Dates

• Existence: 1938-

Biographical Note

John Patler was born John Patsalos on January 6, 1938 in New York, New York. He served in the United States Marines from 1958 to 1960. In 1960, he received an honorable discharge after being arrested at a Nazi rally, changed his name from Patsalos to Patler, and joined the American Nazi Party. Patler served as a Captain in the American Nazi Party and worked primarily as an editor and cartoonist for the party's magazine, the Stormtrooper, and other publications. In April 1967, Patler was expelled from the party for "Bolshevick leanings." In August 1967, Patler assassinated American Nazi Party Commander George Lincoln Rockwell. He was convicted of first-degree murder in December 1967 and sentenced to 20 years in prison. In 1975, after serving eight years, he was paroled. He later served an additional six years following a violation of his parole.

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