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\nJohn Schmitz - Enemies Among Us: Relocation & Internment of German, Italian & Japanese Americans\n

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\n\nPublisher:\n\nBrainwaves Video Anthology\n\n\n
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\nJohn Schmitz, a history professor at Northern Virginia Community College, discusses his book Enemies Among Us, which explores the relocation, internment, and repatriation of German, Italian, and Japanese Americans during World War II....\nJohn Schmitz, a history professor at Northern Virginia Community College, discusses his book Enemies Among Us, which explores the relocation, internment, and repatriation of German, Italian, and Japanese Americans during World War II. His interest in the subject is deeply personal—his father and extended family, though some were U.S. citizens, were interned for three years in Crystal City, Texas, under suspicion due to their German heritage. The book examines how fear, racism, and wartime hysteria led to the targeting of ethnic groups, supported by long-standing laws like the Alien Enemies Act of 1798. Schmitz traces how federal policies—such as Executive Order 9066 and the FBI’s custodial detention lists—enabled the government to arrest and intern tens of thousands, including citizens, based on ancestry alone. He emphasizes the difference between U.S. internment camps and Nazi concentration camps, noting that while camps like Crystal City had some amenities, they were still prison-like and psychologically damaging, especially for adults and teenagers. The internment had lasting effects on families—causing loss of jobs, property, and dignity. Schmitz draws strong parallels to today’s political climate, warning that when a democracy is under stress, fear and hatred can once again justify the violation of civil liberties. His work serves as both a historical account and a cautionary tale for contemporary America.\n
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Resource Details

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Educator Rating
Not yet Rated
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Media Length
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9:15
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Grade
Higher Ed
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Subjects
Social Studies & History
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Media Type
Instructional Videos
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Source:
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\nBrainwaves Video Anthology\n\n
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Date
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2025
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Language
English
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Audiences
For Teacher Use
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Usage Permissions
Fine Print: Educational Use
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education, schools, americans
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school leadership, teaching, learning, brainwaves, bob greenberg, united states, civil liberties, largest threat, barbed wire, crystal city, world war, japanese americans, called enemies, enemies, called, thought, relocation, fascinating, camps
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Video is ad-free
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