Figure 1.--American World War I draft dogger Grover Bergdoll fled to Gemany where he married and had a family. His wealthy American family helped to support him. He was hunted by different vigilate groups, killing and wounding two would be kidnappers. After that he fell into obsurity, but married a German woman and had five children. He lived in Weinsberg. He returned to Philadelpahia and lived there secretly for exended periods. His family and his wife wife attempted to obtain clemency for him. Here she and the children are seen arriving in New York (May 2, 1935.)

Here we see the family of World War I draft dogger Grover Cleveland Bergdoll (1893-1966). He was born in Philadelphia to a wealthy brewing family. Family money financed his aviatiin and racing exploit. He was before World War I a noted race car driver and early aviatior. He is best known, however, as being America's most famous draft dodger. He was declared a deserter (1918), but eluded police for 2 year. He finally was arrested at his home (Jannuary 1920). He was found guilty of desertion and was sentenced to 5 years in prison. He managed to escape through Canada with the help of the family chaufer. He went to Gemany here he also had family. He was hunted by different vigilate groups, killing and wounding two would be kidnappers. After that e dell into obsuity, but married a German women woman and had five children and lived in Weinsberg He returned to Philadelpahia and lived there secretly for exended periods. His family and his wife wife attempted to obtain clemency for him. We note a 1935 effort which made the newspapers (figure 1). Apparently he wanted to escape NAZI rule. The draft dogger found himelf in the most militarized country in the worldwhich was intent on launching another great war. N ot exactly the best palce for draft dogger. He may have been thinking about his sons, although the NAZIs would eventually begin drafting people his age and older. Bergdoll surendered to American authorities just as Hitler was fianlizing his plans for war (May 1939). Once arived there was an effort to send him back to Germany. Congressman Forest Harness sponsored a bill barring the reentry of any draft dodgers who had escaped custody and fled to a foreign country. After another court-martial, he was sentenced to serve the remainder of his original term plus 3 years. He was realeased (1944). After his release, Bergdoll lived in Virginia. He died in Richmond at pychiatric hospital (1966).

Early Life (1893-17)

Grover Cleveland Bergdoll (1893-1966). He was born in Philadelphia to a wealthy brewing family. The family partiarch and his grandfather emgrated to America on the ship Doris (1846) founding the Louis Bergdoll and Sons Brewing Co. (1849). The brewery was an imprtant part of building Philadelphia's early reputation as the brewing capitol of America. His father died shorly after he was morn. His mother was busy running the comapny so he has little supersision. Grover as a young man had $5,000 a annual allowance, something like $150,000 in 2019 dollars. The money along which his looks and obstinate personality meant that he got into a lot of trouble, carousing around Philadelphia. His family money easily meant that there were few conswquences. He was so wild that his oldest brother, Louis, attemptd to have him committed to an instutution. Despite this, hey were close. Louis with family money, founded the Bergdoll Motor Car Company (1908). They spent agreat dael of time any money together during Grover's teenage years travelling to races and 'hillclimbs'. Louis was also a flying inthisiast. He purchased a Bleriot XI from Rodman Wanamaker (1910). Grover learned to fly it. Louis gave the Bleriot to Grover (1911). Grover's grew up thinking he could do whatever he wanted. And run ins with the police beginning with speeding, but ended up with gins neoing drawn and assaulting police offics. Grover's interest increasingly turned to flying. As a result, he was before World War I a noted race car driver and early aviatior--all financed by family money. Emma was on hand with bail money when ever he got into trouble..

World War I (1917-18)

Grover is best known, however, as being America's most famous draft dodger. Many sraft doggers were not procecuted, but Grover convinced that he was untouchable made a spectacle of himself. He was declared a deserter (1918), but eluded police for 2 year. We are not sure about his reasons. Anti-war sentimet, persoal security, attachments to Germnans are all possibilities. His mother with realtives in Geramny was pro-German and it is likly that her sons were as well. Bergdoll finally was arrested at his home (Jannuary 1920). He was found guilty of desertion and was sentenced to 5 years in prison. He managed to escape through Canada with the help of the family chaufer--who was reckless as the boys.

Germany (1920-39)

Bergdoll went to Gemany here he also had family. His wealthy American famly helped to support him. He was hunted by different vigilate groups, killing and wounding two would be kidnappers. After that he fell into obsurity, but married a German woman, Bertha (1927). They had six children and lived in Weinsberg He returned to Philadelpahia and lived there secretly for exended periods. President Roosevelt’s issued a general amnesty for war offenders (1933). Grover was disappointed to learn that the proclamation had been phrased to exclude him. His family and his wife wife attempted to obtain clemency for him. We note a 1935 effort which made the newspapers (figure 1). The press caption here read, "Bergdol's German Wife Arrives to plead for Amnesty: Mrs. Grover Cleveland Bergdoll, German wife of the son of a wealthy Philadelphia brewer, who escaped from this coutry after his comviction for dodging the World War I draft, is shown above as she arrived in New York; May 2, with their four children on the SS Washington. She is here to plead with President Roosevelt to pardon her husband who, for fifteen years has lived in exile in Germany, branded and convicted as a slacker during the war. The children are, left to right: Emma, Alfred, (in mother's lap); Erwin and Minna." The photograph was dated May 2, 1935. Another article describbed Bergdoll as 'a man without a country'. Apparetly Bergdoll wanted their fifth child, Vega born on American soil. Bergdoll seems to have wanted to escape NAZI rule. The NAZIs for their part were obsessed with Germany's afalling birth rate and fact that they were losing demofraphically--especially to the Slavs. Thus they began to restrict the ability of non-Jewish cuitens to take children out of the country. We do not know if the Bergdolls encountered any problems. The American draft dogger found himelf smack in the middle of the most militarized country in the world intent on launching another great war. Not exactly the best palce for a draft dogger. He may have been thinking about his son, although the NAZIs would eventually begin drafting people his age and older as well as children.

Return to America (1939-66)

Bergdoll sems to have attempted to sneak into America as well surendered to American authorities just as Hitler was finalizing his plans for war (May 1939). Once arived there was an effort to send him back to Germany. Congressman Forest Harness sponsored a bill barring the reentry of any draft dodgers who had escaped custody and fled to a foreign country. We thought his wife and children were already in America, but a news reel depicts his arrested at sea. And then show Bertha with one of the boys We are not sure if they were with him or wauiting fort him in port. They may have stayed after coming over in 1935. We see them visiting Grover in jail while he as being proceuted by authorities. Presumably his wife attended the trial. After another court-martial, he was sentenced to serve the remainder of his original term plus 3 years. He was realeased (1944). He and Bera divorced (1960). They had eight children together. One of theboys, Alfred, became a draft dodger in the Korean War. His mental illnessbecame more pronounced in his last years. He was committed to the Westbrook Psychiatric Hospital in Virginia. His son, Alfred, and lawyer, David Meade White, were his guardians. He died from pneumonia at he age of 72 years (1966).

Created: 11:54 PM 8/14/2019
Last updated: 11:54 PM 8/14/2019