The Order, also known as the Brüder Schweigen or Silent Brotherhood, was a neo-Nazi terrorist organization active in the United States between 1983 and 1984. The Order described themselves as a white nationalist revolutionary group.

History

The Order was founded by Robert Jay Mathews in late September 1983 at Mathews' farm near Metaline Falls, Washington.^[1] A fundamental goal of The Order was revolution against the government of the United States, which was seen by the Order and other neo-Nazis as being controlled by a cabal of prominent Jews. The group was partly modeled on, and was named after, a fictional group in William Luther Pierce's novel The Turner Diaries.^[2] The Order's goals included the establishment of a homeland where Jews and those of non-white ancestry would be barred. They often referred to the United States federal government as ZOG, an acronym for Zionist Occupied Government.

In order to fund their goals, the Mathews-led Order committed a series of violent crimes. Their first criminal effort was unspectacular: the robbery of a sex shop, which netted them less than $400. Afterwards, the Order's attacks were much more effective, committing several lucrative bank robberies, as well as bombing theaters and synagogues. The Order ran a large counterfeiting operation, and executed a series of armored car robberies, including one in Ukiah, California that netted $3.8 million.^[3]

After being arrested on counterfeiting charges, one member of The Order informed Federal Bureau of Investigation agents of the group's membership roll and its methods. Based on this information, authorities were able to track down Mathews in December 1984.<ref name="SPLC-law" /> He was living in a cabin on Whidbey Island and he refused to surrender to the FBI. During a shootout, the cabin became engulfed in flames and Mathews was killed.<ref name="SPLC-law" /> Currently Mathews is held in high esteem by some within the white nationalist subculture.^[4][5]

The Order drew up a hit list of enemies, and on June 18, 1984 radio talk show host Alan Berg was murdered in front of his home by members of The Order.^[6] Berg was number two on The Order's list.^[7] Berg's murder and the subsequent trial formed the basis of Steven Dietz's 1988 play God's Country, and also loosely inspired Eric Bogosian's play Talk Radio (later adapted into a film by Oliver Stone) and the film Betrayed. A fictional version of the story was also the subject of the movie Brotherhood of Murder.

Convictions

Ten members of The Order were tried and convicted under Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO) statutes. In a separate trial, three other members of The Order were tried and convicted of violating the civil rights of Alan Berg, a Denver, Colorado liberal, Jewish radio talk show host who was assassinated on the evening of June 18, 1984 in front of his home.^[8] No one has been charged in the actual shooting death of Berg. However, David Lane, the getaway driver for Berg's assailants, was sentenced to 190 consecutive years on the charges of racketeering, conspiracy, and violating Berg's civil rights. He died in prison in 2007.^[9] Lane is regarded by many white supremacists as a hero, political prisoner and martyr. His Fourteen Words slogan, "We must secure the existence of our people and a future for white children", has become a prominent motto of many white nationalists.<ref name="ADL-Lane" /> In another trial, 14 men were charged with sedition, conspiracy and civil rights violations.<ref name="ADL-Lane" /> Thirteen of them were acquitted, and the judge dismissed the charges against the fourteenth man for lack of evidence.<ref name="ADL-Lane" /> Over 75 men and women were tried and convicted of various charges connected to The Order.

Footnotes

Further reading

• Kevin Flynn and Gary Gerhardt. The Silent Brotherhood ISBN 0-451-16786-4.
• Thomas Martinez and John Guinther. The Brotherhood of Murder ISBN 978-1583485804.
• Morris Dees. Gathering Storm: America's Militia Threat. Harper Perennial (April 23, 1997) ISBN 0060927895

External links

• Free the Order
• 'Heroes' of The Order
• Paranoia as Patriotism

•  • [ e] White supremist organizations

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