In the early 1980s, a violent Neo-Nazi group known as The Order (also called Brüder Schweigen, or the Silent Brotherhood) terrorised parts of the Pacific Northwest in the US. This extremist group, led by Robert Jay Mathews, aimed to launch a race war and establish a white ethno-state.
Although The Order only existed for under two years between 1983 and 1984, their crimes — ranging from armed robberies to murder — had a lasting impact on both their communities and law enforcement. One of their most heinous and infamous acts was the brutal murder of Jewish radio talk show host Alan Berg, which brought national attention to the group.
This article examines the FBI’s eventual infiltration and crackdown, which would mark the end of The Order’s violent campaign.
The rise of The Order
The Order was founded by Robert Mathews in 1983 when he brought together a small group of white supremacists with a shared hatred of the government, Jews, and people of colour. But this was not Mathews’ first foray into extremism, he was previously involved with the National Alliance, although his later ideas grew increasingly radical. He believed that white Americans could only secure a future free from ‘corrupting influences’ through extreme and direct violence.
Eager to spark a race war and create a white ethno-state, the group continued to undermine the U.S. government and carried out violent acts of terrorism, including armed robberies to help fund weapons and ammunition. Over five months in 1984, they stole more than $4 million.
Within a small space of time, The Order grew in both size and influence within the white nationalist movement. Mathews and his followers were committed to their cause, with some members viewing their violent actions as part of a broader war for white survival.
The murder of Alan Berg
The crime that brought The Order into the national spotlight was the murder of Alan Berg in June 1984. While the robberies were important to the group’s operations, it was this attack that brought attention to their objective. Berg was a Jewish radio talk-show host from Denver, Colorado, known for his outspoken views against racism, antisemitism, and other forms of extremism. It was these opinions that made him a prime target for The Order.
Members of the organisation ambushed and murdered Berg outside his home, shooting him multiple times. Not only was Berg’s murder a direct attack on a public figure, but it also highlighted the growing threat that was domestic terrorism. The act shocked the nation and became a turning point for both the group and their relationship with the police. The heightened media coverage put pressure on the FBI to infiltrate and dismantle the group.
The murder of Alan Berg might have been one of the most notorious, but it wasn’t the only violent act committed by The Order. The extremist group was also involved in several other murders including individuals they saw as rivals or enemies, as well as multiple bombings and assaults.
The fall of The Order
By the mid-1980s, the FBI had begun to notice The Order's escalating criminal activities. They recognised that the group was a huge threat to national security and decided to dismantle it. Through a combination of intelligence gathering, surveillance, and undercover operations, the FBI began infiltrating the group in 1984.
As well as using traditional methods of gathering intel, the FBI successfully recruited informants from within The Order. One of the most important breakthroughs came when an undercover agent was able to infiltrate the group and collect critical information about their activities. The FBI’s efforts intensified after the murder of Alan Berg, with agents working tirelessly to track down members of the group.
The FBI’s investigation finally led to the identification and capture of many key members of The Order. In December 1984, Robert Mathews was killed during a standoff with federal agents on Whidbey Island, Washington. Mathews had been the group's leader and had been on the FBI's most-wanted list for his role in planning and executing several of the group's violent activities. His death marked the official end of The Order as an active, organised terrorist group.
