{"product_id":"hollywood-vs-nazis-isbn-9780806544786","title":"Hollywood vs. Nazis","description":"\u003cb\u003eThe true story of Hitler’s plot to turn Hollywood’s Dream Factory into a Nazi propaganda machine—and the Jewish moguls’ clandestine operation to sabotage the Reich’s insidious reach.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eWorld War II began at Hollywood and Vine.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eFrom the moment Hitler took power in Germany in 1933, there was no American city he wanted to rule more than Los Angeles. Control the moviemaking capital of the world and Hitler could control the message that came out of it: As clear as black and white, America and all of Europe would see him as a hero and Jews as the villains. That the industry was run by Jewish men—Adolph Zukor, Sam Goldwyn, David O. Selznick, and the Warner brothers, among them—would make his victory all the sweeter.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eUnfortunately for Hitler, he had no idea who he was dealing with or what he up against in the City of Angels. Recognizing the threat, the movie moguls pooled their resources and financed a clandestine operation to subvert the sabotage. Their teams of undercover spies would infiltrate the German-American pro-Hitler organizations already gestating in Southern California and take out the vile Nazi agents of chaos one by one—by any means necessary. This mission to protect the American way would span a decade.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eUnfolding like a real-life World War II espionage thriller, and as explosive as nitrate, \u003ci\u003eHollywood vs. Nazis\u003c\/i\u003e is one of the most fascinating chapters in heroic American history—and true movie lore—ever told.\u003cb\u003ePraise for Michael Benson:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cu\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/u\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“A wonderful read with a thoughtful handling of a very serious and complex subject matter. Lovers of Hollywood and history will find Michael Benson’s new book fascinating and entertaining.” \u003cb\u003e—Craig Singer, co-author of \u003ci\u003eMoguls\u003c\/i\u003e and Emmy-nominated film writer, producer, and director\u003c\/b\u003e, on \u003ci\u003eHollywood Vs. Nazis\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Once again, Michael Benson makes history fun with his signature witty style and writing that brings each character alive. It isn’t easy to make a true story about Nazis and spies humorous, but somehow he pulls it off. Gripping and unbelievable in equal measure, this is a must-read.” \u003cb\u003e—Elie Kraft, senior communications and research officer, Campaign Against Antisemitism\u003c\/b\u003e, on \u003ci\u003eHollywood Vs. Nazis\u003c\/i\u003e \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“A well-researched, fascinating, at-times-shocking look at a heretofore little-known part of Hollywood history that resonates in today’s polarized sociopolitical landscape.” \u003cb\u003e—Michael Seth Starr, author of \u003ci\u003eDon Rickles: The Merchant of Venom \u003c\/i\u003eand \u003ci\u003eNothin’ Comes Easy: The Life of Rodney Dangerfield\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e, on \u003ci\u003eHollywood Vs. Nazis\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Chockablock with life-threatening espionage, clandestine tradecraft, and a world hanging in the balance, Michael Benson’s \u003ci\u003eHollywood Vs. Nazis\u003c\/i\u003e is as gripping as any Tinseltown spy thriller. As his previous tome detailed American gangsters battling Nazi party members in the US in the years before World War II, \u003ci\u003eHollywood Vs. Nazis\u003c\/i\u003e highlights how Hollywood moguls funded the fight against Nazi efforts to win American hearts and minds. Not surprisingly, a propaganda war against Hollywood was always doomed to fail, but as ever, Benson reminds us that history, done right, can be great fun.” \u003cb\u003e—Todd Farley, author of \u003ci\u003eMaking the Grades\u003c\/i\u003e and \u003ci\u003eNew York Post\u003c\/i\u003e contributor\u003c\/b\u003e, on \u003ci\u003eHollywood Vs. Nazis\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“The book you are holding is a whirlwind tale, a roller-coaster ride through Hollywood history. Its cast of characters includes names such as Chaplin, Keaton, Valentino, Talmadge, and Monroe, lest we forget Hitler and Luciano. It’s got chills, thrills, romance, comedy, intrigue, and danger; it’s equal parts \u003ci\u003eThe Last Tycoon\u003c\/i\u003e and Horatio Alger, except this story is real. Hell, somebody should make a movie out of this.” \u003cb\u003e—Terence Winter, writer of \u003ci\u003eThe Sopranos\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eBoardwalk Empire\u003c\/i\u003e, and \u003ci\u003eThe Wolf of Wall Street\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e, on \u003ci\u003eMoguls\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“This illuminating book sheds light on brothers at least as influential as the Warners, but lesser known in cinematic popular culture.” \u003cb\u003e—\u003ci\u003eLibrary Journal\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e on \u003ci\u003eMoguls\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Michael Benson’s nonfiction masterpiece \u003ci\u003eGangsters vs. Nazis\u003c\/i\u003e reads like speculative fiction at its very best, even though the incidents the book portrays are very much real. . . . One of the most rivetingly relevant reads I’ve ever encountered, chock-full of real-life heroes and villains who are every bit the match for the best that thriller fiction has to offer.” \u003cb\u003e—Jon Land, \u003ci\u003eThe Providence Journal\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e, on \u003ci\u003eGangsters Vs. Nazis\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“It is a colorful tale. It reads in many places like a mid-20th century Jimmy Cagney movie or Mickey Spillane novel come to life. It occurs in the same settings and the author uses the Runyonesque language of the genre. The mobsters deal out knuckle sandwiches and whack foes on the noggin. At one point Benson urges readers to think of one team as \u003ci\u003eThe Dirty Dozen\u003c\/i\u003e with some Yiddish thrown in.” \u003cb\u003e—Ricochet\u003c\/b\u003e on \u003ci\u003eGangsters Vs. Nazis\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Benson tells this little-known chapter of American Jewish history well and with passion. The prose is colorful and direct.” —\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eNew York Journal of Books\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e on \u003ci\u003eGangsters Vs. Nazis\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Told in a colorful, Runyonesque style, the tale is about one of the strangest campaigns of the late 1930s. It shows how the Jewish American community organized to fight the German American Bund and other fascist groups in the United States in the years prior to America’s entry into World War II. To break up Nazi rallies and bust heads, the community enlisted Jewish gangsters, the author claims—not ‘good guys’ protecting the American way. This is a fascinating and entertaining read.” \u003cb\u003e—\u003ci\u003eThe Epoch Times\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e on \u003ci\u003eGangsters Vs. Nazis\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“From indoctrinating youth camps to jack-booted rallies promoting Adolf Hitler, pre-World War II America was threatened by the rise of Nazism. \u003ci\u003eGangsters vs. Nazis\u003c\/i\u003e is a must-read, eye-opening account that brings to life the violent struggle between these home-brewed storm troopers and an army of unlikely patriots; gangs of fist-swinging Jewish mobsters willing to break bones and crack heads in order to turn back the Nazi menace.” \u003cb\u003e—Larry Alexander, \u003ci\u003eNew York Times\u003c\/i\u003e bestselling author of \u003ci\u003eBiggest Brother: The Life of Major Dick Winters, the Man Who Led the Band of Brothers\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e, on \u003ci\u003eGangsters Vs. Nazis\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Benson is a master of true crime.” \u003cb\u003e—Robert \u003c\/b\u003eScott on \u003ci\u003eGangsters Vs. Nazis\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cb\u003eMichael Benson\u003c\/b\u003e is the acclaimed author of nonfiction history and crime books, including \u003ci\u003eGangsters vs. Nazis\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eHollywood vs. Nazis\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eEvil Season\u003c\/i\u003e, and\u003ci\u003e Betrayal in Blood\u003c\/i\u003e, as well as \u003ci\u003eMoguls\u003c\/i\u003e, co-authored with Craig Singer. He is also one of America’s most accomplished and popular Mafia experts, having co-authored numerous books on the subject, including \u003ci\u003eCarmine the Snake\u003c\/i\u003e,\u003ci\u003e Mafia Hit Man\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eLord High Executioner\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eRed Hook\u003c\/i\u003e,\u003ci\u003e Carlo Gambino\u003c\/i\u003e, and \u003ci\u003eOlive Oil King \u003c\/i\u003ewith Frank DiMatteo and \u003ci\u003eMafia Secrets \u003c\/i\u003ewith Gianni Russo\u003ci\u003e. \u003c\/i\u003eHe is a regular commentator, appearing on numerous radio and television shows such as \u003ci\u003e20\/20\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eOn the Case with Paula Zahn\u003c\/i\u003e, and \u003ci\u003eDeadly Sins \u003c\/i\u003eon the ID: Investigation Discovery channel. A recipient of the Academy of American Poets Award, he can be found on Facebook at \/AuthorMichaelBenson.","brand":"Citadel","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48233232826597,"sku":"NP9780806544786","price":29.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1842\/7735\/files\/9780806544786.jpg?v=1767729146","url":"https:\/\/k12savings.com\/es\/products\/hollywood-vs-nazis-isbn-9780806544786","provider":"K12savings","version":"1.0","type":"link"}