Anton Drexler
Anton Drexler (
June 13,
1884 -
February 24,
1942) was a
Munich locksmith and member of the
völkisch agitators who founded the
German Workers' Party (DAP) in
1919. At the behest of
Adolf Hitler, Drexler changed the name to the National Socialist German Workers Party (
NSDAP) early in 1920. Hitler finally wrested control of the party from Drexler in the autumn of 1921.
Drexler was also a member of a völkisch political club for affluent members of Munich society known as the Thule Society. He left the NSDAP in 1923 and was largely forgotten by the time of his death.
See also: Nazi Germany