In a surprising move, a leading Democratic fundraiser in Michigan has sparked controversy by posting a tribute on Veterans Day to her grandfather, who served in the Nazi military during World War II. Kelly Neumann, who plays a key role in fundraising efforts for several Democratic candidates, shared the post on Facebook, honoring her late grandfather, Albert Neumann.

The now-unearthed post from 2024 was intended as a tribute to her family and friends who have served in the military. However, it included a special mention of her grandfather Albert, acknowledging his service on the “German side in WWI & WWII.” The post featured images of Albert Neumann dressed in his military uniform.

Albert Neumann served as a regular career soldier, wearing the uniform of a German Army officer. His military career spanned both World War I, where he fought for the German Empire, and World War II under Nazi Germany.

The Nazi regime, formally known as the National Socialist German Workers’ Party (NSDAP), was the authoritarian political entity led by Adolf Hitler that orchestrated much of the devastation during World War II.

Albert Neumann is wearing the uniform of a German Army officer, as a regular career soldier who fought for both the German Empire in Word War I and Nazi Germany in World War II.

The Nazis, officially called the National Socialist German Workers’ Party (NSDAP), was the totalitarian political party of German dictator Adolf Hitler.

They were responsible for the murder of six million Jews, and millions more Poles, Slavs, Roma, disabled people, and other minorities, during the Holocaust. 

Regular Wehrmacht soldiers like Albert Neumann were not necessarily Nazi members and are not to be confused with the ruthless SS units that committed war crimes during World War II.

Veterans Day is a national holiday in the US that honors allied military members who sacrificed their lives for the country during their time in the armed forces. 

Kelly Neumann, a fundraising co-chair for several Democratic candidates in Michigan, posted a tribute to her Germany Army grandfather on Veterans Day in 2024 

Neumann, who is also a principal attorney at Neumann Law Group, said her grandfather was one of her ‘best friends’ who accepted her as a gay woman

Neumann said her grandfather ‘escaped’ to Brazil after 1945, which was a route many top-ranking Nazis took to evade justice in Europe during the Nuremberg trials. 

As a regular army officer, Albert Neumann would not have faced trial unless there were specific allegations that he committed war crimes. 

He would instead have been placed in a prisoner of war camp until he was released weeks or months later.

‘Happy Veterans Day to all my family and friends who serve/served! Without you, America would not be here today,’ Neumann wrote in her post. 

‘Interesting story, I do not talk much about but my Grandfather, Albert Neumann was on the German side in WWI & WWII. 

‘He escaped to Brazil with my Father after Germany lost in WWII and then made their way to Detroit where they spoke no English and worked their way up to provide a stable life for their family,’ Neumann added before stating her grandfather was one of her ‘best friends’ who accepted her as a gay woman. 

‘My grandfather was one of my best friends. He was one of the first people in my life that accepted me as gay when I was nervous and scared. 

‘I’ll never forget him embracing me and loving me for who I am. His story is a true testament that people can change and love indeed can win.’ 

Her post from two years ago was first reported by Jewish Insider, and quickly attracted criticism online. 

David Wolpe, a prominent American Rabbi, shared the outlet’s article on her post to X and captioned it: ‘This is so outrageous I had to double check it wasn’t a hoax.’ 

The images showed her grandfather wearing Nazi regalia. He also appeared to be donning an officer’s uniform

Her unearthed post was quickly met with a lot of criticism online, including by David Wolpe, a prominent American Rabbi

Another commenter said that it seemed so unreal it could be something mentioned in an episode of The Office. It was often implied that the character Dwight Schrute had German relatives who were Nazis

Another was left just as flabbergasted as Wolpe, adding that it seemed so unreal it could be something mentioned in an episode of The Office. 

It was often implied that the sitcom’s character, Dwight Schrute, played by actor Rainn Wilson, had German relatives who were Nazis.

‘This feels like something Dwight Schrute would say,’ the user posted on X. 

‘Good Lord,’ another chimed in. 

Someone else commented: ‘Things you couldn’t make up even if you tried.’ 

Neumann is co-chair of the finance committees for Senate candidate Mallory McMorrow and gubernatorial candidate Jocelyn Benson. 

She has also co-hosted fundraisers for both of their campaigns. 

On Friday, she hosted an event for McMorrow, according to an online flyer.

The political ‘activist’ also has close ties to the Democratic Party in Michigan, including to the state’s current Governor Gretchen Whitmer. She hosted a fundraiser for her in December, according to Neumann’s Instagram. 

‘We’ve raised about $50,000, have 125 people attending and are just 4 days away from this event on Monday December 15th from 5pm – 7pm in the Detroit area!,’ she captioned the post. 

The political ‘activist’ (far right) also has close ties to the Democratic party in Michigan, including to the state’s current Governor Gretchen Whitmer (far left)

On Tuesday, she took to her Instagram story to share that she and her legal partner are ‘taking on ICE’, and are there for anyone who has been injured by federal agents as tensions remain high across the country amid Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown. 

She also shared a tweet from Eric Spraklen, a Republican who said he has ‘never been more embarrassed to be a Trump supporter’ than he is right now. 

In response, Neumann said: ‘Team Trump is falling apart! People are bailing left and right as they should!’ 

The Daily Mail contacted Neumann for comment.  

Her comment comes as many MAGA Republicans, including Fox New host Sean Hannity, have voiced their anger at how the Trump administration is approaching the illegal immigration issue in the US. 

On Saturday, American citizen and ICU nurse Alex Pretti, 37, was fatally shot by Border Patrol agents while he protested in Minneapolis, Minnesota. 

Just weeks earlier, on January 7, Renee Nicole Good was shot by ICE officer Jonathan Ross while she drove away during a protest in the same city.