German American Bund
The German American Bund also known as the Amerikadeutscher Volksbund “AV”, was an American National Socialist organization created in 1936 following the dissolution of its predecessor Friends of New Germany or FONG. The name change and creation of the German American bund was due to the fact that the press and many others had accused them of being unpatriotic, and as a way to show patriotism, they created the new organization, German-American Bund.
Formation
The Bund was formed up of German Americans an Americans of German descent. The goal was to establish national socialism in the United States, promote positive views of the third reich,and to promote a non interventionist position in the ever evolving situation in Europe.
May of 1933, Deputy Führer Rudolf Hess gave German immigrant and NSDAP Party member Heinz Spanknöbel the authority to form an American national socialist organization. Soon after Spanknöbel created the Friends of New Germany(FONG) merging two older groups in the U.S. Gau-USA and the Free Society of Teutonia, Both smaller groups of only a few hundred members.The FoNG was based in New York City but had a strong presence in Chicago. Male members wore a uniform, a white shirt, black trousers and a black kepi adorned with the organizations symbol. Female members wore a white blouse with a black shirt.