By 1937 Adolf Hitler had been in power for four years and had begun spreading his tentacles beyond Germany to the rest of Europe and even to America. One means of expansion was the German American Bund, or association for German American youth. Ostensibly a camp to promote American values and outdoor pursuits, the real purpose was to establish Nazi principles on American soil.

A camp was planned in the then-back woods of Southbury, where it might attract little attention. With its next public program, Newtown Historical Society will examine the plans for the camp and the resistance that developed in Southbury.

On Monday, April 13, at 7:30 pm, in the meeting room of C.H. Booth Library, 25 Main Street, the historical society will present “The Southbury Bund.” The program will include a screening of the video Home of the Brave: When Southbury Said No to the Nazis.

A representative of the Bund had purchased 178 acres in Southbury to establish a companion camp to the more than 20 already operating in America, but suspicions were aroused among the residents. Even as the Bund was clearing the land for the organization that required an oath of racial purity and adherence to Nazi philosophy, the Reverend M.E.N. Lindsay, pastor of South Britain Congregational Church, and Reverend Felix Manley, both of the then-Southbury Congregational Church, began to protest their efforts. After researching the organization, the pastors publicly denounced the movement in their sermons as an “insidious menace,” anti-Christian and anti-American.

The stir awakened wider efforts throughout the town, and a committee was formed to create zoning rules that would keep the Bund from operation. Petitions were circulated and resolutions passed, expressing the widespread opposition within the town. The draft of the zoning regulation banned use of the land for “military training with or without arms except by the legally constituted armed forces of the United States of America.”

In 2012, the 75th anniversary of the event, the town commemorated the event by producing the film to be shown at the program. The video will be introduced by the Reverend Shannon Wall, current pastor of South Britain Congregational Church; Reverend Walter Pittman of Southbury’s United Church of Christ (formerly Southbury Congregational Church); and Rabbi Eric Polokoff, from B’nai Israel in Southbury. The three will offer their commentary and answer questions following the screening.

All historical society programs are free and open to the public. Refreshments will be served following the presentation.

For further information call the society at 203-426-5937 or visit www.newtownhistory.org.