Okay so recently I had to do some research for my essay (@alleeclarke will remember this for sure) and while I was researching propaganda in US in the years leading up to the WW2 I couldn’t help but think about… well, Stucky, of course.
Now, in the years leading up to the outbreak of the war in Europe, US was pretty much neutral when it came to ‘’choosing sides’’ – there were both pro-nazi and anti-nazi groups forming inside the US itself, but before the attack on Pearl Harbor people were generally not very concerned about the whole deal.
This lead up to the pro-nazi groups being particularly vocal about their affiliations, and I’m here to talk about one in particular – German American Bund’s rally at Madison Square Garden in New York City on February 20, 1939.
Supposedly, 22 000 Nazi supporters attended the rally under police guard, calling Roosevelt’s New Deal the “Jew Deal” (you will also notice that they put up Washington in the middle of it all) while demonstrators protested outside.
I understand that it’s a very popular opinion in this fandom that Bucky did not volunteer but was, in fact, drafted (there is an excellent meta about his number and what it might say about his involvement in the war). But Sebastian does not agree, and Sebastian is always right (don’t try to deny it).
I can see Bucky protesting outside this event while the police guard and Bund’s troops try to hold them at bay. I can see Bucky being so angry at America and angry at the world and war and just waiting for the opportunity to join the army and kick some nazi ass. I can see Steve setting his jaw the way he does and promising to himself and to Bucky that all these people who hurt Bucky for being so vocal about his religion will get what they deserve.
I can see Bucky going to Synagogue after rally, even after Steve tells him it’s not a good idea, and Steve going with him because he is so determined to protect Bucky even though he is 90 pounds soaking wet. I can see Bucky putting up his mezuzah in front of his apartment and pretending not to notice the kids he’s seen at rally looking at it with hatred in their eyes.
I can see Bucky surviving Hydra’s torture and joining Howling Commandos with even more anger in his soul. I can see Bucky feeling so much shame and anger at the fact that an organization that has nazi roots used him for over 60 years. I can see Bucky in 2016 being accused of secretly still working for Hydra and unleasing all hell on everyone who dared to even think of it.
Bucky’s apparently late deployment 1943 but enlistment could be explained by dependants in the household. MCU materials describe him as the oldest of four and the absence of a brother around Steve suggests if there was one, he was too young to socialize or later serve. In the interim between Sarah Rogers’ death and Steve’s enlistment, one or both of Bucky’s parents could have died or become ill, too, leaving him to help raise his siblings. When the next oldest could help, Bucky was free to upgrade his eligibility status. It would also explain why Bucky and Steve were not spending the last night at Bucky’s parents’ home.
Being together on the schoolyard doesn’t mean that Bucky had to be Catholic like Steve (pay no attention to the inconsistent prop canon on Steve’s dogtag marking him as Protestant despite 616 canon.). A relative who attended parochial grade school in Brooklyn during World War II confirmed that several of her classmates were Jewish and observant. The rationale she recalls hearing is that the quality of the school was perceived as better than public schools and the school ties would help with future employers.
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