The Trial for the Murder of George Lincoln Rockwell: August 28th, 1967 - John Patler, Eric Ray Wenberg Press & Wire Photos

After George Lincoln Rockwell was assassinated on August 25th, 1967, it took authorities a mere forty-five minutes to apprehend John Patler (originally Patsalos, but the young Greek-American wanted his name to bear a greater resemblance to Hitler) for the killing.

Patler had recently been ejected from the American Nazi Party after a long and strenuous relationship with both Rockwell and other party members. He would later be convicted for the killing on largely circumstantial evidence, given the minimum sentence and serving fewer than twenty years in prison. At the time of this writing, he is alive and a free man, again going by Patsalos. He maintains he did not slay Rockwell. Most accept his guilt, although there are some who agree with Patler. Amongst others sensing conspiracy, a handful of ex-ANP members believe Rockwell's killing was an inside job led by his second-in-command Matt Koehl, to martyr him while seizing control of the party. One may speculate. Besides the killer, Rockwell was the shootings only eyewitness.

Rockwell spent the latter portion of his life riding some of the most extreme political positions of his day, so it's no surprise even the trial for his killing was grounds for explosive antics. When Patler entered the courtroom for the hearing, he was attacked by Eric Ray Wenberg, who lunged at him shouting, "Patler, you filthy swine! You assassin!" Wenberg was grabbed by six policemen and dragged from the courtroom, still shouting, "You filthy assassin! Long live the American Nazi Party! Long live Matt Koehl!" Wenberg was a Nazi from Australia on a tourist visa who was staying at ANP headquarters. Later in the day, he was found guilty of contempt of court, given the maximum sentence, and deported the following month.

Historic info sourced from For Race & Nation: George Lincoln Rockwell and the American Nazi Party by William H. Schmaltz.

John Patler, Press photo front

Patler, Press photo rear with clipping

Eric Ray Wenberg Wire Photo

The Suicide of American Nazi Dan Burros, from "Answer Me!" #3

The sad, strange case of Dan Burros, the Jewish American Nazi, whose life inspired the film The Believer with Ryan Gosling. Member of the American Nazi Party until 1961.

Selection from Answer Me! Magazine Number Three, in the section "100 Spectacular Suicides," written by Jim Goad.

Assorted American Nazi Party Hate Literature - WARNING: OFFENSIVE

WARNING: HIGHLY OFFENSIVE MATERIAL. FOR HISTORICAL PURPOSES ONLY. Various hate literature and cartoons (Hate-Toons) of the American Nazi Party, mostly works done by George Lincoln Rockwell or John Patler (Patsalos). From various flyers, pamphlets, mailers, leaflets, signs, etc. put out by Rockwell or the ANP. The party also produced posters, bumper stickers, training manuals, Rockwell's autobiography... anything they could print, since they had their own in-house printing press at National Headquarters. Rockwell and the now-famous Dan Burros were printers by trade and did much of that work.

Sourced from reprints in This Time the World by George Lincoln Rockwell, For Race and Nation: George Lincoln Rockwell and the American Nazi Party by William H. Schmaltz, and American Fuehrer by Frederick J. Simonelli.

George Lincoln Rockwell, "Police Gazette" Cover Article October 1961 Vol CLXVI No. 9

Below is a George Lincoln Rockwell article titled "The Man Who Wants to be Hitler," printed in the October 1961 issue of Police Gazette. On the cover, the man himself thumbs his nose at the world.

Note the printer's error in the segment "Large Frame Mansion." A few lines are out of order. It should read "Just figure it out. There are only 120,000 people in the whole country, and lots of them never vote."

There is also a factual error (or perhaps it was done intentionally to protect the innocent), calling Rockwell an only child. In reality he was the oldest of three, followed by a brother and sister. By this point, they, along with their father, had disowned him.

Program of the World Union of National Socialists (WUNS) by George Lincoln Rockwell

Program of the World Union of National Socialists, the international Nazi umbrella group co-founded by George Lincoln Rockwell of the American Nazi Party and Colin Jordan of Britain's National Socialist Movement in 1962. The double-sided program, written by Rockwell, addresses the essential political philosophies of the movement.

Front

Back

The Attempted Burial of George Lincoln Rockwell: One Last Controversy

If George Lincoln Rockwell's life was controversial, it should be no surprise the attempt to bury him was equally so. Below are two photos from media covering the event, one press photo and one wire photo, along with accompanying news clippings.

After a near assassination on June 28th, 1967, when a bullet struck Rockwell's car only inches from his head, he typed his will and gave his second-in-command Matt Koehl control over his remains in the event of his death. He specified to be buried with military honors in Arlington National Cemetery, which was his right as a veteran.

After Rockwell's assassination on August 25th of the same year, the Defense Department approved Rockwell's burial in Culpeper but made the demand that no swastikas or other Nazi regalia could be worn by attendees, though Rockwell himself was to be buried in his own "Nazi" uniform.

The American Nazi Party ignored the demands, some showing up to the August 29th funeral in uniform and with a swastika wreath. Matt Koehl carried Rockwell's own copy of Mein Kampf. When informed of the ruling against the Nazi regalia, Koehl insisted they meant to bury Rockwell with party honors. The ANP's refusal to remove the emblems created a five hour stand off, after which an army general gave a fifteen minute warning to comply. Some Nazis began jumping on the roof of the hearse, screaming and attempting to attack the MPs. Multiple arrests ensued.

After the fifteen minutes were up, the Defense Department officially withdrew approval for Rockwell's burial in the cemetery. Koehl was left with no choice but to return with the body to Arlington, VA, where Rockwell had lived and established ANP headquarters. The body was kept in a funeral home overnight, and it was decided the only option was to cremate Rockwell, which took place on August 30th.

The ashes were kept under armed guard at the party barracks. Today they reside in a secret location.

(Source: For Race and Nation: George Lincoln Rockwell & the American Nazi Party by William H. Schmaltz)

Press photo

Press photo rear, with newspaper clipping

Wire photo

Wire photo rear

Filtered 1

Filtered 2

George Lincoln Rockwell Playboy Interview by Alex Haley, April 1966, Vol. 13. No. 4

Interview published in Playboy Magazine. Alex Haley (Roots) interviews George Lincoln Rockwell. 1965. Undoubtedly one of the most controversial interviews the magazine ever printed.