Adolf von Thadden facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Adolf von Thadden
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| President of the National Democratic Party | |
| In office 1967–1971 |
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| Preceded by | Friedrich Thielen |
| Succeeded by | Martin Mussgnug |
| Member of the Bundestag | |
| In office 15 August 1949 – 6 September 1953 |
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| Constituency | Lower Saxony |
| In office 16 September 1957 – 1959 |
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| Constituency | Lower Saxony |
| Member of the Bundesrat | |
| In office 7 September 1953 – 15 September 1957 |
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| Constituency | Lower Saxony |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 7 July 1921 Gut Trieglaf, Pomerania, Germany |
| Died | 16 July 1996 (aged 75) Bad Oeynhausen, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany |
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| Relatives | Elisabeth von Thadden (half-sister) |
| Occupation | Politician, landowner |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  Nazi Germany |
| Branch/service |  Wehrmacht |
| Years of service | 1939–1945 |
| Rank | Lieutenant |
| Battles/wars | World War II |
Adolf von Thadden (born 7 July 1921 – died 16 July 1996) was a German politician. He was known for his involvement in far-right groups. He came from an important landowning family in Pomerania. His half-sister, Elisabeth von Thadden, was a strong critic of the Nazis. She was sadly executed by the Nazi government in 1944.
Early Life and War Service
Adolf von Thadden was born on 7 July 1921. His family lived on a noble estate called Gut Trieglaff. This was near Greifenberg in Pomerania, Germany. His family was one of the oldest landowning families in the region. His father was an important local judge.
Thadden went to a special high school called a gymnasium. He later studied farming and economics. In 1939, he joined the Nazi Party.
During the Second World War, Thadden served as a lieutenant. He was part of the German army, called the Wehrmacht. He was hurt several times in battles. Near the end of the war, Polish forces captured him. Later, he went to court to stop rumors. These rumors said he had worked with the Poles while he was a prisoner. He won his case.
In November 1946, Thadden escaped from captivity. He went to the British part of Germany. He found work in Göttingen and settled there.
Starting a Political Career
After the war, Thadden became involved in politics. He joined the Deutsche Rechtspartei (German Right Party). Later, he joined its new version, the Deutsche Reichspartei (German Empire Party). He served as a councilman in Göttingen from 1948 to 1958.
In 1949, he was elected to the Bundestag. This is the German parliament. He was one of the youngest members there. Someone from another party called him "Bubi," which means "boy." This nickname stayed with him. He was a main writer for the party's newspaper, Reichsruf. He became known for his strong and often funny writing style.
He was a Bundestag member until 1953. He served again from 1955 to 1959. He was also a Senator from 1952 to 1958. From 1956 to 1959, he was a member of the Landtag of Lower Saxony. This is the parliament for the state of Lower Saxony.
In 1961, Thadden became the leader of the Deutsche Reichspartei. He helped create the National Party of Europe (NPE). This group aimed to bring together right-wing parties in Europe. Thadden was close to Oswald Mosley, a British politician. Mosley wanted a "Europe a Nation." Thadden said he was a conservative nationalist. He denied being a neo-Nazi. However, many people called him a neo-Nazi. This was because he often disagreed that Germany was fully to blame for World War II.
Leading the NPD
In 1964, Thadden helped form the National Democratic Party of Germany (NPD). This party was made by joining his party with other right-wing groups. At first, Friedrich Thielen was chosen as the leader. Thadden and Thielen often disagreed. They even took each other to court. Both wanted to control the NPD.
Thadden became the NPD chairman in 1967. He made the party's policies more right-wing. He wanted Germany to leave NATO. He also wanted the city of Danzig to return to a united Germany. He suggested big changes to the German constitution. In a TV interview, Thadden accidentally called his party "National Socialists." This was instead of "National Democrats." Critics often used this mistake to say he and his party were neo-Nazis.
He remained the leader until 1971. Under his leadership, the NPD did well in local elections. However, the party never won enough votes to get into the Bundestag. Thadden supported the next leader, Martin Mussgnug. But Thadden left the NPD in 1975. This happened after Gerhard Frey became a top official in the party. Frey had been a strong critic of Thadden before.
Thadden stopped being an active politician in 1974. He then worked for a construction company. He also remained the chief editor of the Deutsche Wochenzeitung newspaper into the 1980s. He kept an interest in publishing for several years.
Death
Adolf von Thadden died on 16 July 1996. He was 75 years old. He passed away in Bad Oeynhausen, Germany. After his death, some people claimed he was a secret agent. They said he worked for the United Kingdom's spy agency, MI6.
