World War II is a monumental piece of history, so it should come as no surprise that there are plenty of topics to explore within it. Thankfully, one topic you won’t find much on is American troops who defected from the American Armed Forces and joined the ranks of the Nazis. Then comes along Martin James Monti. He did what is professionally considered a “d!<k move” and decided to become radicalized, help the Nazi cause, defect, and lead a fight against the Soviet Union/Communism. It’s going to be a wild ride, so buckle up. Read next:Klaus Martens and the WWII Origins of Doc Martens

Martin James Monti Served While Radicalized

How a North County boy became the first U.S. military officer ever to be convicted of treason, we may never fully understand. But that’s what happened to Martin James Monti, a man born in St. Louis, Missouri, who would enlist in the Army and become a Nazi defector. At only 23 years old, Monti had stolen an airplane while near Karachi and headed to Nazi-occupied Italy to defect to their forces. But what led to these events was an interesting stop he had before heading out to serve. Before leaving to train, Monti went to Detroit, where he met Father Charles Coughlin, a priest who hated Jews. He was known for his anti-Semitic views and supported some anti-Bolshevik policies that were in place in Nazi-occupied Italy. Despite being censored by the U.S. government for these views, Coughlin’s radio show would draw millions of listeners, one of which was Monti. During their meeting, it’s thought that they discussed how Monti’s service could be used to aid the Nazis and stifle the Soviet Union. After a brief moment of being a POW, Monti was able to convince them that he was, in fact, defecting. From here, he’d head to Berlin, where he would broadcast a radio show at the Overseas Service of the German State Radio using the name Capt. Martin Wiethaupt, which was his mother’s maiden name. He attempted to broadcast to Americans, telling his story and explaining why he thought America should help the Nazis. His listeners were told that WWII was a plot of the Communists to help the Soviet Union, America’s true enemy. After becoming an officer in the Waffen-SS, he would end up escaping Berlin as Allied Forces were near. Monti traveled back to Italy to surrender to American Forces, where he would be charged with desertion and theft. This carried a 15-year suspended sentence, but they never realized he defected to Nazi Germany, which is sus as h*ll by the way, and Monti was sent back to the States. He would even be readmitted into the Army in 1947. But a year later, as Monti was leaving with his discharge papers, the FBI put two and two together, realizing what he had done. Once again, Martin James Monti was arrested and hit with 21 counts of treason. Monti confessed and pleaded guilty. Arguments were made that Monti was raised in a home that had abnormal anti-Bolshevik views, but no one would buy it. Though millions had listened, and even Monti’s four brothers had enlisted in the Navy a year before, he, alone, remains the only known Nazi defector from American Forces.

Punishment for Treason in the U.S.

18 U.S. Code Chapter 115. This makes the case of Martin James Monti technically one that falls within the law, but it’s a bit surprising. You see, Martin Monti was sentenced to 25 years in prison with a $10,000 fine, again, the minimum amount allowed. It seems that treason during the biggest war in modern history by joining a group of people committing genocide would be the time for the maximum punishments, but I’m not a judge. Sentenced to Fort Leavenworth Prison, Martin James showed no emotion during his sentencing. He was paroled in 1960 and worked to get his sentence reversed and his confession tossed out of court. This failed, and eventually, he moved to the southern part of Florida, where he died in 2000.

Martin James Monti Is a Reminder To Not Be a Nazi

A reminder that, sadly, too many have needed is don’t be a Nazi. This isn’t about politics or creed or theories; don’t support the systematic eradication of people just because they're different than you. Nazi defectors may not exactly exist anymore, as the war is over, but there are still many that hide behind ignorance and cowardice just because people are different. Something that we should embrace is to make humanity better rather than focusing on the division between us. It’s a crazy juxtaposition to consider. On one hand, Martin James Monti was working to defend his country when it needed him the most. On the other hand, for whatever reasons, he decided to empathize with evil in a cowardly move. His name might not be the first in the history books when it comes to those who served, and rightfully so, but it’s an interesting tidbit in a complex war where millions of other brave souls around the world lost their lives to keep innocent people free. Suggested read:How WWII’s PQ-17 & USS Washington Faced Off Against the Germans