Strasser, Gregor (grā`gōr shträs`ər), 1892–1934, German political leader. A pharmacist, he joined the National Socialist (Nazi) party in its infancy and participated in Adolf Hitler's abortive coup in 1923. After Hitler's imprisonment, he briefly led the party. As the leader of the wing of the party that emphasized a socially radical program, Strasser soon came into conflict with Hitler. In 1932 he was placed in charge of party organization, but Hitler, fearful of an alliance between Strasser and the German Chancellor Kurt von Schleicher, soon outmaneuvered Strasser and forced him to resign his party membership. In 1934, Strasser was murdered during Hitler's purge of political rivals.

Strasser, Gregor

(born May 31, 1892, Geisenfeld, Ger.—died June 30, 1934, Berlin) German political activist. He joined the Nazi Party along with his brother Otto in the early 1920s. Gregor became the party's leader in the north and built a mass movement with the help of Otto and the young Joseph Goebbels by appealing to the lower middle classes and to workers receptive to their socialist—but also nationalist and racist—views. After Otto became disillusioned with the party and resigned in 1930, Gregor was made head of the Nazi political organization, second only to Adolf Hitler in power. Still, he came to share his brother's disillusionment and resigned in 1932. Gregor was murdered on Hitler's orders in 1934.