Gerhard Krüger
Encyclopedia
Gerhard Krüger was a Nazi Party student leader and later a leading figure within the neo-Nazi movement.
, joining the Sturmabteilung
in 1926 and the Nazi Party itself in 1928. He became the leader of Nazi student groups at both the University of Leipzig
and the University of Greifswald and in 1933 was appointed head of the Deutsche Studentenschaft.
as ministerial leader of the Investigation Committee for the Protection of National Socialist Literature, a body that sought to ensure all published books conformed to Nazi ideology, with a special remit to examine books on economics. Around this time he also published two books, The Indestructible Reich and a biography of Adolf Hitler
.
Krüger then entered the diplomatic service, serving initially under Martin Luther
before working for Otto Abetz
in Paris
. He briefly joined the army in 1942 before serving as a history lecturer at the University of Strasbourg
and a professor at Posen University. He was captured by the British
and held at the interment camp at Staumühle. Following his release Krüger had to find employment as a textiles sales representative due to his associations with the Nazi university system.
formed their own political party in 1949 although this group was quickly absorbed into the larger Deutsche Reichspartei
. However this party proved too moderate for Krüger and on 21 October 1949 he left to become a founding member of the Socialist Reich Party
and vice-chair of the party council. He joined the Deutsche Aufbaupartei in 1953 when this group was banned.
From then on he concentrated much of his efforts on disseminating neo-Nazi propaganda
, setting up his own journal, the Nationaler Buchdienst, in 1956 and adding a book club, Das Reich im Buch, the following year. He also became associated with Arthur Ehrhardt
's Nation Europa
journal and became a regularly featured writer. He returned to politics briefly in when he was an unsuccessful candidate for the Deutsche Reichspartei in the 1961 federal election in Hanover
and the following year was named to the executive board of the Deutsche Freiheits Partei but for the most part he remained a propagandist.
Early years
Krüger first came to politics as a member of the Bund Oberland and it was from this basis that he was attracted to NazismNazism
Nazism, the common short form name of National Socialism was the ideology and practice of the Nazi Party and of Nazi Germany...
, joining the Sturmabteilung
Sturmabteilung
The Sturmabteilung functioned as a paramilitary organization of the National Socialist German Workers' Party . It played a key role in Adolf Hitler's rise to power in the 1920s and 1930s...
in 1926 and the Nazi Party itself in 1928. He became the leader of Nazi student groups at both the University of Leipzig
University of Leipzig
The University of Leipzig , located in Leipzig in the Free State of Saxony, Germany, is one of the oldest universities in the world and the second-oldest university in Germany...
and the University of Greifswald and in 1933 was appointed head of the Deutsche Studentenschaft.
Nazi Party activity
Krüger's profile began to rise within the Nazi Party and in 1936 he was appointed to serve under Philipp BouhlerPhilipp Bouhler
Philipp Bouhler was a senior Nazi Party official who was both a Reichsleiter and Chief of the Chancellery of the Führer of the NSDAP...
as ministerial leader of the Investigation Committee for the Protection of National Socialist Literature, a body that sought to ensure all published books conformed to Nazi ideology, with a special remit to examine books on economics. Around this time he also published two books, The Indestructible Reich and a biography of Adolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler was an Austrian-born German politician and the leader of the National Socialist German Workers Party , commonly referred to as the Nazi Party). He was Chancellor of Germany from 1933 to 1945, and head of state from 1934 to 1945...
.
Krüger then entered the diplomatic service, serving initially under Martin Luther
Martin Luther (diplomat)
Martin Franz Julius Luther was an early member of the Nazi Party. He served as an advisor to Foreign Minister Joachim von Ribbentrop, first in the Dienststelle Ribbentrop , and later in the Auswärtiges Amt as a diplomat when von Ribbentrop replaced Konstantin von Neurath...
before working for Otto Abetz
Otto Abetz
Dr. Heinrich Otto Abetz was the German ambassador to Vichy France during World War II.-Early years:Abetz was born in Schwetzingen on May 26, 1903. He was the son of an estate manager, who died when Otto was only 13...
in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
. He briefly joined the army in 1942 before serving as a history lecturer at the University of Strasbourg
University of Strasbourg
The University of Strasbourg in Strasbourg, Alsace, France, is the largest university in France, with about 43,000 students and over 4,000 researchers....
and a professor at Posen University. He was captured by the British
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...
and held at the interment camp at Staumühle. Following his release Krüger had to find employment as a textiles sales representative due to his associations with the Nazi university system.
Post-war politics
Krüger and Herbert BöhmeHerbert Böhme
Herbert Böhme was a German poet who wrote poems and battle hymns for the Nazi Party...
formed their own political party in 1949 although this group was quickly absorbed into the larger Deutsche Reichspartei
Deutsche Reichspartei
For the party that existed in Imperial Germany, see Free Conservative Party.The Deutsche Reichspartei was a nationalist political party in West Germany...
. However this party proved too moderate for Krüger and on 21 October 1949 he left to become a founding member of the Socialist Reich Party
Socialist Reich Party
The Socialist Reich Party of Germany was a West German far-right political party founded in the aftermath of the World War II in 1949 as an openly Nazi orientated split-off from the national conservative German Right Party...
and vice-chair of the party council. He joined the Deutsche Aufbaupartei in 1953 when this group was banned.
From then on he concentrated much of his efforts on disseminating neo-Nazi propaganda
Propaganda
Propaganda is a form of communication that is aimed at influencing the attitude of a community toward some cause or position so as to benefit oneself or one's group....
, setting up his own journal, the Nationaler Buchdienst, in 1956 and adding a book club, Das Reich im Buch, the following year. He also became associated with Arthur Ehrhardt
Arthur Ehrhardt
Arthur Ehrhardt was a German Waffen-SS officer and author on warfare who became a leading figure in the post-war neo-Nazi movement.-Early years:...
's Nation Europa
Nation Europa
Nation Europa is a monthly magazine, published in Germany, that was originally established in support of Pan-European nationalism...
journal and became a regularly featured writer. He returned to politics briefly in when he was an unsuccessful candidate for the Deutsche Reichspartei in the 1961 federal election in Hanover
Hanover
Hanover or Hannover, on the river Leine, is the capital of the federal state of Lower Saxony , Germany and was once by personal union the family seat of the Hanoverian Kings of Great Britain, under their title as the dukes of Brunswick-Lüneburg...
and the following year was named to the executive board of the Deutsche Freiheits Partei but for the most part he remained a propagandist.