Our Nazi : An American Suburb's Encounter with Evil.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Soffer, Michael.

Series:

Chicago Visions and Revisions Series

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Kulle, Reinhold, 1921-2006.

Kulle, Reinhold.

Oak Park and River Forest Township High School.

Communities--Illinois--Oak Park--History--20th century.

Communities.

Ex-Nazis--Germany.

Ex-Nazis.

Ex-Nazis--Illinois--Chicago.

Fugitives from justice--Germany--Public opinion.

Fugitives from justice.

Fugitives from justice--Germany.

Nazi hunters--United States.

Nazi hunters.

Public opinion--Illinois--Oak Park.

Public opinion.

School custodians--Illinois--Oak Park.

School custodians.

Oak Park (Ill.)--History--20th century.

Oak Park (Ill.).

Physical Description:

1 online resource (321 pages)

Edition:

1st ed.

Place of Publication:

Chicago : University of Chicago Press, 2024.

Summary:

The first book to lay bare the life of a Nazi camp guard who settled in a Chicago suburb and to explore how his community and others responded to discoveries of Nazis in their midst. Reinhold Kulle seemed like the perfect school employee. But in 1982, as his retirement neared, his long-concealed secret came to light. The chief custodian at Oak Park and River Forest High School outside Chicago had been a Nazi, a member of the SS, and a guard at a brutal slave labor camp during World War II. Similar revelations stunned communities across the country. Hundreds of Reinhold Kulles were gradually discovered: men who had patrolled concentration camps, selected Jews for execution, and participated in mass shootings—and who were now living ordinary suburban lives. As the Office of Special Investigations raced to uncover Hitler’s men in the United States, neighbors had to reconcile horrific accusations with the helpful, kind, and soft-spoken neighbors they thought they knew. Though Nazis loomed in the American consciousness as evil epitomized, in Oak Park—a Chicago suburb renowned for its liberalism—people rose to defend Reinhold Kulle, a war criminal. Drawing on archival research and insider interviews, Oak Park and River Forest High School teacher Michael Soffer digs into his community’s tumultuous response to the Kulle affair. He explores the uncomfortable truths of how and why onetime Nazis found allies in American communities after their gruesome pasts were uncovered.

Contents:

Preface: "A Nazi worked here?"

"Murderers among us"

Reinhold

Up the chimney

Visa #6037

Chicago

Mrs. Ryan

A real gentleman

Holtzman

Standing guard

The Office of Special Investigations

"I lied'

"But I killed nobody"

Trial prep

In the matter of Reinhold Kulle

Bearing witness

"I am angry"

A decision not yet reached

Friends of Reinhold

The defense

A no-win situation

A terminal leave of absence

A hollow victory

"Reinhold, we'll never forget you"

Deportation

Epilogue: Inside the janitor's closet.

Notes:

Title from eBook information screen..

Description based on publisher supplied metadata and other sources.

ISBN:

9780226835556

OCLC:

1451796457