George Sylvester Viereck
George Sylvester Viereck was a German-American poet and journalist born in Munich in 1884, who immigrated to the United States with his family in 1896. His literary journey began with a passion for poetry, nurtured during his studies at the College of the City of New York, where he connected with influential literary figures. Viereck became involved in journalism, taking over his father's German-language magazine and co-founding the publication Fatherland, which presented pro-German perspectives during World War I. His views during the conflicts prompted scrutiny from U.S. authorities, leading to investigations regarding his affiliations, although he maintained a stance of loyalty to America. In the late 1930s, Viereck's alignment with Germany resurfaced, culminating in a conviction for foreign agent activities during World War II, resulting in imprisonment. Despite his legal troubles, he authored a successful account of his experiences that achieved significant sales. Viereck's complex family life was marked by tragedy, including the loss of his son in World War II and the subsequent estrangement from his wife. He passed away in 1962, leaving behind a multifaceted legacy as both a writer and a controversial figure in American history.
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George Sylvester Viereck
Propagandist
- Born: December 31, 1884
- Birthplace: Munich, Germany
- Died: March 18, 1962
- Place of death: Holyoke, Massachusetts
Biography
George Sylvester Viereck’s family history is convoluted. His father, Louis Viereck, was the son of Edwina Viereck, a German actress. Although Louis von Prillwitz, a Prussian soldier, was generally acknowledged to be Louis’s father, some evidence suggests that William I actually was.
George Viereck was born in Munich, Germany to Louis Viereck and his American-born wife, Laura, who were first cousins. In 1896, the family immigrated to the United States. George was determined to become a poet, although his determination was at odds with his father’s notion of what his son should become. The boy bungled an apprenticeship in landscaping that Louis arranged for him in Baltimore. In 1902, George entered the College of the City of New York, receiving a bachelor’s degree in 1906.
During his college years, Viereck met two Columbia University graduate students who influenced him greatly. William Ellery Leonard and Ludwig Lewisohn were not well known then, but they soon established themselves as poets. The two encouraged Viereck’s writing and Lewisohn partially subsidized the publication of his first book, Gedichte, a collection of Viereck’s poems in German published in 1904 with an introduction by Lewisohn.
Viereck became a staff member of Current Literature in 1906 and continued that association until 1916, by which time the magazine was called Current Opinion. When his parents relocated to Germany in 1911, George remained in the United States, taking over his father’s magazine, Der Deutsche Vor Kämpfer (the German pioneer).
When World War I erupted in 1914, Viereck, like many Americans, favored Germany. Viereck was a cofounder of Fatherland, a weekly that presented the German viewpoint. This magazine, under various names, flourished until Viereck sold it in 1927.
Viereck was accused of being an agent for Germany and was investigated by the Justice Department, but there was insufficient evidence to indict him. Meanwhile, in 1915, Viereck married Gretchen Hein, with whom he had two sons, Peter, a poet in his own right, and George, Jr., a United States soldier, who was killed at Anzio during World War II.
As war approached again in the late 1930’s, Viereck sided with Germany but continually vowed that he was a loyal American. Although he was clearly not a Nazi, in September, 1941, he was indicted as a foreign agent. His conviction in March, 1942, resulted in a fine of $1,500 and a two-to-six-year prison term. After he had served a year in prison, his conviction was reversed, but in July, 1943, he was convicted on other charges and imprisoned until May, 1947.
After their son was killed, Viereck’s wife left Viereck and he was alienated from his remaining son. Although he finally reconciled with Peter, his efforts to reconcile with Gretchen were futile. Viereck died in 1962, ten years after he published an account of his incarceration that sold more than 500,000 copies.