Existing comment:
"Not a Governmental Affair"
"It has been a favorite pastime of the SA men to attack the Jews and one cannot avoid the plain language of stating that they do not like to be deprived of their prey."
- George Messersmith, US Consul General, Berlin, July 26, 1933
American diplomats in Germany were well aware of the Nazi persecution of Jews and political opponents. Yet the US government respected Germany's right to govern its own citizens and was hesitant to aid those being targeted.
Anti-Nazi Petitions
Throughout spring 1933, tens of thousands of Americans signed petitions protesting the Nazis' treatment of Jews. Hundreds of petitions were sent to the State Department, but the US government made no official statement against the German regime.
Attacks on Americans
But when members of the Nazi Party's SA militia physically assaulted Americans in Germany -- as happened at least 35 times during 1933 alone -- US diplomats did protest. During their first meeting, Hitler assured US Ambassador William Dodd that attacks on Americans in Germany would end, and many fewer occurred after 1933. |