[rellimpank]

—a great many of the pre-WW 2 left wingers didn’t have any problem with Hitler until he stabbed his former buddy Stalin in the back in June 1941——

[ClearCase_guy]

You beat me to it, but I want to hop on board. The "American First" isolationists were largely socialists. Hitler had a non-aggression pact with Stalin. Hitler had conquered France. Hitler was close to conquering England. Everything was great -- socialists in American couldn't have been happier.

Then Hitler invaded the USSR and it seemed possible that Stalin was in trouble. The socialists in America started pushing real hard for the US to enter WWII. You know, to *ahem* help our friends in England. Pearl Harbor was a lucky break for them. They were thrilled that we had been attacked.

Never trust the Left.

[weegee]

Yep, the Communist Party USA actively protested in the streets against going to war against Nazi Germany.

Woody Gutherie’s “This Machine Kills Fascists” slogan only got applied to his guitar AFTER America got in the war. Until then the Nazis offered just another brand of socialism.

[Vigilanteman]

You are right. Look at Life or Time or any of the popular magazines from about 1936 to 1939. Hitler was a dapper gentleman, a smart dresser and a lady's man with charming manners. He was a visionary doing what needed to be done to restore the German nation, unfairly victimized by the winners of World War I.

There were a number of Dan Rather wanna-bes who went over to interview him and wrote flattering articles. Even Neville Chamberlain woke up before our left-wing press did.