On April 6, 1917, the United States Congress declared war on Germany and
the Axis Powers, formally bringing the United States of America into The Great
War. President Woodrow Wilson declared
this the “War to end all wars.”
Practicing tolerance in time of war is always most difficult. In order to condition the country, and its
armed forces, to annihilate the enemy, it is necessary to dehumanize them. Thus, the Germans became the Huns.
There are lessons to be learned about tolerance at home, as well as on
the battlefield during times of war.
Minnesota established a Commission of Public Safety.[1] The purpose of the Commission was to mobilize
the state’s resources during the War, but they devolved into an arbiter on
loyalty among Minnesota citizens – especially immigrants and most especially
citizens of German descent.
The Commission reported only to itself, set up an armed militia and
created a network of spies.[2] The Commission’s acts affected New Ulm
Minnesota, only about 20 miles from my home.
Because some local officials had called for reforms to the military
draft, the Commission accused them of not being patriotic.[3]
Several prominent New Ulm citizens gave speeches at a draft rally held in
that city on July 25, 1017. While giving
support to the draft, they expressed a hope that men from their community would
find roles to play in the army that would not put them on the front lines
against Germany. For these speeches,
Mayor Dr. Louis Fritsche and City Attorney Albert Pfaender were removed from
their offices by the Governor, upon the advice of the Commission. Upon the conclusion of the war, these two
were restored to their offices. But they
and the president of Martin Luther College and newspaperman Albert Steinhauser
(army veteran and political radical) suffered much for their views.[4]
It takes courage and no small amount of personal risk to take unpopular
stands. I look forward to attending the
exhibit on this period of local history at the Brown County Historical Society
Museum in New Ulm. The exhibit opens May
6.[5]
When I tour the exhibit, I’ll be asking myself, “How would I have reacted
if I had been city attorney?” Or, “What
would I have done if I were a resident of New Ulm, not of German descent?”
Of course, I won’t be able to answer those questions satisfactorily, but
the internal discussion will be worth the effort.
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