Adolf von Thadden
Encyclopedia
Adolf von Thadden
Von Thadden was born at the noble estate of Gut Trieglaff near Greifenberg
in Pomerania – was a leading far right
German
politician. Born into a leading Pomerania
n landowning family, he was the half-brother of Elisabeth von Thadden
, a prominent critic of the Nazis
who was executed by the Nazi government in September 1944.
On 1 September 1939 he became a member of the Nazi Party. After serving in the German Wehrmacht
during World War II
and spending a brief spell as a prisoner of war, Von Thadden entered politics as a member of the Deutsche Rechtspartei
and its successor the German Empire Party. As a member of both he served as a councilman in Göttingen
from 1948 to 1958. Elected to the Bundestag
in 1949, he was the second youngest member and was thus addressed by an SPD
as 'Bubi' (a nickname that stuck with him). He became chairman of the German Empire Party in 1961 and in this position was one of the signatories of the European Declaration at Venice which set up the National Party of Europe
. Von Thadden was personally close to British Union Movement
leader Oswald Mosley
, on whose initiative the NPE was founded, and was attracted to his concept of Europe a Nation
.
Von Thadden played a leading role in formation of the National Democratic Party of Germany
(NPD) by merging his party with a number of other rightist groups, including a revived German National People's Party
in 1964. Although initially overlooked as leader in favour of Friedrich Thielen
of the German Party
, he was eventually appointed chairman in 1967. He remained leader until 1971, achieving strong showings in regional elections, although the party failed to gain representation in the Bundestag under his leadership (and have never managed to do so). Although a loyal supporter of his successor, Martin Mussgnug
, Von Thadden eventually left the NPD in 1975 after Gerhard Frey
was appointed Federal Administrator of the party.
He died July 16, 1996 in Bad Oeynhausen
at the age of 75.
Since Von Thadden's death it has been claimed that he was a secret agent of the United Kingdom
's external security agency, MI6
.
Von Thadden was born at the noble estate of Gut Trieglaff near Greifenberg
Gryfice
Gryfice is a town in Pomerania, north-western Poland with 16 632 inhabitants . It is the capital of Gryfice County in West Pomeranian Voivodeship , previously in Szczecin Voivodeship .-History:...
in Pomerania – was a leading far right
Far right
Far-right, extreme right, hard right, radical right, and ultra-right are terms used to discuss the qualitative or quantitative position a group or person occupies within right-wing politics. Far-right politics may involve anti-immigration and anti-integration stances towards groups that are...
German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
politician. Born into a leading Pomerania
Pomerania
Pomerania is a historical region on the south shore of the Baltic Sea. Divided between Germany and Poland, it stretches roughly from the Recknitz River near Stralsund in the West, via the Oder River delta near Szczecin, to the mouth of the Vistula River near Gdańsk in the East...
n landowning family, he was the half-brother of Elisabeth von Thadden
Elisabeth von Thadden
Elisabeth Adelheid Hildegard von Thadden was a German educator who founded a private school that now bears her name, and an outspoken critic of the Nazi régime...
, a prominent critic of the Nazis
Nazism
Nazism, the common short form name of National Socialism was the ideology and practice of the Nazi Party and of Nazi Germany...
who was executed by the Nazi government in September 1944.
On 1 September 1939 he became a member of the Nazi Party. After serving in the German Wehrmacht
Wehrmacht
The Wehrmacht – from , to defend and , the might/power) were the unified armed forces of Nazi Germany from 1935 to 1945. It consisted of the Heer , the Kriegsmarine and the Luftwaffe .-Origin and use of the term:...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
and spending a brief spell as a prisoner of war, Von Thadden entered politics as a member of the Deutsche Rechtspartei
Deutsche Rechtspartei
The German Right Party was a right-wing political party that emerged in the British zone of Allied-occupied Germany after the Second World War....
and its successor the German Empire Party. As a member of both he served as a councilman in Göttingen
Göttingen
Göttingen is a university town in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is the capital of the district of Göttingen. The Leine river runs through the town. In 2006 the population was 129,686.-General information:...
from 1948 to 1958. Elected to the Bundestag
Bundestag
The Bundestag is a federal legislative body in Germany. In practice Germany is governed by a bicameral legislature, of which the Bundestag serves as the lower house and the Bundesrat the upper house. The Bundestag is established by the German Basic Law of 1949, as the successor to the earlier...
in 1949, he was the second youngest member and was thus addressed by an SPD
Social Democratic Party of Germany
The Social Democratic Party of Germany is a social-democratic political party in Germany...
as 'Bubi' (a nickname that stuck with him). He became chairman of the German Empire Party in 1961 and in this position was one of the signatories of the European Declaration at Venice which set up the National Party of Europe
National Party of Europe
The National Party of Europe was an initiative undertaken by a number of political parties in Europe during the 1960s to help increase cross-border co-operation and work towards European unity....
. Von Thadden was personally close to British Union Movement
Union Movement
The Union Movement was a right-wing political party founded in Britain by Oswald Mosley. Where Mosley had previously been associated with a peculiarly British form of fascism, the Union Movement attempted to redefine the concept by stressing the importance of developing a European nationalism...
leader Oswald Mosley
Oswald Mosley
Sir Oswald Ernald Mosley, 6th Baronet, of Ancoats, was an English politician, known principally as the founder of the British Union of Fascists...
, on whose initiative the NPE was founded, and was attracted to his concept of Europe a Nation
Europe a Nation
Europe a Nation was a policy developed by British politician Oswald Mosley as the cornerstone of his Union Movement. It called for the integration of Europe into a single entity....
.
Von Thadden played a leading role in formation of the National Democratic Party of Germany
National Democratic Party of Germany
The National Democratic Party of Germany – The People's Union , is a far right German nationalist party. It was founded in 1964 a successor to the German Reich Party . Party statements self-identify as Germany's "only significant patriotic force"...
(NPD) by merging his party with a number of other rightist groups, including a revived German National People's Party
German National People's Party
The German National People's Party was a national conservative party in Germany during the time of the Weimar Republic. Before the rise of the NSDAP it was the main nationalist party in Weimar Germany composed of nationalists, reactionary monarchists, völkisch, and antisemitic elements, and...
in 1964. Although initially overlooked as leader in favour of Friedrich Thielen
Friedrich Thielen
Friedrich-Georg "Fritz" Thielen was a German politician with the Christian Democratic Union , the German Party, the Gesamtdeutsche Partei and the National Democratic Party of Germany ....
of the German Party
German Party
The German Party is a name used by a number of German political parties in the country's history. The current incarnation is represented only at the local level in Germany. However, from 1949 to 1961, a German Party was part of the ruling coalition in the Bundestag...
, he was eventually appointed chairman in 1967. He remained leader until 1971, achieving strong showings in regional elections, although the party failed to gain representation in the Bundestag under his leadership (and have never managed to do so). Although a loyal supporter of his successor, Martin Mussgnug
Martin Mussgnug
Martin Mussgnug was a German politician and former leader of the National Democratic Party of Germany ....
, Von Thadden eventually left the NPD in 1975 after Gerhard Frey
Gerhard Frey (politician)
Gerhard Frey is a German publisher, businessman and politician. He was the chairman and main financial backer of the far-right party Deutsche Volksunion, which he founded in 1971. He resigned as chairman in January 2009....
was appointed Federal Administrator of the party.
He died July 16, 1996 in Bad Oeynhausen
Bad Oeynhausen
Bad Oeynhausen is a spa town in the Minden-Lübbecke district, in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany.- Geography :Bad Oeynhausen is located on the banks of the Weser river, which runs along the eastern edges of the town. Bad Oeynhausen has the world's highest carbonated, thermal saltwater fountain,...
at the age of 75.
Since Von Thadden's death it has been claimed that he was a secret agent of the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
's external security agency, MI6
Secret Intelligence Service
The Secret Intelligence Service is responsible for supplying the British Government with foreign intelligence. Alongside the internal Security Service , the Government Communications Headquarters and the Defence Intelligence , it operates under the formal direction of the Joint Intelligence...
.