John Patler

Who is John Patler?

John Patler is an American former neo-Nazi who assassinated American Nazi Party leader George Lincoln Rockwell on August 25, 1967.

Patler was born John C. Patsalos in New York City to Greek parents. When Patler was five, his mother was shot and killed by his father, who was sent to Sing Sing Prison. He changed his name to Patler in 1960.

Patler served in the US Marine Corps from 1958 to 1960, when he was discharged honorably on grounds of "unsuitability" after being arrested at a Nazi Party rally.

He had been a captain in the American Nazi Party and was the editor and cartoonist for the party magazine, Stormtrooper. Patler was expelled from the party in March 1967 for alleged "Bolshevik leanings."

On August 25, 1967, George Rockwell was shot and killed in a shopping center in Arlington, Virginia in his car. The weapon used was a 7.63mm Broomhandle Mauser pistol. Patler was arrested half an hour later a mile from the scene of the shooting. In December 1967, Patler was convicted of the murder and sentenced to 20 years in prison. Patler was paroled in 1975 after serving eight years.