Germans in Omaha, Nebraska
The mostly working class population supported numerous German-language newspapers that had national as well as local distribution in the early 20th century.
Germans built and operated several successful breweries in the city, bringing good beer and beer-making skills to the upper Midwest.
Valentin J. Peter (1875-1960), editor of the German-language Omaha Tribüne, was chiefly responsible for the formation and leadership of the Nebraska chapter of the National German-American Alliance.
Prince Maximilian of Wied-Neuwied toured the Upper Missouri River in 1832, and recorded a stay at Cabanne's Trading Post in present-day North Omaha.
At church and in their businesses, including grocery stores and farm supply shops, they conducted daily life in German for years.
Here one could purchase food from several German merchants, including Volkmier's Meat Market, Schmid's Grocery, and the Schube Haus (bakery) ...
[16] Edward Rosewater, the Czech editor at The Omaha Bee, used the slogan "Germania our Mother, Columbia our Bride" to describe the kind of "dual-sentimentality" many Germans in America felt toward their country of origin.
[17] In the early 20th century, German immigrants came to Omaha for work and to escape state oppression led by Kaiser Wilhelm in Germany.
[22] Numerous Germans worked at German-owned beer gardens, dry goods stores, farms, and milling operations throughout the city and Douglas County.
[13] German-owned breweries in Omaha sought to keep alcohol legal at a time when political pressure was widespread to establish Prohibition.
[24] When William Jennings Bryan returned to Nebraska after his third unsuccessful Presidential campaign in 1908 to advocate for Prohibition, he became "the arch enemy of das Deutschtum.
"[5] In July 1910 Germans in Omaha rallied with other immigrant organizations across the city to create the National German-American Alliance.
This alliance brought together many German organizations around Omaha in July 1911 at the city's annual Sängerfest, which was a dance and rally for more than 5,000 attendees.
In 1914 Peter led the National German-American Alliance in strong opposition to women's suffrage during a statewide election on the issue.
In this country it has a servile press at its command, which uses every foul means to slander everything German and to poison the public mind.
- Valentin Peter (1915)[26]Such expression of pro-German feelings by German immigrants aroused anti-German sentiment in the many Americans who favored the British as allies.
[26] But, in 1916, the Vice-President of the National German-American Alliance openly chastised President Woodrow Wilson for pro-Ally actions at the beginning of the Great War.
"[28] When the United States entered the war, most general businesses and churches ceased conducting affairs in German due to nativist sentiment.
Both Valentin Peter, editor of the Omaha Tribüne, and the National German-American Alliance gained enough political clout to influence United States presidential campaigns.
[32] Later, during the 1928 presidential election, the Democratic National Committee enlisted Peter to join to show the support of German-Americans for Al Smith.
Period sociologists noted the multiplicity of opinions as demonstrating the process of American assimilation among Germans in America.
[15] The German-American Society, located at 3717 South 120th Street in West Omaha, continues to hold regular events, teach German traditions and observe special celebrations.
