Founded in 1935, the camp was redeveloped as a German-American Cooperation Camp and was run by the American Nazi organization, formerly known as the Friends of the New Germany, whose mission was to create a positive image of Nazi Germany among American citizens.
Land for the camp was allocated on Long Island, New York. The land was owned by the German American Settlement League, an organization that still operates as a private community.
The summer camp was steeped in Nazi ideology but proclaimed its loyalty to America by displaying the United States flag as it entered the territory. A Nazi flag with a swastika fluttered next to the US flag.
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These photographs were taken between 1930 and 1940. For a very long time they were hidden from the public, but recently the archives were posted online.
Summer Camp Siegfried was closed by the US government when Germany declared war on it. From that moment on, the Americans could face trial if they swore allegiance to Germany. Nevertheless, this camp existed for a long time.
On the left in the photo is the American Bund, who promoted the idea of Nazism in the United States. On the right is the German Fritz Julius Kuhn. In 1936, both attended the Olympic Games in Germany and received financial support from Hitler himself.
In February 1939, 20,000 people took part in a Nazi rally in Madison Square Gardens, led by Kuhn.
The rally ended in riots.
In the same year, it was determined that Kuhn embezzled approximately $ 14,000 and the New York District Attorney sentenced Kuhn and was ready to send him to prison for 2-5 years. But three months later, World War II began.
Kuhn's citizenship was revoked and after serving two months behind bars, he was again in the dock. After he was interned and was on Ellis Island, until his expulsion to Germany in 1945.
The Bund, by the beginning of World War II, managed to create several pro-Nazi camps. In total, their number was approaching ten. At the moment, little is left of them.
So that's it …