Free German Workers' Party
Encyclopedia
The Free German Workers' Party was a neo-nazi
political association in Germany
. It was outlawed by the Constitutional Court
in 1995.
The FAP was founded in 1979 but was largely insignificant until the banning of the Action Front of National Socialists/National Activists
in 1983 when Michael Kühnen
encouraged members to infiltrate this tiny group. A minor party (around 500 members in 1987) it experienced something of a growth after German reunification
and sought, unsuccessfully, an alliance with the National Democratic Party
.
Associated with Strasserism, the party managed to gain some support amongst football hooligans but was damaged by Kühnen's homosexuality
, taking a stand against him. The party continued under Friedhelm Busse
from 1989 but it lost a number of members to new groups loyal to Kühnen, including the German Alternative
(1989) and the National Offensive
(1990). The group is no longer active, although some former members are active in the NPD, others in local Kameradschaften.
On February 24, 1995, the Federal Constitutional Court of Germany
outlawed the FAP. The court ruled that it wasn't a political party but an association
that aimed at overthrowing democracy.
Neo-Nazism
Neo-Nazism consists of post-World War II social or political movements seeking to revive Nazism or some variant thereof.The term neo-Nazism can also refer to the ideology of these movements....
political association in Germany
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...
. It was outlawed by the Constitutional Court
Federal Constitutional Court of Germany
The Federal Constitutional Court is a special court established by the Grundgesetz, the German basic law...
in 1995.
The FAP was founded in 1979 but was largely insignificant until the banning of the Action Front of National Socialists/National Activists
Action Front of National Socialists/National Activists
The Action Front of National Socialists/National Activists was a German neo-Nazi organization....
in 1983 when Michael Kühnen
Michael Kühnen
Michael Kühnen was a leader in the German neo-Nazi movement. He was one of the first post-World War II Germans to openly embrace Nazism and call for the formation of a Fourth Reich. He enacted a policy of setting up several differently-named groups in an effort to confuse German authorities, who...
encouraged members to infiltrate this tiny group. A minor party (around 500 members in 1987) it experienced something of a growth after German reunification
German reunification
German reunification was the process in 1990 in which the German Democratic Republic joined the Federal Republic of Germany , and when Berlin reunited into a single city, as provided by its then Grundgesetz constitution Article 23. The start of this process is commonly referred by Germans as die...
and sought, unsuccessfully, an alliance with the National Democratic Party
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"...
.
Associated with Strasserism, the party managed to gain some support amongst football hooligans but was damaged by Kühnen's homosexuality
Homosexuality
Homosexuality is romantic or sexual attraction or behavior between members of the same sex or gender. As a sexual orientation, homosexuality refers to "an enduring pattern of or disposition to experience sexual, affectional, or romantic attractions" primarily or exclusively to people of the same...
, taking a stand against him. The party continued under Friedhelm Busse
Friedhelm Busse
Friedhelm Busse was a German national socialist politician and activist. In a career taking in some six decades Busse established himself as a leading voice of German neo-Nazism.-Early activism:...
from 1989 but it lost a number of members to new groups loyal to Kühnen, including the German Alternative
German Alternative
The German Alternative was a minor neo-Nazi group set up in Germany by Michael Kühnen in 1989.Its declared goal was the restoration of the German Reich and rejected the cession of German areas in Eastern Europe following World War II as well as all immigration to Germany claiming that there were...
(1989) and the National Offensive
National Offensive
The National Offensive was a German neo-Nazi party, which existed from July 3, 1990 to December 22, 1992.It was founded by Michael Swierczek, the former chairman of the Free German Workers' Party in Bavaria, who became the chairman of the NO, and Carlo Bauer, the president of the NO, during the...
(1990). The group is no longer active, although some former members are active in the NPD, others in local Kameradschaften.
On February 24, 1995, the Federal Constitutional Court of Germany
Federal Constitutional Court of Germany
The Federal Constitutional Court is a special court established by the Grundgesetz, the German basic law...
outlawed the FAP. The court ruled that it wasn't a political party but an association
Voluntary association
A voluntary association or union is a group of individuals who enter into an agreement as volunteers to form a body to accomplish a purpose.Strictly speaking, in many jurisdictions no formalities are necessary to start an association...
that aimed at overthrowing democracy.