The neo-Nazi National Democratic Party (NPD) is in a state of disarray, heavily in debt and trying desperately to hold on to its dwindling membership, the Interior Ministry reported today. But, according to West German security services, a new extreme right-wing organization is in the ascendence and appeals to many of the same elements that flocked to the NPD in its heyday a few years ago.
The new group is the “Aktion Neue Rechte” which the security services say is developing into the country’s most militant right-wing extremist organization. It has close contacts with extreme right-wing groups abroad and subjects its members to strict training and discipline.
The “Aktion Neue Rechte” is headed by a former NPD official, Siegfried Poehlmann. Earlier this year It broke with Dr. Gerhald Frey, publisher of the newspaper “Recht Und Ordnung.” and now publishes its own news organ, “Stimme Der Neuen Rechten.” Frey is also publisher of the rightist National Zeitung which in the past espoused neo-Nazi views.
The NPD, which in the late 1960s stirred alarm in West Germany and abroad by capturing seats in virtually all of the provincial parliaments, has been on the decline. It suffered a major electoral defeat in last year’s national elections and incurred massive debts in the process. It is now facing a rapid decline of dues paying members and many of its senior functionaries have withdrawn to pursue their private business. Nevertheless, according to the Interior Ministry, the NPD is making a “do-or-die” effort to survive.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
