germany]]. Pelley was tried twice for [[sedition]] in a court of law where none of these claims of support were ever proven. Pelley unlike some American fascists from the 1930s never visited Germany nor meet with their National Socialist representatives. The only time Pelley meet with the leadership of the [[German American Bund]] was in [[Los Angeles]] when [[Fritz Kuhn]] was visiting the area and made a courtesy call.

	==Silver Shirt leaders and staff==		==Silver Shirt leaders and staff==

𝗔𝗿𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗹: 1 revision imported

2024-02-06T22:03:22Z

1 revision imported

← Older revision	Revision as of 13:03, 6 February 2024
(No difference)

en>Crusader at 21:47, 26 July 2023

2023-07-26T21:47:09Z

New page

The '''Silver Shirt Legion of America''' (previously '''Silver Shirts of America''' and '''Silver Legion of America''')<ref>[http://www.lib.washington.edu/specialcoll/findaids/docs/papersrecords/SilverShirtLegionofAmericaWashingtonStateDivision3242.xml Preliminary Guide to the Silver Shirt Legion of America Washington State Division Records 1933-1940]</ref> was an [[American nationalist]] organization founded by [[William Dudley Pelley]] on [[January 30]], [[1933]], the day [[Adolf Hitler]] came to power in Germany. Pelley was a [[mystic]] and believed this auspicious date was the fulfillment of [[Pyramid Prophecy]].<ref>''Violence in America: Protest, Rebellion, Reform'', by Ted Robert Gurr, page 137</ref>

The group was commonly known as the '''Silver Shirts'''. Some writes have made the erroneous claim the Silver Shirt name was inspired by Hitler’s [[SS]] (''Schutzstaffel''). Pelley customarily referred to his members as "Silvershirts" in his literature.<ref>''Violence in America: Protest, Rebellion, Reform'', by Ted Robert Gurr, page 150</ref> On November 3, 1933 the Silver Shirts held their first meeting in Kreutzer Hall, East 86th Street, New York City.<ref>''Partners in Plunder, the Cost of Business'', page 222</ref> They were officially incorporated February 1934 in the state of [[Delaware]] as a patriotic fraternity.<ref>Testimony before the House of Representatives Un-American Activities, February 7, 1940</ref> The Silver Legion’s emblem was a [[Scarlet (color)|scarlet]] '''L''' standing for love, loyalty, and liberation, which was featured on their flags and uniforms.<ref>[http://groups.yahoo.com/group/pelleyclub/message/390 The "L"]</ref>

==Organization==
The Silver Shirts were organized into nine districts within the country and had chapters in 22 states:<ref>Testimony before the House of Representatives Un-American Activities, February 7, 1940</ref> two of the largest being [[Washington]] and [[California]]. Each chapter had a "Silver Lodge" which was a primitive cabin built for meetings. Local groups were called "[[Councils of Safety]]" and consisted of approximately ten members.

Silver Shirt membership was mostly [[middle class]] non-immigrant Americans of a [[northern European]] heritage. It was estimated that half of the membership were [[Catholic]].<ref>''William Dudley Pelley: a Life in Right-wing Extremism and the Occult'', by Scott Beekman, page 101</ref> Others claim the group was predominately [[Protestant]] with a large number of former [[Midwest]] [[Klansmen]].<ref>''Organized Anti-Semitism in America'', by [[Donald S. Strong]], page 52</ref> Silver Shirt membership was strongest on the [[West Coast of the United States|West Coast]] followed by the [[Midwest]]. Interestingly, there was practically no Silver Shirt organization in [[the South]] except for the national headquarters in Ashville, North Carolina.<ref>''Organized Anti-Semitism in America'', by [[Donald S. Strong]], page 54</ref>

Estimates on the number of Silver Shirt women ranged from eighteen<ref>''William Dudley Pelley: a Life in Right-wing Extremism and the Occult'', by Scott Beekman, page 101</ref> to twenty-eight percent.<ref>''Organized Anti-Semitism in America'', by [[Donald S. Strong]], page 52</ref> In Southern California a women’s auxiliary was formed and called the Petticoat Platoons.<ref>''Women of the Far Right: The Mothers' Movement and World War II'', By Glen Jeansonne, page 38</ref>

==Investigations==
In the Fall of 1935 the Silver Shirts became largely inactive due to investigations of the McCormack-Dickstein committee <ref>[http://en.metapedia.org/wiki/House_of_Representatives_Un-American_Activities_Committee#Special_Committee_on_Un-American_Activities_.281934-1937.29 Special Committee on Un-American Activities (1934-1937)]</ref> but came back in 1936 when Pelley ran for President of the United States on the [[Christian Party of America|Christian Party]] ticket.<ref>Testimony before the House of Representatives Un-American Activities, February 7, 1940</ref>

In 1940 Pelley in testimony before the [[House of Representatives Un-American Activities Committee]] said he signed 25,000 credentials for Silver Shirt membership and had 75,000 sympathizers who were willing to contribute to his movement.<ref>Testimony before the House of Representatives Un-American Activities, February 7, 1940</ref> In 1935 it was estimated those who remained members peaked at 15,000.<ref>''William Dudley Pelley: a Life in Right-wing Extremism and the Occult'', by Scott Beekman, page 100</ref> One investigator claimed Jews who monitored the Silver Shirts and their publications contribute an estimated ten percent of the Silver Shirt revenue.<ref>[http://www.archive.org/stream/investigationofu193906unit#page/4260/mode/2up Testimony of Robert B. Barker, Investigator for the Special Committee on Un-American Activities, August 28, 1939, before the House of Un-American Activities Committee, page 4260]</ref>

==Accusations of foreign connections==
There have been spurious claims Pelley and the Silver Shirts were financed with money and received support from [[National Socialist Germany]]. Pelley was tried twice for [[sedition]] in a court of law where none of these claims of support were ever proven. Pelley unlike some American nationalists from the 1930s never visited Germany nor meet with their National Socialist representatives. The only time Pelley meet with the leadership of the [[German American Bund]] was in [[Los Angeles]] when [[Fritz Kuhn]] was visiting the area and made a courtesy call.

==Silver Shirt leaders and staff==
* [[Kenneth D. Alexander]], California
* [[George S. Anderson]], business manager
* [[A. Alvin]] Watertown, Mass.
* [[Henry Lamont Beach]], Oregon
* [[Walter Bethel]], California
* [[Lawrence Brown]]
* [[Fred J. Buttry]], New York
* [[Eugene R. Case]]
* [[Dwight D. Clarke]]
* [[James H. Craig]], editor of ''[[The Silver Ranger]]''
* [[Hugo Eger]] of Chicago
* [[George Fisher]], Legion benefactor
* [[Don D. Kellogg]]
* [[Willard Kemp]], West coast commander
* [[Charles T. Lee]], "Captain" and San Diego group leader
* Dr. [[Howard Merrill]], Seattle leader
* [[Harrison F. McConnell]], Silver Shirt attorney
* [[Mabel Orgelman]]
* [[Luther Powell]], Pelley’s Chief of Staff
* [[George L. Rafort]], New York
* [[Orville Roundtree]]
* [[Harry F. Sieber]] treasurer
* [[Robert C. Summerville]]
* [[Charles B. Swift]]
* [[Roy Thompson]]
* [[Paul A. Toal]], foreign adjutant of the Silver Shirts
* Rev. [[E. F. Weber]], organizer in Oklahoma
* [[Roy Zachary]], national organizer

==See also==
* [[Lineage of American Nationalist organizations and individuals]]
* [[List of “Shirt” movements in America]]
* [[International list of Shirt movements]]
* [[Murphy Ranch]]
* [[American Nationalist Confederation]]
* [[Black Legion]]

==External link==
*[https://archive.is/20130114045928/img225.imageshack.us/img225/392/silverlegionpg63.png Photo of Silver Shirt meeting in the 1930s]
* [http://wn.com/William_Dudley_Pelley William Dudley Pelly videos]

==References==
{{Reflist|3}}

[[Category:Shirt movements]]
[[Category:Silver Shirts]]
[[Category:Organizations listed as subversive by the United States Attorney General]]
[[Category:Legion]]

[[es:Silver Legion of America]]