Hitler In Los Angeles: How Jews Foiled Nazi Plots Against Hollywood And America, Ross - C

   Hitler and Goebbels knew that film was a powerful force and hoped to sway opinion about the Third Reich by exporting Nazi films to the US and assuring that Hollywood did not disparage Germany.  This is the story of those who opposed them.                        Anti-Semitism was alive and well in the America of 1933. Germany hoped to manipulate the many unhappy veterans in the US, as well as the millions of unemployed. In LA, a former German military officer founded the Friends of New Germany. Keenly aware of their activities, intent and tactics was Leon Lewis, noted Jewish activist, lawyer and former national director of the Anti-Defamation League. Lewis was ably assisted by Joseph Roos. They recruited German-American veterans to infiltrate the FNG. Lewis' spies were able to spread some dissension and create turmoil at FNG, but were soon exposed. The FNG was prospering because they were able to take over the German-American Alliance, a civic service organization that happened to have $30,000 in the bank. Aware  that he needed help exposing the Nazi's, Lewis turned to the wealthiest and most powerful jews in LA - the studio heads. The studio heads were already under pressure from the German Consul in LA. The threat of exclusion from the substantial German domestic market was a serious financial matter in the middle of the Depression, and meant that for most of the decade, Hollywood did not make films critical of the Reich.  Georg Gyssling, the Consul and most popular German in LA, was relentless. He had contacts everywhere, knew what was in pre-production and vigorously stopped or modified anything that might unmask the Nazis. Finally in April, 1939, Warner Bros. released 'Confessions of a Nazi Spy'. The Warners, sons of a Polish cobbler, had wanted to make an anti-Nazi film and finally had the opportunity. The movie was based on a spy ring in NYC and used the information that came out at trial as the basis for the script. As it was a true story and not a polemical attack, it passed all of the industry's code hurdles. Gyssling tried, but could not stop it. The tide was turning. One of Lewis' men, Neil Ness, who had infiltrated FNG and Bund operations in LA, mesmerized an HUAC hearing with specific plans for sabotage up and down the coast. Indeed, Lewis and his operatives became the go-to source for information about potential saboteurs and fifth columnists and were relied on by the FBI, US Naval Intelligence and the security arms of the military contractors in California.                                                  In June, 1941, the US expelled Germany's diplomats. The FBI ratcheted up its efforts against German espionage and sabotage. The American Firsters and certain bigots in the US Senate blamed the Jews, and in particular Hollywood, for the drift toward war. Most opposition to war folded on December 7th. The FBI immediately arrested dozens of Nazis in the LA area and did so relying on information provided by Lewis and Roos. They remained vigilant throughout the war and triumphed when so many of LA's Nazis were jailed, and deported after the war.                                                                      "There are many ways to fight an enemy, not all of which require guns. The actions taken by Leon Lewis and Joseph Roos require us to change the way we think about American Jewish resistance in the 1930s. From August 1933 until the end of WWII, with few resources at their disposal, the two men and their courageous undercover operatives continually defeated a variety of enemies - Nazis, fascists and fifth columnists- bent on violence and murder. Without ever firing a weapon, they managed to keep Los Angeles and its citizens safe."                               The title of the book is certainly eye-catching, but I submit it's not as compelling as advertised.  Although there was virulent anti-Semitism and nascent fascists everywhere, mostly they met, talked, plotted, planned, purchased weapons, acquired facilities, but seldom acted. Lewis' people made endless efforts to infiltrate and expose, but frequently failed.  And, I might point out that Gyssling accomplished his mission for six years, before 'Confession'. Nonetheless, kudos to the author for unearthing Lewis' files and to Leon Lewis, who was clearly an American hero.