Figure 1.--. |
|
Charles Lindbergh thought that America could not win a war against Germany's vaunted Luftwaffe. Lindbergh, the famed Lone Eagle who made the first solo flight across the Atlantic, was one of the most respected men in America. He became one of the most influential spokesmen among the isolationists. Lindbergh had been living in
England. When the War began in Europe, he returned to America and entered the debate about American involvement. He began speaking at AFC events in April 1940 in protest of Roosevelt Administration efforts to support the Allies (Britain and France) against Germany. He was among the more restrained AFC spokesmen, but his fame brought him considerable attention. Roosevelt compared him to Civil War Copperheads (anti-War Democrats). Lindbergh in protest resigned his military commission. [Freidel, Rendezuous, p. 366.] Up until
the Japanese attack on Pear Harbor, Lindbergh argued against American involvement in World War II and the measures taken by the Roosevelt Administration to confront the NAZIs and Japanese and to support the British. Mixed in with his promotion of isolationism were attacks on Jews. One of his most notable speeches was delivered in Des Moines, Iowa on September 11, 1941. He was speaking to support the America First Committee. He
sharply criticized those that he accused of leading America toward war. He insisted, "If any one of these groups--the British, the Jewish, or the administration--stops agitating for war, I believe there will be little danger of our involvement." He told the audience that the Roosevelt Administration was acting against the country's interests. Lindbergh had visited Germany. He attended the Munich Games in 196 a a guest of Luftwaffe Chief
Herman Goring. He was given a tour of Luftwaffe facilities doubted that the U.S. military would achieve victory in a war against Germany, which he said had "armies stronger than our own." Some agreed with him. Many Americans by this time, however, had come to side with President Roosevelt and saw the dangers represented by the NAZIs and Japanese militarists. There was, as a result, considerable criticism of Lindbergh. Some denounced
as an anti-Semite. At a time that Jews were being massacred in unbelievable numbers by NAZI Einsatzgruppen in the Soviet Union, Lindbergh was attacking the Jews. Lindbergh was clearly anti-Semitic. German's anti-Semitic campaign including the excesses of Kristallnacht was well known. All that can be said in defense of Lindbergh is that the wholesale murder campaign of the Holocaust was not yet known.
His mother reportedly constantly hovered over him, but was not outwardly affectionate. When he was older, she would always put him to bed with a handshake. His father was distant. Once when his son fell into a river, he didn't jump in after him--expecting the boy
to learn to swim.
I saw a nice picture of Lindbergh with his mother. He was about 5 years old with beautiful curls and dressed in a
lovely
sailor suit.
Lindbergh, the famed Lone Eagle who made the first solo flight across the Atlantic in 1927, was one of the most
respected men in America.
Anne Morrow Lindbergh was the attractive and intelligent daughter of American diplomat Dwight Morrow. Until he met Ann, Lindbergh seems to have taken little interest in girls. His passion was for aviation. Apparently he not even dated beffore he met her. The two married (1929). And of course he quickly taught her how to fly. The two worked together exploring and charting air routes.
They had six children: Charles Augustus Lindbergh II (1930-32); Jon Morrow Lindbergh (1932- ); Land Morrow Lindbergh (1937- ); Anne Lindbergh (1940-1993); Scott Lindbergh (1942- ); and Reeve Lindbergh (1945- ). It is of course Charles Augustus that is best known as the kidnapped Lindbergh baby.
Charles Augustus was abducted at the age of 20 months from his bed (March 1, 1932). This resulted in a a highly publicized 10-week search. Ransom negotiations were conducted with the kidnappers, but the baby's corpse was found in Hopewell, New Jersey near the Lindbergh home (May 12). He had been killed soon after he was removed from his hime. Authorities arrested a German immigrant, Bruno Hauptmann, who had some of the ransom money (1935). A nationally publicized trial ensued. He denied responsibility, but never explained how he came in possession of the money. He was found guillty of kidnapping and murder and executed. Many unansered questions, however, exist about the kidnapping. The Lindberghs tiring of the national spotlight abnd fearing for the saftey of their children moved to England in an effort to get away from the press and public (December 1935). Lindbergh had been living in England. When the War began in Europe, he returned to America and entered the debate about American involvement.
Some like Charles Lindbergh, thought that America could not win a war against Germany's vaunted Luftwaffe. Lindbergh was such a popular figure in Europe that he was able to learn a great deal about European air forces (Britain, France, Germany, and even the Soviet Union). The American Air Attaché in Berlin attempting to acquire information about the new German Luftwaffe hit upon the idea of having Lindbergh visit Germany, guessing that NAZI bigwigs, especially Luftwaffe Commander Herman Goering would wine and dine him which is just what happened. Lindbergh visited in 1936, obstensibly to see the Munich Olympic Games and again in 1937. He was Goering's guest at the Munich games and he was given a tour of Luftwaffe facilities. His assessment influenced Ambassador Kennedy in London who sent a cable to Secretary of State Hull, "German air strength is greater than that of all other European countries combined." He also reported that only the United States was "capable of competing". [Freidel, Rendezuous, pp. 307-308.]
Both Lindbergh and Roosevelt agreed after Munich that American must build a powerful air force. Roosevelt wanted both an aggressive research program and to begin mass production. Lindbergh question whether sufficiently modern designs were ready for mass production. Roosevelt wanted to facilitate Allied orders for aircraft while Lindbergh believed that would invite German attacks on America. is assessment of the quality of the Luftwaffe planes was accurate. He erred badly, however, on the capacity of the Germans to build planes. He thought that the Germans could build 30,000-50,000 planes annually. [Freidel, Rendezuous, p. 308.] He also badly estimated the potential american production.
Linbergh was not only making a military assessment, but he was making a political assessment as well. He insisted that the NAZIs were not a threat to America. In a CBS radio broadcast, Lindbergh told Americans, "We need not fear a foreign invasion unless American peoples bring it onthroough their own quarreling and meddling with affairs abroad. The only reason that we are in danger of becoming involved in this war is because there are powerful elrements in America who desire us to take part. They represent a small minority of the American people, but they control much of the machinery of infuence and opropaganda. Thdey seize every opportunity tom push up closer to the edge."
The Roosevelt administration had used Lindbergh to help assess the strength of the Luftwaffe. When Lindbergh returned from England after the outbreak of war, President Roosevelt hoped to bring him into the bi-partisan foreign policy he was attempting to forge. Lindbergh even claimed that he was offered a cabinet post as a possible Secretary of the Air. In some ways Lindbergh's views were similar to Hap Arnold, the man Roosevelt appointed as head of the Army Air Corps. [Freidel, p. 323.] Both were opposed to diverting American arms production to the Allies. In the end, Lindbrtgh chose to side with the American First Committee. It is difficult to fully assess his motivation, but the primary reason almost certainly was his conviction was that the power of the Luftwaffe and his assessment that neither France or Britain could survive.
Americans concerned about the Roosevelt Administration's weakening of the Neutrality Acts to support the Allies formed The America First Committee (AFC) in September 1940. Some of the organizer were Robert E. Wood, John T. Flynn and Charles A. Lindbergh. They organized 450 local chapters and claimed more than 0.8 million members. Important Americans including Congressmen soon spoke up to support the AFC. Some even had participated in the fight against American participation in the Laeague of Nations. Important supporters included Burton K. Wheeler, Hugh Johnson, Robert LaFollette Jr., Hamilton Fish, and Gerald Nye. The AFC was the single most important voice for isolationism in America. The AFC promoted the idea that the United States should build an impregnable defense so that no foreign country would dare attack America. They insisted that American democracy could only be preserved by avoiding involvement in a European War. They thought that aid to other countries weakened America's own defense. [HBC note: We know now that while the AFC was arguing against involvement that the Japanese were actually planning an attack and the NAZIs were designing weapons systems which could reach America. The impact of the AFC's campaign would have left an isolated America without alliesto fight the NAZIs and Japanese strengthened by the resource and industies of conquered nations.] The AFC's publicity campaign was orchestrated by John T. Flynn. One advertisement read: "The
Last War Brought: Communism to Russia, Fascism to Italy, Nazism to Germany. What Will Another War Bring To America?" Father Charles Coughlin, one of the most important radio commentators of the 1930s, in April 1941 begamn to endorse the AFC in his broadcasts and publication Social Justice. Couglin was another AFC proponent whose message included anti-Semitism. Senators including Gerald Nye, Burton K. Wheeler, Hugh Johnson, Robert LaFollette Jr., Henrik Shipstead, Homer T. Bone, James B. Clark, William Langer, and Arthur Capper attacked Lend Lease. Americas engaged in a intense debate as to whether aid shoulkd be given to Britain and risk war with Grmany. The debate engulfed the entire nation. [Goodwin, p. 194.] Presiden't Rooevelt with a masterful Fire Side Chat, helped sell Lend Lease to the American people. In many ways it was NAZI barbarity that moved American public opinion. Americanns saw the Luftaffe pond London in the movie newsreels and listened to Edward R. Murrow's broadcasts and gradually came to agree with the President that the NAZIs could not be dealt with in any way but force and that America itself was threatned. In the end, the Senate passed Lend Lease by 60 votes to 31. This was thge key vote as Britain ws approaching the point that it no longer had the financial resources to purchase war materials in America. The AFC actively opposed the Administration's efforts to aid Britain throughout 1940 and 41.
Lindbergh was one of the most influential spokesmen among the isolationists. He began speaking at AFC events in April 1940 in protest of Roosevelt Administration efforts to support the Allies (Britain and France) against Germany. He was among the more restrained AFC spokesmen, but his fame brought him considerable attention. Roosevelt compared him to Civil War Copperheads (anti-War Democrats). Lindbergh in protest resigned his military commission. [Freidel, Rendezuous, p. 366.]
Up until the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Lindbergh argued against American involvement in World War II and the measures taken by the Roosevelt Administration to confront the NAZIs and Japanese and to support the British. He told the audience that the Roosevelt Administration was acting against the country's interests. Lindbergh doubted that the U.S. military would achieve victory in a war against Germany, which he said had "armies
stronger than our own."
Mixed in with his promotion of isolationism were attacks on Jews. There are historical reasons for the development of anti-Semitism in Europe. The strength of this prejudice can be seen in how a boy growing up in the Mid-West can become anti-Semetic. I am not sure just why Lindbergh became anti-Semetic, but it was strong enough that he did not recoil from the NAZIs like most Americans. One of his most notable speeches for the America First Committee was delivered in Des Moines, Iowa (September 11, 1941). He was speaking to support the America First Committee. He sharply criticized those that he accused of leading America toward war. He insisted, "If any one of these groups--the British, the Jewish, or the administration--stops agitating for war, I believe there will be little danger of our involvement." Some agreed with him. Many Americans by this time, however, had come to side with President Roosevelt and saw the dangers represented by the NAZIs and Japanese militarists. Some denounced as an anti-Semite. At a time that Jews were being massacred in unbelievable numbers by NAZI Einsatzgruppen in the Soviet Union, Lindbergh was attacking the Jews. Lindbergh was clearly anti-Semitic. German's anti-Semitic campaign including the excesses of Kristallnacht was well known. All that can be said in defense of Lindbergh is that the wholesale murder campaign of the Holocaust was not yet known.
Lindbergh is best known for his record-setting Atlantic flight and then for his fight with the Isolationists to prevent America aiding Britain agaunst the NAZIs. Almost unknown today is Lindbergh's greatest passion in life after aviation--immortality. He persued a vurtually life-long quest for biological immortality. One author maintains that his genius for engine mechanics drove him to an essentially mechanical view of the body and life. Lindbergh thouht that human life just like biolgical life could be extended by simply replacing body parts. [Friedman] After he became famous, Linbergh sought out Dr. Alexis Carrel, the first American scientist to win a Nobel Prize (1930). He did ground-breaking work in tissue culture and laboratory maintenance of organs. The two collaborated and developed mechanical devices for mainting organs outside the body. The two were in fact pictured together on a Time magazine cover with the perfusion pump they developed. (June 13, 1938). Lindbergh and Carrel also shared similar views on eugenics--another NAZI obsession.
There was, as a result, considerable criticism of Lindbergh. His participation in the debate over support for Britain badly hurt Lindbergh's reputation as did his obvious anti-Semitism.
Lindbergh tried to get his commission back after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. The Roosevelt Administration refused. Lindbergh became a consultant for Lockheed and went to the South Pacific as n advisor. He illegally flew some combat missions their and downed Japanese airplane. More importantly he made some valuable suggestions hat helped extend the combat range of the P-39 Lightnings.
Freidel, Frank. Franklin D. Roosevelt: Rendezvous with Destiny (Little Brown: Boston, 1990), 710p.
Gilbert, Martin. A History of the Twentieth Century Vol. 2 1933-54 (William Morrow and Company, Inc.: New York, 1998), 1050p.
Friedman, David M. The Immortalists: Charles Lindbergh, Dr. Alexis Carrel, and Their Daring Quest to Live Forever (Harper Collins, 2007), 338p.
Navigate the Boys' Historical Clothing Web Site:
[Return to Main World War II American isolation page]
[Return to Main G-L biography page]
[Introduction]
[Activities]
[Biographies]
[Chronology]
[Clothing styles]
[Countries]
[Bibliographies]
[Contributions]
[FAQs]
[Glossaries]
[Images]
[Links]
[Registration]
[Tools]
[Boys' Clothing Home]