The Dakotas are full of descendants of German draft dodgers as is much of the upper midwest.
No kidding? That’s fascinating.
Thought it was a stupid war?
Yes, and a lot of other Germans came here because the military was persecuting them for their beliefs. They were goose-stepping swine (a good number of them).
Correct. A recently deceased friend went to work on a N Dakota farm following his graduation in 1939. The farmers two sons had returned to Germany (can you say to serve the fatherland?) My friend ended up learning German as the farmer spoke no English.
Fast forward to WW2—he was infantry (draftee) but frequently used as an interpreter—was one of the first to enter Dachau. Liberated the camp commanders SS sword. On his death his wife donated it to Camp Dodge military museum.
Most of the upper Midwest’s came just after 1848 after serving on one side in the 1848-9 German revolution.