Martin Mussgnug
Encyclopedia
Martin Mussgnug was a German
politician and former leader of the National Democratic Party of Germany
(NPD).
He first came to prominence in 1956 when he set up the Bund Nationaler Studenten, a far right
student organisation that was banned in 1963. Whilst leading this group he became involved with the Deutsche Reichspartei
, becoming deputy chair of their Heidelberg group and following the party into the NPD in 1964. By 1968 he had been appointed chair of the NPD in Baden-Württemberg
and was elected to the Stuttgart
Landtag
that same year (until 1972). He replaced Adolf von Thadden
as party leader in 1971 and followed a largely similar course in party policy terms, in the process becoming the party's longest serving leader to date. Challenged from time to time by Günter Deckert
, who advocated a more confrontational style of politics than Mussgnug, he was finally defeated by his challenger in 1991. He left the NPD after this and became involved in setting up the German League for People and Homeland
(DLVH). He disappeared from politics when this group proved unsuccessful.
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 and former leader 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).
He first came to prominence in 1956 when he set up the Bund Nationaler Studenten, a 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...
student organisation that was banned in 1963. Whilst leading this group he became involved with the 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...
, becoming deputy chair of their Heidelberg group and following the party into the NPD in 1964. By 1968 he had been appointed chair of the NPD in Baden-Württemberg
Baden-Württemberg
Baden-Württemberg is one of the 16 states of Germany. Baden-Württemberg is in the southwestern part of the country to the east of the Upper Rhine, and is the third largest in both area and population of Germany's sixteen states, with an area of and 10.7 million inhabitants...
and was elected to the Stuttgart
Stuttgart
Stuttgart is the capital of the state of Baden-Württemberg in southern Germany. The sixth-largest city in Germany, Stuttgart has a population of 600,038 while the metropolitan area has a population of 5.3 million ....
Landtag
Landtag
A Landtag is a representative assembly or parliament in German-speaking countries with some legislative authority.- Name :...
that same year (until 1972). He replaced Adolf von Thadden
Adolf von Thadden
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...
as party leader in 1971 and followed a largely similar course in party policy terms, in the process becoming the party's longest serving leader to date. Challenged from time to time by Günter Deckert
Günter Deckert
Günter Deckert is a far-right German political activist. He was the leader of the far right National Democratic Party of Germany . He has served five years in prison in Germany for various offences, including Holocaust denial and incitement to racial hatred...
, who advocated a more confrontational style of politics than Mussgnug, he was finally defeated by his challenger in 1991. He left the NPD after this and became involved in setting up the German League for People and Homeland
German League for People and Homeland
The German League for People and Homeland is a right wing political organization in Germany.-History:The DVLH had its orginis in the power struggle within Die Republikaner between moderate leader Franz Schönhuber and his more extreme deputy Harald Neubauer, which culminated in Schönhuber being...
(DLVH). He disappeared from politics when this group proved unsuccessful.