The internal politics of the Non-Sectarian Anti-Nazi League to Champion Human Rights, 1933–1939

Abstract

In May 1933, the American League for the Defense of Jewish Rights was founded in NewYork City to organize a boycott of Nazi Germany.The League was inspired by a speech by the controversial Wall Street attorney, Samuel Untermyer. The League'ss founders subsequently invited Untermyer to become their president.They hoped he would provide funding for their cause, as well as giving it a higher profile. Untermyer, after consulting with fellow Jewish leaders such as Rabbi Abba Hillel Silver, became convinced that to be effective the boycott must embrace both Jews and non-Jews. In late December 1933, the League was renamed the Non-Sectarian Anti-Nazi League to Champion Human Rights. However, the League's founders soon became exasperated by Untermyer's autocratic management style, as were some of the prominent people Untermyer had persuaded to become directors of the League, such as Rabbi Silver.The septuagenarian lawyer's management style was not appropriate for a nongovernmental organization that relied mostly on volunteers. Silver was forced to write to Untermyer to condemn his dictatorial regime at the League.This article explores the history of the League to assess whether Untermyer's management style undermined the effectiveness of the boycott.

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