Gregor Strasser was one of the most prominent figures in the National Socialist Party of Germany. His ideological influence proved decisive in the early rise of the Nazis. The political activities of the Strasser brothers are still controversial both in German and in world society.
Some rank them as the worst of the Reich, while others consider them heroes and the only force that fought against Hitler.
Gregor Strasser: biography
Gregor was born on the thirty-first of May 1892 in Bavaria. His parents were quite we althy officials. My father was fond of politics and wrote to various newspapers. He instilled in his children his love for history and political science. Gregor graduated with honors. In addition to him, the family had two more children - Otto Strasser and Paul. Gregor maintained friendly relations with Otto even after he entered the university, since his brother shared his passion for political life.
Strasser was interested in various radical movements in his student years. He was critical of the Kaiser's domestic and foreign policy. Read socialist literature. At that time, various interest clubs were popular, in whichThe youth discussed the works of prominent philosophers of modern times. But their activity did not go beyond conversations. Everything changed after the Sarajevo assassination of Archduke Ferdinand. The scandalous incident became the formal reason for the start of the war.
World War I
After mobilization and martial law were announced, Gregor Strasser immediately forgot about his criticism of the Kaiser's policy and socialist views. He signed up to volunteer. After two months of training, he went to the front. His brother Otto Strasser also volunteered for the war. Gregor's talents were revealed in the war. In the trenches and trenches of Europe, his new worldview began to take shape. He believed in the victory of Germany and in the validity of the war. In four years he rose to the rank of captain. Received military awards - Iron Crosses of the first and second class. However, by the end of the war, these orders were contemptuously called "pieces of iron" among the people, since several million people became their owners.
Even after the surrender of Germany, riots began in the country. The imperial system was crumbling. Against the backdrop of a successful revolution in the Russian Empire, the communists decided to start their speech in Munich. The Bavarian Soviet Republic was proclaimed. The troops controlled by Berlin, which included Strasser, set out to suppress the revolutionaries. After the bloody assault, the BSR was abolished.
Back in Bavaria, Gregor Strasser became the owner of a pharmacy. At the same time, he continued to be interested in politics and write in newspapers.
Father influence
According to the memoirs of PaulStrasser, the father had a key influence on Gregor's worldview. Many attribute it to the harbingers of National Socialism. Peter studied political science and sociology. He was an adherent of new trends, criticized capitalism and liberalism. In one of the pamphlets his work "New Being" was published. In it, he described the political theory of the fusion of classical socialism with the national and religious spirit. Undoubtedly, he shared his thoughts with his sons.
The idea was to build socialism, where national identity would play a unifying role. In fact, it was an attempt at a symbiosis of all the popular ideas of that time.
GREGOR's early writings articulate these thoughts, literally word for word.
Meet Hitler
In the twentieth year, the Strasser brothers live in Deggendorf. Otto already has experience in political struggle. In Berlin, he leads the detachments of workers who go out to demonstrate. There he met with the Social Democrats. Gregor also sympathizes with the latter. However, the party leadership's refusal to include a point on nationalization in their program forces Strasser to leave the organization. After that, he meets Adolf Hitler and the Thule Society.
The New National Socialist Party seems to Gregor to be exactly what he has been looking for all his life. He finds ideas close to himself in the program and refines it himself. A noticeable slope to the right does not cause claims from Gregor. He, like thousands of other front-line soldiers, regrets the shameful end of the war for Germany.
Therefore, he goes headlong into the activities of the National Socialist German Workers' Party (in Russian, the abbreviation NSDAP is used). After Otto's arrival in Bavaria, his elder brother introduces him to Hitler and other prominent figures. He persuades him to join the party, but Otto categorically refuses.
Rebellion
As of November 23, the Nazis already have significant influence in Bavaria. Armed groups have been created. Then the leadership of the party decided to start the speech. Gregor Strasser supported Hitler's idea of a mutiny in Munich. On November 9, many members of the local government gathered in a pub where they listened to political speeches by speakers.
Nazi assault squads surrounded the building and then took hostage everyone who was there. After that, hoping for the support of the army and the population, they moved to the central square.
Coup suppression
Instead of cheering locals, they were met by a police cordon. A shootout ensued. After that, government troops attacked the rebels. Many had to go on the run. Hitler and Ludendorff were arrested. After the arrest of Adolf, a new NSDAP leader, Strasser, was chosen. He resumed political activity and provided assistance to imprisoned associates. At this point, he decides to finally leave for a new area and sells his pharmacy. With the proceeds, he opens a printing house and publishes his own newspaper. Otto becomes its editor. And Gregor's secretary is the notorious Goebbels.
Political activities in the party
The NSDAP owes its sudden rise to Strasser.
After leading the party, he revised the program somewhat. Began to use more leftist and socialist rhetoric. This helped win over the working masses to the side of the Nazis. Gregor did not agree with the racist clauses in the party program. He hoped he could tip her to the left. Because of this, constant disputes arose with adherents of these points. Gregor Strasser often accused Hitler of being too bourgeois. He was supported by Goebbels. Even the question of the expulsion of Adolf from the party was raised. Nevertheless, the latter managed to win the support of party members. And Joseph Goebbels, realizing that the majority supports Hitler, also goes over to his side. Because of this, Gregor had a huge personal dislike for him.
Agitation of the masses
By the twenty-sixth year, Gregor Strasser occupies the post of head of the propaganda department. Politician quotes are increasingly appearing on the front pages of Munich newspapers. He made great progress in his new position. Thanks to street and printed agitation, more than seven hundred thousand people joined the National Socialists in a few years. Gregor had a serious influence within the party. Held various posts. The Gauleiter of Lower Bavaria continued to push the "socialist" line. This caused constant disputes with Hitler. Strasser also had his own views on the method of coming to power. The Nazis who got into the Reichstag were offered the position of Vice-Chancellor. However, Adolf rejected him. Strasserhe believed that, having taken such a high post, it was possible to crush the entire cabinet of ministers under him.
It was at this point that the crisis in relations with Hitler intensified. The Fuhrer removed Gregor from his post, but left him in the party.
Escape from Germany
The Nazis are gaining influence. By the age of thirties, they already make up the majority in parliament. At the same time, Hitler still refuses the post of Vice-Chancellor. He explains this position de facto by the lack of serious influence and the possibility of a decline in sympathy on the part of the people. But in the winter of thirty-three, Schleicher offers this post to Gregor Strasser. He accepts it. There was a serious split in the ranks of the NSDAP. A fierce struggle began within the party itself. As a result, Gregor decides to leave his position and go to Italy.
While abroad, he continues to follow the political life at home. At the same time, he practically does not maintain contact with the NSDAP, the only source of information is his brother. Within a few months in Italy, Gregor loses all his political influence. His place was taken by Rudolf Hess. For unknown reasons, Strasser returns to Germany.
Night of the Long Knives
By the summer of the thirty-fourth, the construction of a new state begins. Having gained complete control over the country, the Nazis begin an internecine war. Prominent figures of the NSDAP are fighting for spheres of influence. Strasser was one of the main opposition forces to Hitler, and Ernst Röhm did not lag behind him. The latter was the leader of the assault squads. At that time, thisin fact, was the most powerful military force in Germany.
Ryom tried to subdue the government troops as well.
Hitler and other members of the new government feared a rebellion by stormtroopers. Strasser was seen as a possible ideological head of the coup. However, after his return from Italy, he managed to reconcile with Hitler. He returned him to the party and was even going to provide a ministerial chair.
To deal with his opponents, Hitler prepared a secret operation "Night of the Long Knives". When it began, a wave of arrests swept across Berlin. Ernst Röhm was killed. Goering, who hated Strasser, gave the order to kill him too, which happened on June 30, 1934. After the end of World War II, the political views of Gregora and Otto began to be called "Strasserianism".
