سوزاندن بتهوون: ریشه‌کن کردن فرهنگ آلمانی در ایالات متحده در طول جنگ جهانی اول

This illuminating exposé on a dark chapter of American history tells how the flourishing German culture in the United States was wiped out by a fury of anti-German hysteria during World War I. American patriots eradicated the German language from schools, churches, and newspapers. Germans, once America's biggest, proudest, and most successful ethnic group were targets of hate, persecution, and even lynchings and vigilante hangings. German cooks were burned, newspapers were closed, and sauerkraut was renamed "liberty cabbage" —the "freedom fries" of modern times. Before World War I, the United States was home to a flourishing German culture. But it was abruptly wiped out by a fury of anti-German hysteria that swept the country and trampled upon the civil liberties of millions of German-Americans. Fueled by attacks by American super patriots determined to eradicate the German language from American schools, churches and the country's newspapers, the sudden eruption of hostilities against Americas biggest, proudest and most successful ethnic group eradicated what had until then been a thriving German-American culture. Some German aliens falsely suspected of being German spies were hanged by mobs of vigilantes. Many more German-Americans were attacked, discriminated against or sent to internment camps. Sauerkraut was turned into liberty cabbage, dachshunds were renamed liberty pups and German measles became liberty measles. Burning Beethoven shines a light on that dark and forgotten chapter of American history. It gives answers to the question why did the large, proud and influential German-American ethnic group so quickly disappear. Burning Beethoven is also a tribute to the memorable words of the Harvard philosopher George Santayana, a Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it. "It is amazing and fascinating to read how much energy and time is spent in times of war to declare everything bad and hostile coming from the enemy' side---be it music, language or culture ; fortunately in most cases only with a temporary effect as we know today. Beethoven would indeed roll over in his grave.....A very riveting and well-written book with the timeless message that culture is not the culprit."Rainer Hasters, executive director of RIAS Berlin Commission "A powerful retelling of an often forgotten piece of American history that remains as relevant today as it did a century ago"Stephen Fuchs, Founder of German Pulse A fascinating account of a forgotten witch-hunt that damaged America in that it ran counter to its values and also deprived it of its rich German heritage. David Crossland, author of the best-selling novel The Jewish Candidate Burning Beethoven is an incredible story most people have never heard of. It's interresting to read how Americans went all out against the powerful German ethnic community during World War I and sheds a light on why Americans of German descent were forced to sever their ties to Germany." Cherno Jobatey, Editorial Director Huffington Post Germany and author of Fit wie ein Turnschuh. "Burning Beethoven explores how a flourishing culture in America was wiped out by an eruption of anti-German hysteria during World War I, when jingoistic Americans eradicated German from schools, churches, libraries, and newspapers. Germans made up the biggest, proudest, annd most successful ethnic group but became targets of hate, and sometimes victims of tarring and feathering - - even vigilante hangings. Zealous Americans slaughtered dachshunds and renamed sauerkraut "liberty cabbage"--- the "freedom fries" of that era. This book sheds light on a dark chapter of American history." --Back cover