Just three days after the huge Dauphin County Ku Klux Klan demonstration in Harrisburg, which attracted an estimated 30,000 supporters, Americans woke up to read in their morning newspapers of the arrest of U. S. Klansmen in Germany for attempting to form a national Klan there. The primary purpose of that Klan was to wage a war on Jews and purge them from German society. This event occurred less than a year after Adolf Hitler was released from prison and during the same year that he began his political comeback.
The article shown above was from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, September 10, 1925, but similar articles appeared in newspapers from throughout the region – so there was no way that the Lykens Valley residents who were being attracted to the Klan could have claimed ignorance to the true aims of the Klan as well as their activities throughout the country and world. Those who joined the Klan did so because they believed what it stood for. Yet, the Klans in the Lykens Valley area continued to grow until they eventually reached their zenith in the late 1920s. in America, the Klan was against African Americans, Jews, Catholics, immigrants – anyone who was not a white Protestant.
The story of how U. S. citizens supported the rise of rise of Fascism in Europe is one that is seldom told today. While this particular incident was not the only factor in the rise of Hitler and the Nazi party, it nevertheless is part of the shameful legacy of Americans’ support for anti-American and pro-Fascist ideas — which we know led to the great genocide known as the Holocaust.
Beginning with the featured article from the Pittsburgh Post Gazette, this post presents some of the many articles that appeared in city newspapers on and after the revelation of the German arrests and the attempts to clamp down on the activities of this hate group.
It should be noted that no one article tells the whole story, so those wishing to do further research should carefully look for clues in the articles presented here, e.g., the statement that an American automobile manufacturer was financing the expansion of the Klan into mid-Europe.
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From the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, September 10, 1925 (image above):
KLAN IN GERMANY FORMED BY AMERICANS
Discovery of Organization Brings 40 Arrests – Many Members Facists.
AIMS AT WAR ON JEWS
By Associated Press to Gazette Times
BERLIN, September 9 [1925] — Three Americans, two of them described by the police as German-Americans and the third as a “100 per center,” are the leaders in a movement uncovered here today to establish in Germany an order to be known as the “Knights of the Fiery Cross,” along lines of the Ku Klux Klan in the United States.
Thirty or forty arrests in connection with the discovery of the organization already have been made and the police say more are to follow. One thousand Germans are participating with the American leaders, whose names the police refuse to disclose.
The purpose of the organization is to unite, irrespective of parties, all men determined “to fight for the liberation of the fatherland” and “by waging war on Jews, to free the country of undesirables.”
The ceremonies of the Ku Klux Klan are said to have been copied. The insignia of the German organization is a blood cross, the anti-Semitic swastika, and the black, red and white flag of imperial Germany.
Learning of the existence of the order, which is forbidden under the law covering conspiracy, the police searched a number of houses of persons implicated and found large quantities of material pertaining to the organization. The members are said to have been recruited largely from the “Frontbann” and the the “Wikingbund,” which are notorious Fascists groups in Germany.
The police say members of the new order must swear implicit obedience and declare their readiness to accept death by torture in case they prove traitors to the society.
At the American embassy today it was stated that the matter had not been brought officially to the attention of American diplomatic representatives in Germany.
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From the Harrisburg Telegraph, September 10, 1925:
EFFORT TO ORGANIZE KLAN IN GERMANY AROUSES POLICE
Berlin, September 10 [1925] — (A. P.) — Two Americans, father and son, alleged to be behind the recent organization here of the “Knights of the Fiery Cross” — patterned after the Ku Klux Klan — have been arrested by the German police in Silesia.
They are Otto Strohschein, 54, and Gotthard Stroschein, 30, both German born but now American citizens and recently residents of Chicago. A third American, Don Hurton Gray, 21, of Hillsboro, Illinois, is said to have left Germany three weeks ago and to be in Chicago now.
The “Knights of the Fiery Cross” have copied to some extent the ritual of the Ku Klux Klan. The insignia of the organization is a bloody cross, the black, red and white flag of Imperial Germany and the anti-Semitic Swastika. The membership has been largely obtained from the “Wikingbund” and the “Frontbann,” notorious Fascist groups.
It is the avowed purpose of the Knights to gather together men determined to fight for the liberation of the fatherland” and “by waging war on Jews, to free the country of undesirables.”
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From the Morning Call, Allentown, September 10, 1925:
AMERICANS ORGANIZE KU KLUX IN GERMANY
Thirty of Forty Arrests Follow Discovery in Berlin
SEEK ‘LIBERATION OF THE FATHERLAND’
Members Recruited Largely From Notorious Groups of Fascists
Berlin, September 9 [1925] — Three Americans, two of them described by police as German-Americans, and the third as a 100 per center, are the leaders in a movement uncovered her today to establish in German an order to be known as the Knights of the Fiery Cross, along lines of the Ku Klux Klan in the United States.
Thirty or forty arrests in connection with the discovery of the organization already have been made and the police say more are to follow. One thousand Germans are participating with the American leaders, whose names police refuse to disclose.
The purpose of this organization is to unite, irrespective of parties, all men determined “to fight for the liberation of the Fatherland” and by waging war on Jews, to free the country of undesirables.”
The ceremonies of the Ku Klux Klan are said to have been copied.
The insignia of the German organization is a bloody cross, the anti-Semitic swastika, and the black, red and white flag of Imperial Germany. Learning of the existence of the order, which is forbidden under the law covering conspiracy, police searched houses of a number of persons implicated and found large quantities of material pertaining to the organization. Members are said to have been recruited largely from “Frontbann” and the “Wigingbund,” which are notorious Fascist groups in Germany.
Police say members of the new order must swear implicit obedience and declare their readiness to accept death by torture in case they prove traitors in the society.
At the American embassy today it was stated the matter had not been brought officially to the attention of American diplomatic representatives in Germany.
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From the York Daily Record, September 10, 1925:
KU KLUXERS FROM U. S. INVADE BERLIN
Movement Uncovered To Establish Branch Of Order In Germany
TO WAGE WAR ON JEWS
Berlin, September 9 [1925] (AP) — Three Americans, two of them described by police as German-Americans and the third as a “100 per center,” are the leaders in a movement uncovered here today to establish in German an order to be known as the “Knights of the Fiery Cross,” along lines of the Ku Klux Klan in the United States.
Thirty or forty arrests in connection with the discovery of the organization already have been made, and police say more are to follow. One thousand Germans are participating with the American leaders whose names police refuse to disclose. The purpose of the organization is to unite, irrespective of parties, all men determined “to fight for the liberation of the Fatherland” and “by waging war on Jews to free the country of undesirables.”
The ceremonies of the Ku Klux Klan are said to have been copied. The insignia of the German organization is a bloody cross, the anti-Semitic swastika and the black, red and white flag of imperial Germany.
Learning of the existence of the order, which is forbidden unr the law covering conspiracy, police searched the houses of a number of persons implicated and found large quantities of material pertaining to the order. Members are said to have recruited largely from the “Frontbann” and the “Wikingbund” which are notorious Fascists groups in Germany.
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From the New Castle News, September 10, 1925:
GERMAN OFFICERS ARREST AMERICANS IN KLAN FOUNDING
Pastor Strohschein And Son Said Founders of German Klan
Ordered Arrested
(BULLETIN)
By S. Dunbar Weyer
International News Service Staff Correspondent
BERLIN, September 10, [1925] — Pastor Strohschein and his son, allegedly the American organizers of the “Knights of the Fiery Cross,” the German branch of the Ku Klux Klan, have been arrested in Breslau, the police announced today.
The Strohscheins are being brought to Berlin where it is understood they will be charged with conspiracy. They are reported by the police to have been attempting to escape from Germany when captured.
The third American, a student named Gray from Chicago, returned to the United States three weeks ago, it was learned. His German-American associates also were former residents of Chicago, it was believed.
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From the Evening News, Wilkes-Barre, September 9, 1925:
KU KLUX KLAN IS FORMED IN BERLIN
Berlin, September 9 [1925] — A German Ku Klux Klan, under the alleged leadership of three Americans, has been uncovered by the German criminal police.
Many arrests have been made and sensational development are expected. The German Ku Klux Klan, according to the police, has been operating under the name “Knights of the Fiery Cross.” Members, the police allege have been recruited chiefly from the ranks of the Hitlerites and Radical groups.
The aims of the organization are said to be radical in many directions while in other aims they are considered reactionary.
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From the Intelligencer-Journal, Lancaster, September 10, 1925:
FORM GERMAN KLAN
Three Americans Lead Movement To Organize New Order
(By the Associated Press)
Berlin, September 9 [1925] — Three Americans, two of them described by the police as German Americans and he third as a “100 per center” are the leaders in a movement uncovered here today to establish in Germany an order to be known as the “Knights of the Fiery Cross” along the lines of the Ku Klux Klan in the United States.
Thirty or forty arrests in connection with the discovery of the organization already have been made and the police say more are to follow. One thousand Germans are participating with the American leaders whose names the police refuse to disclose.
The purpose of the organization is to unite irrespective of parties all men determined “to fight for the liberation of the Fatherland” and “by waging was on Jews to free the country of undesirables.”
The ceremonies of the Ku Klux Klan are said to have been copied.
The police say the members of the new order must swear implicit obedience and declare their readiness to accept death by torture in case they prove traitors to the society.
The arrests were made under the law covering conspiracy.
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From the Shamokin News-Dispatch, September 9, 1925:
GERMAN KLAN IS UNCOVERED BY OFFICIALS
Organization Has Been Operating Under Name of “Knights of Fiery Cross”
BERLIN, September 9 [1925] — A German Ku Klux Klan, under the alleged leadership of three Americans, has been uncovered by the German criminal police.
Many arrests have been made and sensational developments are expected.
The German Ku Klux Klan, according to the police, has been operating under the name “Knights of the Fiery Cross.” Members, the police allege, have been recruited chiefly from the ranks of the Hitlerites and Radical groups.
The aims of the organization are said to be radical in many directions while in other aims they are considered reactionary.
The masked hoods of the American K. K. K. have been adopted by the German Klansmen as have the rituals and ceremonies of the American Klan. The American flag has been widely used and exploited in the ceremonies of the organization.
Police have not disclosed the names of the three Americans who are alleged to have fostered the new organization, nor have they divulged evidence, which it is claimed lead to arrest of those held responsible to the “Knights of the Fiery Cross.”
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From the Pittston Gazette, September 11, 1925:
GERMAN KU KLUX IS PLANNING FOR NORDIC SUPREMACY
By Frederick Kuhn (United Press Staff Correspondent)
Berlin, Saeptember 11 [1925] — Police here declared that their unearthing of an alleged German Ku Klux Klan had revealed plans for establishing “Nordic and Germanic supremacy” with the “elimination” of all persons standing in the way of realization of this dream.
Behind the “elimination” schemes, they believed was a plot to assassinate influential Jews and other alleged undesirables. They alleged that they have evidence pointing to such purposes.
That the United States Ku Klux Klan designated Otto Strohschein and Gothard Strohschein, naturalized American preachers of Mattinson (presumably Mattison, Illinois) and Chicago respectively, to establish a branch of the Klan in middle Europe was responsible. The two were arrested in Silesia Wednesday. The third American, Burton Gray native of Hillsboro, Illinois, until recently a student in Berlin University, vaguely mentioned in the case is believed to have returned to the United States.
The police are doing their utmost to ascertain the extent to which the American Klan supported the German organization and whether it actually dispatched the Strohscheins and Gray to Germany to carry on the formation of the local branch.
It is understood that they have asked the American secret service to assist.
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From the Philadelphia Inquirer, September 10, 1925:
LEADERS OF “KLAN” SEIZED IN BERLIN
Group Accused of Plot to Murder Statesmen Back of Pact Proposal
Police Assert Three German-Americans Are at Head of “Fiery Cross”
By Joseph Shaplen
Special Cable to the Inquirer, Copyright, 1925; by the Inquirer and the New York Herald Tribune.
BERLIN, September 9 [1925] — Tragic memories of the assassination of Erzberger and Ratheman and other prominent public men were revived today when the Berlin police arrested a group of men accused of participating in the newly formed organization, similar to the Ku Klux Klan, the object of which, according to the police, was the murder of the prominent German statesmen responsible for German’s security pact proposal.
In addition to the arrests, the number of which is expected to increase with the progress of the investigation now under way, the police seized a large number of incriminating documents and other material. This organization styles itself “The Knights of the Fiery Cross” and the police say it is led by three German Americans, who came to German especially to undertake the task of “helping accomplish the liberation of the Fatherland.” The organization numbers about forty members, who follow the ceremony and ritual of the Klan.
Fascist Connection Seen
Close connection between the organization and some of its leading Fascist bodies has been established by the police. Special significance is attached to the arrests announced by the police in view of the violent campaign renewed by the the Fascist elements, and the Pan-German League against the government and Foreign Minister Stresemann in particular in connection with the security pact negotiations.
For some time the Fascists, encouraged morally and financially by the extreme agrarian elements, have been showing signs of renewed activity, and in some quarters it is feared that this activity may before long assume a form more violent that the mere holding of parades and the issuing of ultra-patriotic manifestos….
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From the Pittsburgh Daily Post, September 10, 1925:
AMERICAN PREACHERS NABBED IN GERMANY FOR ORGANIZING KLAN
BERLIN, September 9 [1925] (United News) — Two naturalized American citizens of German extraction, both ministers, have been arrested in Silesia, on a charge of organizing a chapter of the Ku Klux Klan in Berlin. A third organizer escaped and is believe to be on his way to the United States.
Gothard Schein and his son Otto Schein, of Chicago, are the arrested pair. Burton Gray Schein, another son, who was born at Hillsboro, Illinois, escaped.
Captain Klapproth, the active leader of the German Klan, was arrested as he was about to cross the Dutch frontier.
The assassination of prominent Jews and other alleged undesirables was planned by the German Klansmen according to the police. So far more than 200 alleged Klansmen have been arrested.
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From the Lancaster New Era, September 10, 1925:
AMERICANS HELD AS KLAN CHIEFS
Father and Son Are Arrested in Germany On Formation of Anti-Semite Society
BERLIN, September 10 [1925] — (A. P.) — Two Americans, father and son, alleged to be behind the recent organization here of the Knights of the Fiery Cross — patterned after the Ku Klux Klan — have been arrested by the police in SIlesia.
They are Otto Strohschein, 54, and Gotthard Strohschein, 30, both German born, but now American citizens and recently residents of Chicago. A third American, Don Burton Gray, 21, of Hillsboro, Illinois, is said to have left Germany three weeks ago and to be in Chacoga.
The “Knights of the Fiery Cross” have copied to some extent the ritual of the Ku Klux Klan. The insignia of the organization is a bloody cross, the black, red and white flag of imperial Germany and the anti-Semitic Swastika. The membership has been largely obtained from the “Wikingbund” and the “Frontbann” notorious Fascist groups.
It is the avowed purpose of the Knights to gather together men “determined to fight for the liberation of the Fatherland” and “by waging war on Jews to free the country of undesirables.”
Papers found by the police indicate that branches of the order exist in Hamburg, Jena, Dortmund, and Cassel and that the founding of the organization dates back to 1923. The police investigations in other cities where branches are said to exist are being conducted secretly on the basis of clues furnished in the material seized in raids in Berlin.
A complete list of the members of the organization was discovered and the police in the larger cities of Germany have been instructed to arrest all persons named on this roster.
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From the York Dispatch, September 10, 1925:
GERMANY BANS KLAN
Knights Of The Fiery Cross “Organizers” Arrested
BERLIN, September 10 [1925] (AP) — Two Americans, father and son, alleged to be behind the recent organization her of the Knights of the Fiery Cross — patterned after the Ku Klux Klan, have been arrested by the German police in Silesia.
They are Otto Strohschein, 54, and Gotthard Strohschein, 30, both German born, but now American citizens and recently residents of Chicago. A third American, Don Burton Gray, 21, of Hillsboro, Illinois, is said to have left Germany three weeks ago and to be in Chicago now.
The “Knights of the Fiery Cross” have copied to some extent the ritual of the Ku Klux Klan. The insignia of the organization is a bloody cross, the black, red and white flag of imperial Germany and the anti-Semitic Swastika. The membership has been largely obtained from the “Wikingbund” and the “Frontbann,” notorious Fascist groups.
It is the avowed purpose of the Knights to gather together men “determined to fight for the liberation of the fatherland” and “by waging war on Jews, to free the country of undesirables.”
Papers found by the police indicate that branches of the order exist in Hamburg, Jena, Dortmund, and Cassel, anda that the founding of the organization dates back to 1923. The police investigations in other cities, where branches are said to exist, are being conducted secretly on the basis of clues furnished in the material seized in raids in Berlin.
It seems that the order, which was founded two years ago, played an active role in the revolt of the so-called Reichswahr, which started in 1923 in the fortified towns of Kuestrin and Spindau.
The leaders of the order already arrested included a former captain named Klipproth; a former lieutenant, Hildebrandt, and a Dr. Huebner.
A complete list of the members of the organization was discovered and the police in the larger cities of Germany have been instructed to arrest all persons figuring on this roster.
It is alleged by the investigating authorities that the organization was financed with funds from Klan circles in America. It held its meetings in various restaurants in northern and western Berlin.
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From the Pittsburgh Daily Post, September 11, 1925:
AMERICAN SPONSORS OF KLAN IN BERLIN APPEAL TO CONSUL
BERLIN, September 10 [1925] — (United News) — Gothard Strohschein and Otto Strohschein, father and son, naturalized American citizens, and both ministers, who are under arrest for organizing a chapter of the Ku Klux Klan in Berlin, have appealed to the American consulate for asasistance. The American authorities have decided to examine the Strohscheins tomorrow. The police examination probably follow that at the consulate.
A famous automobile manufacturer financed the project for the formation of the Klan in mid-Europe, according to the stories told by some of the score or more, persons already arrested for connection with the order.
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From the Pittsburgh Press, September 11, 1925:
TO QUIZ GERMAN KLAN LEADERS
By United Press
Berlin, September 11 [1925] — Otto Strohschein and Gothard Strohschein, Americans, believed by the police to have participated in organizion of a strongly anti-Semitic German Ku Klux Klan, were to be examined at the American consulate today.
They protest that they are “innocent ministers of the gospel” and deny that they “conspired,” as the police claim, to build up an order which had at the root a plan to “eliminate” impediments in the way of “Germanizing” the race here.
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Washington, September 11 [1925] — Government auhtorities declared today that they had had no request from the Berlin police to investigate the possible connection of the American Ku Klux Klan with the newly-founded German branch,out of which several arrests have grown.
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From the Wilkes-Barre Evening News, September 11, 1925:
PRISONERS DENY KLAN CONNECTION
Berlin, September 11 [1925] — Otto Strohschein and Gothard Strohschein, Americans, believed by the police to have participated in organizion of a strongly anti-Semitic German Ku Klux Klan, were to be examined at the American consulate today. They protest that they are “innocent ministers of the gospel” and deny that they conspired, as the police claim, to build up an order which had at the root a plan to place impediments in the way of “Germanizing” the race here.
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Washington, September 11 [1925] — Government authorities in a position to know, declared today that they had had no request from the German police to investigate the connection of the American Ku Klux Klan with the formation German organizaation, which resulted in the arrest of two Americans in Berlin yesterday.
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From the Morning Herald, Uniontown, September 10, 1925:
ARRESTS FOLLOW KLAN MOVEMENT IN GEARMAN CITY
Law Forbids Conspiracy and Police Act; Search Houses
By Associated Press
Three Americans, two described by the police as German-Americans and the third as a “hundred percenter,” are the leaders in a mvement uncovered here today to establish in Germany an order to be known as the Knights of the Fiery Cross along the lines of the Ku Klux Klan in the United States.
Thirty or forty arrests in connection with the discovery of the organization, already have been made.
The purpose of the organization is to unit all men “by waging war on Jews, to free the country of undesirables.” The ceremonies of the Ku Klux are said to have been copied.
Learning of the existence of the order, which is forbidden under the law covering conspiracy, the police searched a number of houses of persons implicated and found large quantities of material pertaining to the organization.
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From the Pittston Gazette, September 11, 1925:
NO REQUEST TO PROBE THE GERMAN “KLAN”
Washington, September 11 [1925] — Government authorities in a position to know declared today they had had no request from the Berlin police to investigate the possible connection of the American Ku Klux Klan with the newly founded German branch out of which several arrests have grown.
Authorities were inclined to believe that if there was any American link in the German case, it was strictly a private one. It was pointed out that the Ku Klux Klan denied anybody to make a German branch. Further the “100 percent Americanism” of the Klan, it was suggested, would prevent its taking on an international alliance.
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From the Mount Carmel Item, September 11, 1925:
GERMAN KUKLUXERS WILL BE EXAMINED
By United Press
BERLIN, September 11 [1925] — Otto Strohschein and Gothcard Stroschein, Americans believed by the police to have participated in organizations of a strongly anti-Semitic German Ku Klux Klan were to be examined at the American consulate today.
They protest that they are “innocent ministers of the gospel” and deny that they “conspired” as the police claim, to buildup an order which had at the root a plan to “eliminate” impediments in the way of “Germanizing” the race here.
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From The Tribune, Scranton, September 11, 1925:
GERMANS LAUGH AT “FIERY CROSS”
TWO AMERICANS WILL BE TAKEN BEFORE O(UR CONSULATE IN BERLIN DOR DEPORTATION
BERLIN, September 10 [1925] — The two German-born Americans, Otto Strohschein, 54, and his son Gotthard Strohschein, 30, who have been arrested in Silesia for the organization in Germany of the Knights of the Fiery Cross, patterned after the Ku Klux Klan, will be brought to Berlin under guard tomorrow.
They will be questioned by a magistrate and then taken to the American consulate where they will appeal for authorities either for trial with possibility of conviction and subsequent deportation, or for immediate deportation. Neither the American embassy nor the consulate contemplates interferring unless the two men, who are described as ministers, whose recent homes were in Chicago, are proved not guilty.
Forced From Lead
The Berlin chief of police said today that several alleged German ringleaders of the secret order had stated that the Strohscheins and Don Barton Gray of Hillsborough, Illinois, an association who left Germany three weeks ago, no longer had the guiding influence in the Fiery Cross Society. They were forced from leadership by propaganda work among rabid German Nationalist members which made it difficult for the foreigners to remain in positions of responsibility.
The German press treats the Fiery Cross order as a joke, referring to it as a “fools’ lodge.”
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From the Pittsburgh Daily Post, September 20, 1925:
GERMANY TO DEPORT MAN FOR TRYING TO ORGANIZE KU KLUX
BERLIN, September 19 [1925] — (A. P.) — Gotthard Strohschein, a German-born American charged with an attempt to organize the “Knights of the Fiery Cross” similar to the American Ku Klux Klan, will be deported. The same fame awaits Otto Strohschein, father of Gotthard if it should be proved that he is an American citizen. Others implicated in the movement have been released pending further investigation.
The Strohscheins were brought to Berlin, September 11 [1925], from Silesia. Both denied that they had any connection with the “Knights of the Fiery Cross” organizationm but the police asserted that documents proved that they had received funds for that purpose from Illinois. The two men in America were Lutheran ministers, but they posed in Germany as airplane technicians.
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The two digitally available local newspapers, the Lykens Standard and the Elizabethville Echo, had no reports on the arrest of the two ministers or the formation of the German Klan.
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News articles from Newspapers.com.
Corrections and additional information should be added as comments to this post.