Samoan branch of the Nazi Party

A branch of the National Socialist German Workers' Party operated in the New Zealand-managed League of Nations mandate Territory of Western Samoa from 1934 until 1939. It was founded by settler Alfred Matthes following the visit of the German warship Karlsruhe to the islands, which led a surge in German nationalism. The party support was strongest among the mixed race settlers of German origin in the territory. It came into conflict with the Concordia Club, favoured by white settlers, and which supported closer relations with Britain, Switzerland and the Nordic states.

The party branch was criticised by the German consul to New Zealand, Walter Hellenthal, overs its poor organisation and the racial make-up of its members. Hellenthal recommended that the Nazi party in Germany take steps to improve the organisation and a representative was sent to the territory. Matthes responded to the snub by increasing his political activity, establishing a sister organisation among residents of Samoan origin and preparing to seize control of the territory's administration in case of war. The New Zealand police were monitoring Matthes and considered him a harmless fool. When Matthes prediction of German annexation of the islands came to nothing support dwindled. After Matthes' actions embarrassed the new consul, Ernest Ramm, during a December 1938 visit to the territory Ramm recommended the branch be closed down. It was disbanded in April 1939, shortly before the outbreak of the Second World War.