Karl Harrer
Encyclopedia
Karl Harrer was a German journalist
and politician, one of the founding members of the "Deutsche Arbeiterpartei" ("German Workers' Party", DAP) in 1919, the party that soon would become the Nationalsozialistische Deutsche Arbeiterpartei (NSDAP).
Harrer was also a member of the Thule Society
, which gave him the task of founding a "Politischer Arbeiterzirkel" ("political workers' union"), an order he carried out together with Anton Drexler
in October 1918. On January 5, 1919, the DAP was formed, in which not only Harrer and Drexler but also Gottfried Feder
and Dietrich Eckart
were involved.
Harrer became the party's first chairman (adopting the title of "Reich
svorsitzender"); however, his plans to continue the DAP as a secret society similar to the Thule Society collided with Adolf Hitler
's, who had also joined the party. Towards the end of 1919, their rivalry became more and more apparent; Harrer accused Hitler of megalomania
, and ultimately resigned from all party offices and left the party after pressure from Hitler on January 5, 1920. The chairmanship passed first to vice chairman Drexler, and to Hitler himself in 1921.
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
and politician, one of the founding members of the "Deutsche Arbeiterpartei" ("German Workers' Party", DAP) in 1919, the party that soon would become the Nationalsozialistische Deutsche Arbeiterpartei (NSDAP).
Harrer was also a member of the Thule Society
Thule Society
The Thule Society , originally the Studiengruppe für germanisches Altertum , was a German occultist and völkisch group in Munich, named after a mythical northern country from Greek legend...
, which gave him the task of founding a "Politischer Arbeiterzirkel" ("political workers' union"), an order he carried out together with Anton Drexler
Anton Drexler
Anton Drexler was a German right-wing political leader of the 1920s, known for being Adolf Hitler's mentor during his early days in politics.-Biography:...
in October 1918. On January 5, 1919, the DAP was formed, in which not only Harrer and Drexler but also Gottfried Feder
Gottfried Feder
Gottfried Feder was an economist and one of the early key members of the Nazi party. He was their economic theoretician. Initially, it was his lecture in 1919 that drew Hitler into the party.- Biography :...
and Dietrich Eckart
Dietrich Eckart
Dietrich Eckart was a German journalist and politician, together with Adolf Hitler one of the early key members of the Nazi Party and a participant of the 1923 Beer Hall Putsch.-Biography:...
were involved.
Harrer became the party's first chairman (adopting the title of "Reich
Reich
Reich is a German word cognate with the English rich, but also used to designate an empire, realm, or nation. The qualitative connotation from the German is " sovereign state." It is the word traditionally used for a variety of sovereign entities, including Germany in many periods of its history...
svorsitzender"); however, his plans to continue the DAP as a secret society similar to the Thule Society collided with Adolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler was an Austrian-born German politician and the leader of the National Socialist German Workers Party , commonly referred to as the Nazi Party). He was Chancellor of Germany from 1933 to 1945, and head of state from 1934 to 1945...
's, who had also joined the party. Towards the end of 1919, their rivalry became more and more apparent; Harrer accused Hitler of megalomania
Megalomania
Megalomania is a psycho-pathological condition characterized by delusional fantasies of power, relevance, or omnipotence. 'Megalomania is characterized by an inflated sense of self-esteem and overestimation by persons of their powers and beliefs'...
, and ultimately resigned from all party offices and left the party after pressure from Hitler on January 5, 1920. The chairmanship passed first to vice chairman Drexler, and to Hitler himself in 1921.
See also
- NazismNazismNazism, the common short form name of National Socialism was the ideology and practice of the Nazi Party and of Nazi Germany...
- Weimar RepublicWeimar RepublicThe Weimar Republic is the name given by historians to the parliamentary republic established in 1919 in Germany to replace the imperial form of government...