Old Nazis, the New Right, and the Republican Party: Domestic fascist networks and their effect on U.S. cold war politics

by Russ Bellant

A provocative, sometimes chilling expose of domestic fascist networks, which include Nazi collaborators within the Republican Party.

Genres: History, Politics, Nonfiction, Conspiracy Theories, The United States Of America, United States, American

148 pages, Paperback

Published January 1, 1991

Reviews

[Aurora Grace · Rating 5 out of 5]

In 2017 former Republican Speaker of the House John Boehner said there were Na?is among the GOP's elected representatives.

Bellant's book uncovers a big piece of how fascists and Nazis infiltrated the GOP during the Cold War. They took root on the far right, in the militia groups, in the KKK, and inside conservatism and the Republican party itself.

[Sam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short but shocking exposé of the political activity of WWII fascists in the Republican Party through this book's 1991 publication. Still highly relevant today.

[Alex Ma]

you should probably be aware of this if you live in the US

[Sly Reference · Rating 3 out of 5]

Boy do I have mixed feelings about this book. First, what is it? The book covers a number of people associated with the Republican Party in the 70s and 80s who were connected with pro-Nazi parties in the 30s and 40s. The book claims that they're very influential, though it spends far more time on their past than their effects in the then-current events. A lot of propaganda arms and think tanks, and people expressing their support for apartheid, Central American death squads, anti-Semitism and fascism, but not a lot about actual policy changes that began with these people.

This is one of those journalistic "exposes" that seems to slide right into the realm of conspiracy. I've read I don't know how many books like this over the years, such as: *The Ultimate Evil* by Terry Maury, *The Sign and the Seal* by Graham Hancock; *The Marcos Dynasty* by Sterling Seagrave; *Holy Blood, Holy Grail* by Baigent, Leigh and Lincoln; *The Outfit* by Gus Russo. Half the time, they make their hay by pointing out the most salacious bits and tying them together with innuendo and guilt by association. They have interesting narratives, but make the reader take a lot on faith. Some of them are still respected books that get into the footnotes on Wikipedia (this one is!). Others become the basis for Dan Brown novels. If I ever do get around to plotting out a Cold War spy TTRPG, names from this book are definitely going to make their way into it.

This book does show that connections between the GOP and fascist elements go back at least to the 70s, and probably go back to before that. If you set yourself up as a hard-core anti-Communist group, you're going to get followers who admire the anti-Communism, but set the bar higher for being hard-core, especially when parts of the opposition were openly supportive of aspects of the "communist agenda". It also shows that people don't disappear when popular movements fade away, and the mainstream is definitely not the only influential stream out there.

It's very readable--probably about 90 pages of reading material, and I finished it in 2 days. I'm not going to accept this as true facts unless I research this more, but it will serve as inspiration.

[Medical Gunch · Rating 5 out of 5]

Invaluable research here. Great jumping off point for further research on international fascism. Beyond the scandals covered in this book, I think it goes to show the consequences of absorbing Nazis into your political movements. You’re not changing their minds, their changing yours; Though, I can’t say that the Republicans or Nazi expats necessarily had different beliefs to begin with. Interestingly enough the Democrats today (as of writing this) are more involved with international fascism supporting the OUN-B loving Ukrainian Azov Battalion. Modern Republicans seem more interested in developing their own domestic fascist society.

[John Feeley · Rating 4 out of 5]

A truly shocking and engrossing read. Old Nazis, the New Right, and the Republican Party by Russ Bellant while short is a good insight into the networks of anticommunism and reaction the permeated inside the U.S. during the Cold War. With the connections back to the 30s and 40s reactionaries/Nazis, hawkish military propaganda groups/think tanks, supporters of apartheid/Central American death squads, militia groups and KKK one can see how these groups were folded into the larger Cold War fight against communism. While printed in 1991 it is still relevant to today.

[Will Shoemaker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Essential reading for all USians.

[Daniel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Documentation of the strong ties the GOP has/had with both fascist and anti-Semitic organizations and individuals, it describes how the GOP used these ties to win elections and drive narratives around foreign policy and fear of communism. It documents the origins of the American Security Council Foundation and its ties to fascism and antisemitism and how it was a mayor advocate for the military-industrial complex. The books lacks documentation on how this far-right groups managed to shape or influence GOP policy.

[Scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is definitely a hidden gem that is out of print. It's a short read but an extensive research report of how the U.S. provided a safe space for Nazis and Nazi collaborators which ultimately ended up in the arms of the Republican Party through its "ethnic outreach". Although the Republican Party of today would like to deny its fascist roots, this book provides extensive details to the contrary.

[Benjamin Doughty · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well-researched, informative, and chilling. Wish there were a bit more on the Unification Church connections to WACL.