The Order / Brüder Schweigen (Robert Mathews, 1983–84)
White-supremacist Christian Identity terror group founded by Robert Mathews (1983). Conducted multiple armoured-car robberies and the 1984 Alan Berg murder. Mathews killed in FBI siege December 1984. Subject of Steve Earle's song and many academic studies.
CLCI radar
BITE breakdown
+2 for documented bank robberies, counterfeiting, and the 1984 Alan Berg murder.
Profile facts
In context
The Order ('Brüder Schweigen' — Silent Brotherhood) was a Christian-Identity-inspired terror group whose 1983–84 crime spree included multiple armoured-car robberies, counterfeiting, and the June 1984 assassination of Denver Jewish radio host Alan Berg. Mathews died in a December 1984 FBI siege on Whidbey Island. Surviving members were prosecuted; the group is defunct but remains a paradigmatic case in white-supremacist terror studies.
Key control doctrines
- Christian Identity ideology
- Brotherhood oath
- Race-war preparation
Recovery resources
- ICSA (International Cultic Studies Association) — General referral and cult-aware therapist directory.
- INFORM (Information Network on Religious Movements) — LSE-founded UK research-based information service covering new religious movements.
- Reclamation Collective — Religious-trauma-aware therapist network; relevant for post-exit identity-rebuilding.
- Freedom of Mind Resource Center — Steven Hassan's organisation; BITE-model resources and family-side exit guidance.
See the full curated list at /resources.
Legal cases & controversies
- 1984 Alan Berg murder
- 1985 RICO prosecutions
Evidence by BITE axis
- Multiple armoured-car robberies
- Alan Berg assassination
- FBI-killed founder
- Brotherhood-style oath binding members
- Christian Identity ideology
- Brotherhood oath
- Race-war preparation
- +2 for documented bank robberies, counterfeiting, and the 1984 Alan Berg murder
Timeline
- 1983The Order founded by Mathews
- 1984-06Alan Berg assassinated
- 1984-12Mathews killed in FBI Whidbey Island siege
Evidence matrix
Structured sources cross-linked to the claims they document. Tiered per the source hierarchy. For free-text citations see the Sources section below.
Sources
- Kevin Flynn & Gary Gerhardt, 'The Silent Brotherhood' (1989) search ↗
- DOJ case records search ↗
- Jury Told of Plan to Kill Radio Host (Subscription needed) — https://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F40713FC35580C7B8CDDA80994DF484D81 open ↗
- Camera Shop Owner Testifies Jean Craig Discussed Killing Berg — https://apnews.com/eb91ff4be2716d5791c5bc6de98a79ea open ↗
- Defense Attorneys Attack Order Member's Credibility — https://apnews.com/e2986ae039c5ec02718494978df6a256 open ↗
- Survival Teacher Says Sect Members Bragged of Crimes — https://apnews.com/9edeffa0117a0594e9ce9ee4f2414837 open ↗
- BOMBS ROCK IDAHO CITY TORN BY STRIFE OVER RACISTS — https://www.nytimes.com/1986/09/30/us/bombs-rock-idaho-city-torn-by-strife-over-racists.html open ↗
- GTD ID:198603060005 — https://www.start.umd.edu/gtd/search/IncidentSummary.aspx?gtdid=198603060005 open ↗
- IDAHOANS CALM IN FACE OF BOMBINGS — https://www.nytimes.com/1986/10/03/us/idahoans-calm-in-face-of-bombings.html open ↗
- Trio Indicted On Counterfeiting Charges — https://apnews.com/article/b8081bab66725f209ab4a2bce4881392 open ↗
- STAGE REVIEW: Dietz's _God's Country_: Big Sets, Big Ideas — https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1992-07-15-ca-3827-story.html open ↗
- Jude Law Battles Neo-Nazis in Real-Life Thriller _The Order — https://www.thedailybeast.com/obsessed/the-order-review-jude-law-battles-neo-nazis-in-real-life-thriller/ open ↗
- New York Times - 2 Linked to Aryan groups plead guilty in plot — https://www.nytimes.com/1987/02/05/us/2-linked-to-aryan-groups-plead-guilty-in-plot.html open ↗
- OUTSPOKEN TALK SHOW HOST SLAIN OUTSIDE DENVER HOME — https://www.nytimes.com/1984/06/20/us/outspoken-talk-show-host-slain-outside-denver-home.html open ↗
- Alan Berg: Talked to Death — https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/alan-berg-talked-to-death-71920/ open ↗
- FBI Informant Helped Put Hate in Its Place — https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2003-oct-19-me-informant19-story.html open ↗
- DATA & GRAPHICS: Population Of The Communications Management Units — https://www.npr.org/2011/03/03/134227726/data-graphics-population-of-the-communications-management-units open ↗
- Trio Indicted On Counterfeiting Charges — https://apnews.com/b8081bab66725f209ab4a2bce4881392 open ↗
- DATA & GRAPHICS: Population Of The Communications Management Units. — https://www.npr.org/2011/03/08/134227726/data-graphics-population-of-the-communications-management-units open ↗
We cite sources by name and outlet rather than fabricating links. Where a source includes its own URL, the open ↗ link opens it directly; otherwise search ↗runs a Google Scholar query for the cited title — useful for verifying academic sources. For news outlets, search the outlet's own archive.
Change history
Substantive edits logged per the score-updates policy.
- 2026-05-29Phase 1 Batch J: per-group recovery resources applied via programmatic palette (closest-fit by category + subCategory + score). Palette: Political cadre.
- 2026-05-20Score band scheme migrated from 4 bands to 5 (Minimal 0–5 / Low 6–12 / Moderate 13–20 / High 21–30 / Extreme 31–40). No CLCI value changed; the new Minimal band was carved out of the bottom of the previous Low band.
Relevant hubs
Curated entry points on CLCI Hub for situations connected to this group.
- Start herePick the reading path that matches your situation.
- PatternsDocumented control patterns with linked profiles.
- Online groupsPolitical and ideological coercion often operates via online communities.
- FamiliesHow families and close friends can engage with high-control members.
- RecoveryIf you have left or are preparing to leave.
You may also want to explore
Frequently asked questions
Q.Is The Order / Brüder Schweigen a cult?
CLCI Hub deliberately avoids the binary label "cult." Instead it places groups on a transparent 0–40 spectrum of documented control using Steven Hassan's BITE model (Behaviour, Information, Thought, Emotional). The Order / Brüder Schweigen scores 36 out of 40 — "Destructive / Extreme", at high confidence. The score describes documented control patterns, not a judgement of members' sincerity or beliefs; many members do not personally experience the patterns listed.
Q.What is The Order / Brüder Schweigen's CLCI score?
The Order / Brüder Schweigen scores 36 out of 40 on the Cult-Like Control Index, which falls in the "Extreme" band. That total is the sum of four BITE axes — Behaviour 9, Information 8, Thought 9, Emotional 8 — plus a signed modifier of +2 for aggravating or mitigating factors.
Q.Why does The Order / Brüder Schweigen score 36 on the CLCI?
The score reflects publicly documented patterns including: Multiple armoured-car robberies; Alan Berg assassination; FBI-killed founder; Brotherhood-style oath binding members. These map onto the BITE axes of behaviour, information, thought, and emotional control, and a signed modifier of +2 is applied for factors such as financial demands, leadership accountability, and exit costs. Every claim is backed by the citations in the Sources section on this page.
Q.How reliable is the The Order / Brüder Schweigen rating?
This profile is rated High confidence. High confidence means the score is backed by court records, academic work, and/or sustained investigative journalism. CLCI scores are not fixed — they are revised whenever new public evidence appears, and groups that reform can score lower over time.
Q.Where can I get help regarding The Order / Brüder Schweigen?
If you or someone you care about is affected by The Order / Brüder Schweigen, start with the Recovery resources listed on this page. General cult-aware support is available from the International Cultic Studies Association (icsahome.com) and the Freedom of Mind Resource Center (freedomofmind.com). CLCI Hub is an educational resource, not a crisis service — if anyone is in immediate danger, contact local emergency services.
Found something wrong on this profile?
We accept correction requests from anyone — current and former members, researchers, journalists, family members, and the listed organisation. Submissions are reviewed by an editor; we do not auto-publish.