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Tuesday, Oct 20, 2026

Did New Ulm residents rally in opposition to U.S. involvement in World War I? 

Brian Arola, MinnPost
yes

New Ulm residents rallied in 1917 against the United States’ impending intervention in World War I.

Leaders in the southern Minnesota city, founded by German immigrants, urged peace with Germany at the March 30 event. The U.S. declared war on Imperial Germany on April 6. 

Another rally, in July, drew a reported 8,000 New Ulm area residents. This event revolved around the constitutionality of the military draft as residents feared it would send Minnesotans of German descent overseas to fight German relatives. 

The war intensified anti-German sentiment. A newly established state agency, the Minnesota Commission of Public Safety, had been surveilling New Ulm for war dissent.

Gov. J.A.A. Burnquist ultimately removed New Ulm’s mayor and city attorney from office for public statements they made about the draft. Both city officials later returned to their positions.

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