- Adolf von Thadden
Adolf von Thadden (July 7, 1921–July 16, 1996 in
Bad Oeynhausen ) was a leadingfar right German politician. Born into a leadingPomerania n landowning family, he was the brother ofElisabeth von Thadden , a prominent critic of the Nazis.After serving in the
Wehrmacht duringWorld War II and spending a brief spell as a prisoner of war, Von Thadden entered politics as a member of theDeutsche Rechtspartei and its successor theGerman Empire Party . As a member of both he served as a councilman inGöttingen from 1948 to 1958. Elected to theBundestag in 1949, he was the second youngest member and was thus addressed by an SPD as 'Bubi' (a nickname that was stick 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 theNational Party of Europe . Von Thadden played a leading role in formation of theNational Democratic Party of Germany (NPD) by merging his party with a number of other rightist groups, including a revivedGerman National People's Party in 1964. Although initially overlooked as leader in favour ofFriedrich Thielen of theGerman 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.Since Von Thadden's death it has been claimed that he worked for the
United Kingdom 's external security agency, MI6 [http://www.buzzle.com/editorials/8-13-2002-24381.asp] .External links
* [http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,844923,00.html 1969 article about Von Thadden]
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