Although the Klan still reverted at times to violence of previous years, burning crosses, torturing and murdering those who they opposed, most of the Klan acted through peaceful means. The KKK instead became a more powerful political force as it elected many public officials throughout the nation. However, eventually the organization became weakened by disagreements among the leadership and because of public criticism of Klan violence. By 1944 the Ku Klux Klan had faded out again. Despite the large growth, the depression had a great effect on the Klan. The Klan lost significant numbers due to the cost of membership. During the economic depression in the U.S. the Klan’s membership dropped to only several thousand. These members were only active on a very small scale. In 1940 the Klan joined with German American Bund, an organization financed in part by the government of Nazi Germany. The German American Bund is An organization of ethnic Germans living in the U.S. which was openly pro-Nazi Aside from its veneration of Hitler, its program included anti-Semitism and strong anti-Communism. In February 1939 ,A rally in New York's Madison Square Garden, attracted 20,000 people, many of whom chanted "Heil Hitler."In 1944 it disbanded formally when the KKK was unable to pay back taxes owed to the federal government. The KKK had very low resources at this time in their existence. The KKK was down on money, people and leaders. With an organization with what was then seen as no future the leaders of the KKK wanted out. They didn’t want to go down with the others. People didn’t join not only because of the money but also because of the time you had to put in as a Klansmen. Poor and Broke tragedy strikes the Klan, but later on tragedy strikes the rest of the world. After the entry of the United States into World War II, the Klan curtailed its activities .Revival of Klan activities after the war led to widespread public sentiment fo...
