I've just finished reading another one of Steven E Ambrose's books and I started to wonder if there was a conflict of interest in WW2 for the 2nd generation German G.I.s in the U.S. Army. It seems to me that in the services there seemed to be a hell of a lot of Teutonic surnames, maybe one of our American brothers can enlighten me?. :roll:
Pfc Schultz
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My Dad came to the states , from Germany , in the 20's when he was about 13. His Dad had been in the German infantry during WWI , wounded at Verdun. Dad was drafted in 1940 and fought as infantry in Aferica , Italy and Normandy. He was then made an interrogator. When he was drafted he was classified as an Enemy Alien when he was discharged he became an American citizen. He was the proudest citizen I have ever known , had a flag pole in the front yard and hoisted a flag every day. When you came to my house you did not speak German , we were Americans.He died 5 years ago and I miss hearing him say " Vee are Americans ! "
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Tosh,
Were you reading CITIZEN SOLDIERS by any chance? LOL! I just finished that one myself!
I tried doing some research on your question, but I have found nothing really useful.
I can tell you that during WW2 approximately 23% of the US population had German surnames. I also discovered that some German-Americans were relocated to camps as the Japanese were. As best as I can determine, the basis for these interrments was some affiliation with Nazis, such as a connection with the German-American Bund, the American Nazi Party, etc.
If the percentage of American GIs with German surnames was reflected by the general population...23%...then someone would have to be doing one HELL of a lot of screening...that's a LOT of people. Just my opinion, but I would think that with that many soldiers there would have to be something more than just a German surname to call for more than just cursory investigation. Again, just my opinion.
Steve
Were you reading CITIZEN SOLDIERS by any chance? LOL! I just finished that one myself!
I tried doing some research on your question, but I have found nothing really useful.
I can tell you that during WW2 approximately 23% of the US population had German surnames. I also discovered that some German-Americans were relocated to camps as the Japanese were. As best as I can determine, the basis for these interrments was some affiliation with Nazis, such as a connection with the German-American Bund, the American Nazi Party, etc.
If the percentage of American GIs with German surnames was reflected by the general population...23%...then someone would have to be doing one HELL of a lot of screening...that's a LOT of people. Just my opinion, but I would think that with that many soldiers there would have to be something more than just a German surname to call for more than just cursory investigation. Again, just my opinion.
Steve
Rigger
I read "Citizen Soldiers" recently, but the surname thing only really struck me when reading "Blue Yonder" The aircrews just seemed to me to have a lot of Germanic surnames. Mind you they could be Scandinavian for all I know! LOL. Talking of our Nordic friends I'm sure I saw a TV programme about the U.S. when they mentioned variations in accents and that there was an area or a state that was famously lampooned for Swedish inflections in the speech. I've just reread that, I hope that makes sense!
DMZ, Top Story!
I read "Citizen Soldiers" recently, but the surname thing only really struck me when reading "Blue Yonder" The aircrews just seemed to me to have a lot of Germanic surnames. Mind you they could be Scandinavian for all I know! LOL. Talking of our Nordic friends I'm sure I saw a TV programme about the U.S. when they mentioned variations in accents and that there was an area or a state that was famously lampooned for Swedish inflections in the speech. I've just reread that, I hope that makes sense!
DMZ, Top Story!
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I recently watched a TV series called 'Making a Murderer' it was a true life documentary in Manitowoc County,Wisconsin. They had a strange American accent, I thought perhaps their was an undertone of Canadian as Wisconsin is not far from the border (I guess). Am I right about the Candadian connection or is it a European twist.?
