German Alternative
Encyclopedia
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 already too many foreigners in the country.
The group was a successor to the short-lived Nationale Sammlung, itself set up following Kühnen's removal from the Free German Workers' Party
due to his homosexuality. It was constituted as a legal political arm of the Gesinnungsgemeinschaft der Neuen Front
, Kühnen's more militant neo-Nazi organisation. After its founding, it received members not only from the GdNF, but also from Republicans and the National Democratic Party of Germany
(NPD), including the defection of the complete leadership of the NPD in Berlin
and Brandenburg
in 1991.
The group organised under the name Nationale Alternative (National Alternative) in the former East Germany, with Ingo Hasselbach
as leader. This guise of the DA organised militia training camps in East Berlin
and established close links with other groups as well as international figures such as Gary Lauck. However after around a year of intense activity this arm of the DA fell apart.
After Kühnen's AIDS
-related death in 1991, Frank Hübner
became the organization's new chairman, while Rene Koswig assumed the role as deputy, both hail from East Germany. This led about eighty members, primarily from the western part of the country to leave the DA and start the Deutsches Hessen, Nationaler Block, Volkstreue Liste, and Deutscher Weg.
The group was banned in 1992 along with the Nationalist Front
and National Offensive
following an arson attack on an asylum seekers refuge in Mölln
, Schleswig-Holstein
. At the time, it had 340 members and affiliate organisations in Rhineland-Palatinate
, Brandenburg
, Saxony
, Berlin
and Bremen
. In Cottbus
, it even had more members than the Social Democratic Party of Germany
. The decree banning it lists three attacks on hostel containing refugees, DA members were arrested for participating in.
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...
by 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...
in 1989.
Its declared goal was the restoration of the German Reich and rejected the cession of German areas
Territorial changes of Germany
The territorial changes of Germany refer to the changes in the borders and territory of Germany from its formation in 1871 to the present. Modern Germany was formed in 1871 when Otto von Bismarck unified most of the German-speaking states into the German Empire...
in Eastern Europe following World War II as well as all immigration to Germany claiming that there were already too many foreigners in the country.
The group was a successor to the short-lived Nationale Sammlung, itself set up following Kühnen's removal from the Free German Workers' Party
Free German Workers' Party
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...
due to his homosexuality. It was constituted as a legal political arm of the Gesinnungsgemeinschaft der Neuen Front
Gesinnungsgemeinschaft der Neuen Front
Gesinnungsgemeinschaft der Neuen Front is a German organisation that was the main group for neo-Nazi activity during the 1990s. It translates into English as the Community of Like-Minded People of the New Front or the Covenant of the New Front....
, Kühnen's more militant neo-Nazi organisation. After its founding, it received members not only from the GdNF, but also from Republicans and the National Democratic Party of Germany
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"...
(NPD), including the defection of the complete leadership of the NPD in Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
and Brandenburg
Brandenburg
Brandenburg is one of the sixteen federal-states of Germany. It lies in the east of the country and is one of the new federal states that were re-created in 1990 upon the reunification of the former West Germany and East Germany. The capital is Potsdam...
in 1991.
The group organised under the name Nationale Alternative (National Alternative) in the former East Germany, with Ingo Hasselbach
Ingo Hasselbach
Ingo Hasselbach is a German well known for being a former neo-Nazi. He is the author of the book Führer Ex: Memoirs of a Former Neo-Nazi , which has been translated into several languages...
as leader. This guise of the DA organised militia training camps in East Berlin
East Berlin
East Berlin was the name given to the eastern part of Berlin between 1949 and 1990. It consisted of the Soviet sector of Berlin that was established in 1945. The American, British and French sectors became West Berlin, a part strongly associated with West Germany but a free city...
and established close links with other groups as well as international figures such as Gary Lauck. However after around a year of intense activity this arm of the DA fell apart.
After Kühnen's AIDS
AIDS
Acquired immune deficiency syndrome or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome is a disease of the human immune system caused by the human immunodeficiency virus...
-related death in 1991, Frank Hübner
Frank Hübner
Frank Hübner is a German sailor and Olympic champion. He won a gold medal in the 470 Class with Harro Bode at the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal.-References:...
became the organization's new chairman, while Rene Koswig assumed the role as deputy, both hail from East Germany. This led about eighty members, primarily from the western part of the country to leave the DA and start the Deutsches Hessen, Nationaler Block, Volkstreue Liste, and Deutscher Weg.
The group was banned in 1992 along with the Nationalist Front
Nationalist Front
Nationalistische Front was a minor German neo-Nazi group active during the 1980s.Founded in 1985 by Meinolf Schönborn the group, which had no more than 150 members, was characterized by its support for Strasserism rather than more usual forms of Nazism...
and 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...
following an arson attack on an asylum seekers refuge in Mölln
Molln
Molln is a municipality in the district of Kirchdorf an der Krems in Upper Austria, Austria.-References:...
, Schleswig-Holstein
Schleswig-Holstein
Schleswig-Holstein is the northernmost of the sixteen states of Germany, comprising most of the historical duchy of Holstein and the southern part of the former Duchy of Schleswig...
. At the time, it had 340 members and affiliate organisations in Rhineland-Palatinate
Rhineland-Palatinate
Rhineland-Palatinate is one of the 16 states of the Federal Republic of Germany. It has an area of and about four million inhabitants. The capital is Mainz. English speakers also commonly refer to the state by its German name, Rheinland-Pfalz ....
, Brandenburg
Brandenburg
Brandenburg is one of the sixteen federal-states of Germany. It lies in the east of the country and is one of the new federal states that were re-created in 1990 upon the reunification of the former West Germany and East Germany. The capital is Potsdam...
, Saxony
Saxony
The Free State of Saxony is a landlocked state of Germany, contingent with Brandenburg, Saxony Anhalt, Thuringia, Bavaria, the Czech Republic and Poland. It is the tenth-largest German state in area, with of Germany's sixteen states....
, Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
and Bremen
Bremen
The City Municipality of Bremen is a Hanseatic city in northwestern Germany. A commercial and industrial city with a major port on the river Weser, Bremen is part of the Bremen-Oldenburg metropolitan area . Bremen is the second most populous city in North Germany and tenth in Germany.Bremen is...
. In Cottbus
Cottbus
Cottbus is a city in Brandenburg, Germany, situated around southeast of Berlin, on the River Spree. As of , its population was .- History :...
, it even had more members than the Social Democratic Party of Germany
Social Democratic Party of Germany
The Social Democratic Party of Germany is a social-democratic political party in Germany...
. The decree banning it lists three attacks on hostel containing refugees, DA members were arrested for participating in.