National Offensive
Encyclopedia
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
(FAP) in Bavaria
, who became the chairman of the NO, and Carlo Bauer, the president of the NO, during the collapse of the FAP for disappointed - mostly Bavarian - members of that party.
The focus of the platform of the NO was its fight against immigrants. It considered the blending of cultures to be genocide
, and therefore called for the deportation of foreigners, tightening of German asylum laws, and making it more difficult to attain German nationality.
The NO was unable to receive enough signatures to participate in the Bavarian Landtag
elections on October 14, 1990. In February 1991, Swierczek and Christian Malcoci, another NO member, were charged with the continuation of the Action Front of National Socialists/National Activists
(ANS/NA), which had been banned in 1983. By 1991, it reached a membership of around 100, as it was able to recruit members from outside of Bavaria. As the party was able to gain more members in Eastern Germany, the membership increased to around 140 by 1992. From Eastern Germany, the party tried to establish contacts to the German-speaking population in Silesia
, Poland
, in order to establish a state organization there.
While the former SS-member Josef Schwammberger
was on trial for war crimes from 1991 to 1992, the NO publicly supported him. In 1992, the NO organized a series of lectures with the British
Holocaust denier David Irving
, who had been introduced to the NO by Christian Worch
. The party took part in the 1992 Landtag
elections in Baden-Württemberg
, but only received a total of 183 votes, since it was only on the ballot in Konstanz
and Singen
.
On December 22, 1992, the NO was banned by the Ministry of the Interior, just one day after the ban of the Deutscher Kameradschaftsbund (DKB), and within a month of the bans of the German Alternative
(DA) and the Nationalist Front
(NF). The then Minister of the Interior
, Rudolf Seiters
, stated that the ban had been passed as the NO was an "aggressive neo-Nazi organization" that had agitated against foreigners, Jews and Israel
. The residences of about 30 party members were searched and information materials, party documents, and floppy disk
s were seized by police. At the time the NO had regional organizations in Bavaria, Berlin
-Brandenburg
, and Saxony
.
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...
neo-Nazi party, which existed from July 3, 1990 to December 22, 1992.
It was founded by Michael Swierczek
Michael Swierczek
Michael Swierczek is a German Neo-Nazi who lives in Munich.Swierczek began his political career as a member of the Young National Democratic Party of Germany . He was one of the leaders of the Freien Nationalisten before taking over the leadership of the Munich Kameradschaft of the Action Front of...
, the former chairman of 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...
(FAP) in Bavaria
Bavaria
Bavaria, formally the Free State of Bavaria is a state of Germany, located in the southeast of Germany. With an area of , it is the largest state by area, forming almost 20% of the total land area of Germany...
, who became the chairman of the NO, and Carlo Bauer, the president of the NO, during the collapse of the FAP for disappointed - mostly Bavarian - members of that party.
The focus of the platform of the NO was its fight against immigrants. It considered the blending of cultures to be genocide
Genocide
Genocide is defined as "the deliberate and systematic destruction, in whole or in part, of an ethnic, racial, religious, or national group", though what constitutes enough of a "part" to qualify as genocide has been subject to much debate by legal scholars...
, and therefore called for the deportation of foreigners, tightening of German asylum laws, and making it more difficult to attain German nationality.
The NO was unable to receive enough signatures to participate in the Bavarian Landtag
Landtag of Bavaria
The Landtag of Bavaria is the unicameral legislature of the state of Bavaria in Germany. Between 1946 and 1999 there was an upper house, the Senate of Bavaria. The parliament meets in the Maximilianeum....
elections on October 14, 1990. In February 1991, Swierczek and Christian Malcoci, another NO member, were charged with the continuation 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....
(ANS/NA), which had been banned in 1983. By 1991, it reached a membership of around 100, as it was able to recruit members from outside of Bavaria. As the party was able to gain more members in Eastern Germany, the membership increased to around 140 by 1992. From Eastern Germany, the party tried to establish contacts to the German-speaking population in Silesia
Silesia
Silesia is a historical region of Central Europe located mostly in Poland, with smaller parts also in the Czech Republic, and Germany.Silesia is rich in mineral and natural resources, and includes several important industrial areas. Silesia's largest city and historical capital is Wrocław...
, Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
, in order to establish a state organization there.
While the former SS-member Josef Schwammberger
Josef Schwammberger
Josef Franz Leo Schwammberger was a member of the SS during the Nazi era.During the Second World War, Schwammberger was a commander of various SS Arbeitslager in the...
was on trial for war crimes from 1991 to 1992, the NO publicly supported him. In 1992, the NO organized a series of lectures with the British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
Holocaust denier David Irving
David Irving
David John Cawdell Irving is an English writer,best known for his denial of the Holocaust, who specialises in the military and political history of World War II, with a focus on Nazi Germany...
, who had been introduced to the NO by Christian Worch
Christian Worch
Christian Worch is one of the most important figures of the German neo-Nazi scene.In 1974 Worch started a militant group called the Hansabande in Hamburg, along with Michael Kühnen. The group defaced Jewish cemeteries, assaulted leftists and foreigners, and denied the Holocaust...
. The party took part in the 1992 Landtag
Landtag
A Landtag is a representative assembly or parliament in German-speaking countries with some legislative authority.- Name :...
elections in Baden-Württemberg
Baden-Württemberg
Baden-Württemberg is one of the 16 states of Germany. Baden-Württemberg is in the southwestern part of the country to the east of the Upper Rhine, and is the third largest in both area and population of Germany's sixteen states, with an area of and 10.7 million inhabitants...
, but only received a total of 183 votes, since it was only on the ballot in Konstanz
Konstanz
Konstanz is a university city with approximately 80,000 inhabitants located at the western end of Lake Constance in the south-west corner of Germany, bordering Switzerland. The city houses the University of Konstanz.-Location:...
and Singen
Singen
Singen is an industrial city in the very south of Baden-Württemberg in southern Germany and just north of the German-Swiss border.-Location:...
.
On December 22, 1992, the NO was banned by the Ministry of the Interior, just one day after the ban of the Deutscher Kameradschaftsbund (DKB), and within a month of the bans of 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...
(DA) and 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...
(NF). The then Minister of the Interior
Federal Ministry of the Interior (Germany)
The Federal Ministry of the Interior is a ministry of the German federal government. Its main office is in Berlin, with a secondary seat in Bonn. The current minister of the interior is Dr...
, Rudolf Seiters
Rudolf Seiters
Rudolf Seiters is a German politician of the CDU party.From 1989-1991, he was Federal Minister for Special Affairs and the Head of the Office of the German Chancellery. From 1991-1993, he was the Minister of the Interior. From 1998-2002, he was the Vice President of the German Bundestag, or...
, stated that the ban had been passed as the NO was an "aggressive neo-Nazi organization" that had agitated against foreigners, Jews and Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
. The residences of about 30 party members were searched and information materials, party documents, and floppy disk
Floppy disk
A floppy disk is a disk storage medium composed of a disk of thin and flexible magnetic storage medium, sealed in a rectangular plastic carrier lined with fabric that removes dust particles...
s were seized by police. At the time the NO had regional organizations in Bavaria, 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...
-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...
, and 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....
.