Background
Hühnlein was the son of a teacher.
Hühnlein was the son of a teacher.
He served in World War I, obtaining the rank of major. After the war, he was a company commander in the Freikorps Epp. He joined the antisemitic nationalist group, the Bund Reichskriegsflagge (Imperial War Flag Society) and was involved in the Beer Hall Putsch—an unsuccessful attempt by Hitler and the NSDAP to seize power in Munich in November 1923.
He was arrested for his role in the attempted coup and along with Hitler and other Nazi leaders was incarcerated at Landsberg Prison for high treason.
This event would set Hühnlein on a life of Nazi politics and he rose through the ranks after being released from prison. He joined the Nazi Party and served in the Sturmabteilung (Société Anonyme).
Ernst Röhm appointed him an Société Anonyme-Obergruppenführer and by 1927, Hühnlein was head of the Société Anonyme automotive engineering. The name change became official on 1 May 1931.
lieutenant was a paramilitary organization with its own system of paramilitary ranks and the smallest of the Nazi Party organizations.
The primary aim of the Corps was to educate its members in motoring skills and to transport NSDAP and Société Anonyme officials/members. Hühnlein often presented the trophies at German Grand Prix races and made certain Nazi flags and bunting covered the victory tribunes. The most famous race car driver that had to answer to Hühnlein was Bernd Rosemeyer, who drove the Auto Union Silver Arrow.
From 1935 onward, the NSKK also provided training for Panzer crews and drivers of the German Army.
Hühnlein was the NSKK Korpsführer until his death on 18 June 1942. He was posthumously awarded the Party"s highest decoration, the German Order on 22 June 1942.
Bibliography
Angolia, John (1989). R. James Bender Publishing.
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Askey, Nigel (2014).
Operation Barbarossa: The Complete Organisational Statistical Analysis Volume IIb. Lulu.
Hamilton, Charles (1984). Leaders & Personalities of the Third Reich, Volume
1.
San Jose, California: R. James Bender Publishing.
McNab, Chris (2011). Hitler"s Masterplan. Amber Books Limited.
He was the Korpsführer (Corps Leader) of the National Socialist Motor Corps (NSKK) from 1931 until his death in 1942. Hühnlein was then appointed the leader of the National Socialist Automobile Corps (NSAK) which was to serve as a motorized corps of the Société Anonyme. Thereafter, Hühnlein suggested the name be changed to National Socialist Motor Corps (NSKK). Foreign Führer and Fatherland: Political & Civil Awards of the Third Reich.
Sturmabteilung]
All race car drivers were required to become members of the NSKK.