![Bundesarchiv Bild 119-5590, Christian Weber](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/70/Bundesarchiv_Bild_119-5590%2C_Christian_Weber.jpg)
''Alter Kämpfer'' (
German
German(s) may refer to:
* Germany (of or related to)
** Germania (historical use)
* Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language
** For citizens of Germany, see also German nationality law
**Ge ...
for "Old Fighter"; plural: ''Alte Kämpfer'') is a term referring to the earliest members of the
Nazi Party
The Nazi Party, officially the National Socialist German Workers' Party (german: Nationalsozialistische Deutsche Arbeiterpartei or NSDAP), was a far-right political party in Germany active between 1920 and 1945 that created and supported t ...
, i.e. those who joined it before the ''Reichstag''
1930 German federal election
Federal elections were held in Germany on 14 September 1930.Dieter Nohlen & Philip Stöver (2010) ''Elections in Europe: A data handbook'', p762 Despite losing ten seats, the Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD) remained the largest party ...
, with many belonging to the party as early as its first foundation in 1919–1923. Those who joined the party after the electoral breakthrough of September 1930 were known to the ''Alte Kämpfer'' as Septemberlings, while those who joined the party after the assumption of power on 30 January 1933 were known as the ''
Märzveilchen''. As the party's "
Old Guard" and of proven dedication to the movement during its so-called "Period of Struggle" (''Kampfzeit'') in 1925–1933, they were distinguished from the flood of new members who joined in 1933 and later for opportunistic reasons. A number of special awards/insignia were instituted for this purpose:
* the
Honour Chevron for the Old Guard
The Honour Chevron for the Old Guard (german: Ehrenwinkel der Alten Kämpfer) was a Nazi Party decoration worn by members of the SS. The silver chevron, which was worn on the upper sleeve on the right arm, was authorised by Adolf Hitler in Febr ...
, awarded to those who had joined the party or its affiliated organizations before 30 January 1933;
* the
Golden Party Badge
__NOTOC__
The Golden Party Badge (german: Goldenes Parteiabzeichen) was an award authorised by Adolf Hitler in a decree in October 1933. It was a special award given to all Nazi Party members who had, as of 9 November 1933, registered numbers fr ...
, awarded to the first 100,000 members of the party;
* the oldest members, those who had participated in the abortive 1923
Beer Hall Putsch, were further decorated with the
Blood Order.
The ''Alte Kämpfer'' also enjoyed more tangible benefits of their status. Once the Nazis took power, they received preference in employment and promotion. Many were given prestigious jobs in the opera houses, government buildings and universities of the Third Reich. Many achieved high status, such as
Christian Weber, a former bouncer who was made an SS general.
Nazi propaganda glorified them as a small handful of fighters against almost impossible odds.
[A Nazi Speaker: 1926-38]
See also
*
Old Bolshevik
References
Nazi terminology
Nazi Party members
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