William Pelley (1890–1965) was an American author, journalist, spiritualist (who wrote many volumes of esoteric and spiritualist material) and founder of the Silver Legion. Traveling as a foreign correspondent in Russia during the communist revolution Pelley witnessed atrocities. This horrible experience left him with a lifelong hatred for communism and Jews for their leading role in it. During the Great Depression he became active in politics. Inspired by Adolf Hitler, Pelley founded the ‘Silver Legion’ in 1933. Their emblem was a scarlet ‘L’. This letter was prominently featured on their flags and uniforms. Their uniforms were silver, gaining them the name ‘Silver Shirts’. Pelley, a man of great drive and boundless ability, founded Silver Legion chapters in almost every state in America. His support of Adolf Hitler and National Socialism/Fascism angered Roosevelt and the powers-that-be and charges were brought against him and the Silver Shirts in 1940.
