11 Facts About Josef Klant

Josef Klant was an early member of the Nazi Party and served as the first Gauleiter of Hamburg.

The Hamburg association was last reorganized under the name the Blucher Group, and in February 1924 Klant was sentenced to 4 months in prison and a 500 Reichsmark fine for his continued illegal activities on its behalf.

Josef Klant would remain a member of this body until his death.

In March 1925 Josef Klant re-joined the Nazi Party after the ban on it was lifted, and he founded the Nazi Local Group in Hamburg, Germany's second largest city.

Josef Klant maintained his headquarters in the backrooms of his cigar shop.

Josef Klant's Gau was a member of the National Socialist Working Association, a short-lived group of north and northwest German Gaue, organized and led by Gregor Strasser, which unsuccessfully sought to amend the Party program.

Josef Klant was considered to be in the moderate wing of the Party and opposed the use of force as a tactic against political opponents.

Josef Klant did not succeed in asserting himself against the Sturmabteilung in Hamburg.

In October 1926 Josef Klant offered to resign, hoping that this would be refused thereby strengthening his position in the leadership.

Josef Klant protested his removal by appealing to his fellow Gauleiters, but relinquished his challenge when it became clear that Strasser had the full support of Hitler.

Josef Klant took no additional active part in party affairs, and died on 7 September 1927 after suffering a stroke.