Maj. Gen. Carl Turner, Provost Marshal General of the Army, today ordered cancellation of approval for burial of George Lincoln Rockwell in a national cemetery here because of the conduct of “swastika wearing storm troopers” who refused to comply with government regulations.
Three members of the American Nazi Party were arrested at Rockwell’s funeral this morning when they tried to enter the cemetery, wearing their swastika armbands. Military police barred entry of Nazis as they tried to rush through with the coffin. Among the three arrested was a soldier on active duty, according to police.
The cemetery at Culpepper is a national facility, containing chiefly the remains of some soldiers who died in the Civil War. The cemetery is under the jurisdiction of the United States Army. Last night, the Army ruled that, since Rockwell had been honorably discharged from the Navy after service in World War II his body could be interred at Culpepper, but it was ruled clearly that no swastikas or other Nazi embellishments would be permitted.
This morning, a group of the Nazis from the Arlington, Va., headquarters maintained by the party arrived with a coffin containing Rockwell’s remains, wrapped in the flag of Germany used by Hitler, The superintendent ordered the Nazis to remove their swastika armbands and forbade them to enter until they would do so. Disregarding that order, the Nazis tried to use the coffin as a wedge for breaking into the burial grounds. Military policemen then went into action, barred the way and arrested three of the Nazis.
Gen. Turner, in canceling the approval for Rockwell’s burial, informed the American Nazi Party as follows:
“In view of your refusal to comply with the conditions prescribed by the Department of the Army with respect to activities permitted in connection with ceremonies at national cemeteries, the Department of the Army has withdrawn approval for the burial of George Lincoln Rockwell in the cemetery. Burial will not be permitted here, or in any other national cemetery unless a new application for approval of burial is submitted.
“The new application will be considered in the light of today’s event and any subsequent approval will be dependent upon the receipt of specific assurance that activities incident to the burial will be in accordance with the previously announced policy of the Department of the Army.”
JTA has documented Jewish history in real-time for over a century. Keep our journalism strong by joining us in supporting independent, award-winning reporting.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
