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U.S. Stumbles on Nazi Nest Here in Probe

April 1, 1934
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Revelations that United States government agents have been investigating the activities of Nazi agents engaged in subversive propaganda in this country where they have established nineteen key cities as outposts for drilling recruits, were made today by United States Attorney Martin Conboy. The announcement came in a comment on the first of a series of articles published in Today, weekly news magazine edited by Professor Raymond Moley.

“In an endeavor to find Heinz Spanknoebel,” said Mr. Conboy, “the government was compelled to investigate other activities in the hope of finding a clue to his whereabouts.”

(Heinz Spanknoebel, former self-styled chieftain of Nazis this country, disappeared when a warrant was issued for his arrest on October 27. He was the creator and leader of the League of Friends of New Germany).

The article in Today, written by Samuel Duff McCoy, former member of the World staff, says that the Nazi organization is springing up affiliates and that more than 400 new members are being enrolled every week.

Dr. Hans Borchers, German consul general in New York, denied the charges made in Today.

Dr. Hans Luther, German ambassador in the United States, said:

“I cannot attempt to answer every criticism which is launched against my government and have no thought of trying.”

The article says part:

“Weekly propaganda meetings are held in New York City, and in the course of the last two months successively three halls in Manhattan have grown too small to hold the crowds.

“From Kreutzer Halle, at 228 East Eighty-sixth street, holding 1,000 people, they were moved to the Turn Halle, at Eighty-fifth street and Lexington avenue, holding 1,800; next to the Yorkville Casino, 210 East Eighty-sixth street, holding 2,500, and finally to the Central Opera House, with a capacity of 3,000.

“At the first two weekly meetings in March, hundreds of people were turned away by the uniformed Nazi guards, because not even standing room was left.

“These meetings were publicly advertised as ‘propaganda meetings.’

“Storm troopers in uniforms guard these meetings, using tactics customary to Nazi meetings.”

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