Matt Koehl
Encyclopedia
Matt Koehl (born January 22, 1935) is the leader of a self-defined religious organization called the New Order
. As deputy commander, in August 1967 Koehl succeeded the assassinated George Lincoln Rockwell
as 'Commander' of the National Socialist White People's Party
(which had been known until December 1966 as the American Nazi Party
). Koehl renamed the organization "New Order
" in 1983. He is currently also the leader of the World Union of National Socialists
despite the fact that in the past his advocacy of Hitlerism as a religious movement alienated some members.
Born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin
of Hungarian
immigrants of German
descent, he studied journalism
at the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee and served in the U.S. Marine Corps. He joined James Madole's National Renaissance Party
, the United White Party, and the National States' Rights Party
before the American Nazi Party
in 1960.
Like Miguel Serrano
, he was heavily influenced by the writings of Savitri Devi and is an advocate of esoteric Hitlerism, believing Hitler to have been a god-like being sent to rescue humanity - specifically the European peoples - from extinction. He was a very close friend of Florentine Rost van Tonningen
.
Although maintaining a low public profile, Koehl granted an interview to mainstream writer William H. Schmaltz in Arlington, Virginia in April 1996 during preparation of that author's biography of George Lincoln Rockwell
.
New Order (National Socialist)
New Order, a successor organization to the original American Nazi Party, is now a self-styled National Socialist religious group which promotes Esoteric Nazism as an alternative faith for "Aryans" ....
. As deputy commander, in August 1967 Koehl succeeded the assassinated George Lincoln Rockwell
George Lincoln Rockwell
George Lincoln Rockwell was the founder of the American Nazi Party. Rockwell was a major figure in the neo-Nazi movement in the United States, and his beliefs and writings have continued to be influential among white nationalists and neo-Nazis.-Early life:Rockwell was born in Bloomington,...
as 'Commander' of the National Socialist White People's Party
American Nazi Party
The American Nazi Party was an American political party founded by discharged U.S. Navy Commander George Lincoln Rockwell. Headquartered in Arlington, Virginia, Rockwell initially called it the World Union of Free Enterprise National Socialists , but later renamed it the American Nazi Party in...
(which had been known until December 1966 as the American Nazi Party
American Nazi Party
The American Nazi Party was an American political party founded by discharged U.S. Navy Commander George Lincoln Rockwell. Headquartered in Arlington, Virginia, Rockwell initially called it the World Union of Free Enterprise National Socialists , but later renamed it the American Nazi Party in...
). Koehl renamed the organization "New Order
New Order (National Socialist)
New Order, a successor organization to the original American Nazi Party, is now a self-styled National Socialist religious group which promotes Esoteric Nazism as an alternative faith for "Aryans" ....
" in 1983. He is currently also the leader of the World Union of National Socialists
World Union of National Socialists
The World Union of National Socialists is an organisation founded in 1962 as an umbrella group for neo-Nazi organisations across the globe.-Formation:...
despite the fact that in the past his advocacy of Hitlerism as a religious movement alienated some members.
Born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Milwaukee is the largest city in the U.S. state of Wisconsin, the 28th most populous city in the United States and 39th most populous region in the United States. It is the county seat of Milwaukee County and is located on the southwestern shore of Lake Michigan. According to 2010 census data, the...
of Hungarian
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
immigrants of 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...
descent, he studied journalism
Journalism
Journalism is the practice of investigation and reporting of events, issues and trends to a broad audience in a timely fashion. Though there are many variations of journalism, the ideal is to inform the intended audience. Along with covering organizations and institutions such as government and...
at the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee and served in the U.S. Marine Corps. He joined James Madole's National Renaissance Party
National Renaissance Party
National Renaissance Party was an American neo-fascist group led by James Hartung Madole. It was frequently in the headlines during the 1960s and 1970s for its involvement in violent protests and riots in New York City....
, the United White Party, and the National States' Rights Party
National States' Rights Party
National States' Rights Party was a far right, white supremacist party that briefly played a minor role in the politics of the United States.-Foundation:...
before the American Nazi Party
American Nazi Party
The American Nazi Party was an American political party founded by discharged U.S. Navy Commander George Lincoln Rockwell. Headquartered in Arlington, Virginia, Rockwell initially called it the World Union of Free Enterprise National Socialists , but later renamed it the American Nazi Party in...
in 1960.
Like Miguel Serrano
Miguel Serrano
Miguel Serrano was a Chilean diplomat, explorer and author of poetry, books on spiritual questing and Esoteric Nazism...
, he was heavily influenced by the writings of Savitri Devi and is an advocate of esoteric Hitlerism, believing Hitler to have been a god-like being sent to rescue humanity - specifically the European peoples - from extinction. He was a very close friend of Florentine Rost van Tonningen
Florentine Rost van Tonningen
Florentine Rost van Tonningen was the wife of Meinoud Rost van Tonningen, 2nd leader of the National Socialist Movement in the Netherlands and President of the National Bank during the German occupation...
.
Although maintaining a low public profile, Koehl granted an interview to mainstream writer William H. Schmaltz in Arlington, Virginia in April 1996 during preparation of that author's biography of George Lincoln Rockwell
George Lincoln Rockwell
George Lincoln Rockwell was the founder of the American Nazi Party. Rockwell was a major figure in the neo-Nazi movement in the United States, and his beliefs and writings have continued to be influential among white nationalists and neo-Nazis.-Early life:Rockwell was born in Bloomington,...
.
Works
- The Future Calls (1972)
- Some Guidelines To The Development Of The National Socialist Movement
- The Program of the National Socialist White People's Party (Cicero, IL: NS Publications, 1980)
- Faith of the Future (1995)
Sources
- American Fuehrer : George Lincoln Rockwell and the American Nazi Party by Frederick J. Simonelli ISBN 0-252-02285-8 and ISBN 0-252-06768-1
- Hate : George Lincoln Rockwell and the American Nazi Party by William H. Schmaltz ISBN 1-57488-171-X (review 1)
- Black Sun: Aryan Cults, Esoteric Nazism and the Politics of Identity by Nicholas Goodrick-Clarke, 2001, ISBN 0-8147-3155-4 (review 1, 2)
- Hitler’s Priestess: Savitri Devi, the Hindu-Aryan Myth, and Neo-Nazism by Nicholas Goodrick-Clarke, 1998, ISBN 0-8147-3111-2
External links
- Koehl's New Order webpage
- WHO IS HITLER? transcript of remarks by Matt Koehl
- Populism And Socialism In American Nazism, chapter five of American Nazism In The Context Of The American Extreme Right: 1960 - 1978 by Jim Saleam
- Pierce, Koehl and the National Socialist White People's Party Internal Split of 1970 by H. Michael Barrett
- THE KU KLUX KLAN AND THE AMERICAN NAZI PARTY: CASE STUDIES IN TOTALITARIANISM AND FASCISM by Betty A. Dobratz and Stephanie Shanks-Meile
- Neo-Nazis: Longtime Hitlerian Activists on the Anti-Defamation LeagueAnti-Defamation LeagueThe Anti-Defamation League is an international non-governmental organization based in the United States. Describing itself as "the nation's premier civil rights/human relations agency", the ADL states that it "fights anti-Semitism and all forms of bigotry, defends democratic ideals and protects...
's website.