Anton Drexler
Anton Drexler | |
|---|---|
 Drexler in 1920 | |
| Chairman of the Nazi Party | |
| In office 24 February 1920 – 29 July 1921[1] | |
| Preceded by | Position established |
| Succeeded by | Adolf Hitler (as dictatorial Führer of the party) |
| Chairman of the German Workers' Party | |
| In office 5 January 1919 – 24 February 1920 | |
| Deputy | Karl Harrer |
| Preceded by | Position established |
| Succeeded by | Position abolished |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 13 June 1884 Locksmith Tool and die maker |
| Awards | Blood Order Golden Party Badge |
Anton Drexler (13 June 1884 – 24 February 1942) was a German
Early life
Born in
Politics
During World War I, Drexler joined the
In March 1918, Drexler founded a branch of the Free Workers' Committee for a Good Peace (Der Freie Arbeiterausschuss für einen guten Frieden) league.[2] Karl Harrer, a journalist and member of the Thule Society, convinced Drexler and several others to form the Political Workers' Circle (Politischer Arbeiter-Zirkel) in 1918.[2] The members met periodically for discussions about nationalism and antisemitism.[2]
German Workers' Party
Together with Harrer, Drexler founded the German Workers' Party (DAP) in Munich on 5 January 1919.
Once accepted, Hitler began to make the party more public by drawing people in with his speaking abilities, leading up to his organizing the party's biggest meeting yet, which attracted 2,000 people to the
Following an intraparty dispute, Hitler angrily tendered his resignation on 11 July 1921. Drexler and the members of the party's governing committee realised that the resignation of their leading public figure and speaker would mean the end of the party. So Dietrich Eckart was asked by the Party leadership to speak with Hitler and relay the conditions in which he would agree to return.[12] Hitler announced he would rejoin the party on the condition that he would replace Drexler as party chairman, with dictatorial powers and the title of "Führer", and that the party headquarters would remain in Munich. The committee agreed and he rejoined the party as member 3,680.[13] Drexler was thereafter moved to the purely symbolic position of honorary president and left the party in 1923.[14]
Drexler was also a member of a
Death
Drexler died in Munich in February 1942 after a lengthy illness due to alcoholism.[15]
References
- ^ Evans 2003, p. 180.
- ^ a b c d e Kershaw 2008, p. 82.
- ^ "Anton Drexler". History Learning Site.
- ^ Wistrich 2002, p. 46.
- ^ Dimuro 2018.
- ^ Hamilton 1984, p. 219.
- ^ a b c d Kershaw 2008, p. 75.
- ^ Evans 2003, p. 170.
- ^ Shirer 1960, p. 40.
- ^ Shirer 1960, p. 41.
- ^ Kershaw 2008, p. 87.
- ^ Kershaw 2008, pp. 100–103.
- ^ Kershaw 2008, pp. 103–104.
- ^ Shirer 1960, p. 45.
- ^ a b Hamilton 1984, p. 220.
- ^ Zentner & Bedürftig 1991, p. 209.
Bibliography
- Dimuro, Gina (20 February 2018). "Why Anton Drexler Was More Responsible for the Nazi Party Than Adolf Hitler". All That's Interesting.
- ISBN 978-0-14-303469-8.
- Hamilton, Charles (1984). Leaders & Personalities of the Third Reich. Vol. I. R. James Bender Publishing. ISBN 0-912138-27-0.
- ISBN 978-0-395-92503-4.
- ISBN 978-0-393-06757-6.
- ISBN 978-0-671-62420-0.
- ISBN 978-0-4152-6038-1 – via Google Books.
- Zentner, Christian; Bedürftig, Friedemann (1991). ISBN 0-02-897500-6.
Further reading
- ISBN 978-0-275-95485-7.
External links
- Mein politisches Erwachen; aus dem Tagebuch eines deutschen sozialistischen Arbeiters München, Deutscher Volksverlag 4th ed.
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