The One Where Nazis Took Over Madison Square Garden

On September 1, 1939, Nazi Germany invaded Poland and began World War II. Now let's travel back in time about six and a half months before this terrible day in human history to February 20, 1939. Thousands of miles away from Europe and Adolf Hitler, we find ourselves in one of the greatest cities in the world: New York City.

It was here, in February of 1939, that a large rally was held at none other than the infamous Madison Square Garden. In 1939, however, this was not the Madison Square Garden that we all know of today: this arena existed from 1925 until 1968, was the first Garden that was not located near Madison Square, and the third arena to bear the name "Madison Square Garden".

The rally held at Madison Square Garden on February 20, 1939 was a Nazi rally organized by the German American Bund, a German-American Nazi organization. The event, which took place two days before George Washington's birthday, was promoted as a pro-"Americanism" rally; the stage at the event even featured a huge Washington portrait with swastikas on each side. 

Outside, over 1,000 police officers and about 100,000 protesters gathered. The protesters held up signs & banners with phrases like: “Drive the Nazis out of New York” and “Give me a gas mask, I can’t stand the smell of Nazis.”

One protester, Isadore Greenbaum, a 26 year old Jewish plumber, managed to sneak inside the rally and stormed the stage, screaming “Down with Hitler!” Greenbaum, who interrupted the featured speaker’s speech, was brutally beaten on stage by Bund storm troopers before the police were able to intervene. Greenbaum would later serve in the United States Navy and fight against Nazis in Europe.

Please click the link below to learn more about the Nazi rally held at Madison Square Garden:

The above article, "When Nazis Took Manhattan", was produced by Sarah Kate Kramer of Radio Diaries with help from Joe Richman and Nellie Gilles.