In the fourteen years the
Weimar Republic
The Weimar Republic (german: link=no, Weimarer Republik ), officially named the German Reich, was the government of Germany from 1918 to 1933, during which it was a constitutional federal republic for the first time in history; hence it is ...
was in existence, some forty parties were represented in the ''
Reichstag''. This
fragmentation of political power was in part due to the use of a peculiar
proportional representation
Proportional representation (PR) refers to a type of electoral system under which subgroups of an electorate are reflected proportionately in the elected body. The concept applies mainly to geographical (e.g. states, regions) and political divis ...
electoral system that encouraged regional or small special interest parties and in part due to the many challenges facing the nascent German democracy in this period.
After the
Nazi seizure of power, they used the provisions of the
Reichstag Fire Decree
The Reichstag Fire Decree (german: Reichstagsbrandverordnung) is the common name of the Decree of the Reich President for the Protection of People and State (german: Verordnung des Reichspräsidenten zum Schutz von Volk und Staat) issued by Germ ...
to effectively eliminate their chief adversaries, first the
Communists
Communism (from Latin la, communis, lit=common, universal, label=none) is a far-left sociopolitical, philosophical, and economic ideology and current within the socialist movement whose goal is the establishment of a communist society, a s ...
(March 1933) and then the
Social Democrats
Social democracy is a political, social, and economic philosophy within socialism that supports political and economic democracy. As a policy regime, it is described by academics as advocating economic and social interventions to promote so ...
(22 June 1933) through arrests, confiscation of assets and removal from office. Other parties were pressured into disbanding on their own or were swept away by the "Law Against the Founding of New Parties" (14 July 1933) which declared 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 ...
to be Germany's only legal political party.
Weimar political parties
Left-wing
*''
Alte Sozialdemokratische Partei Deutschlands (ASPD)'' — Old Social Democratic Party of Germany. A regional party based in
Saxony
Saxony (german: Sachsen ; Upper Saxon: ''Saggsn''; hsb, Sakska), officially the Free State of Saxony (german: Freistaat Sachsen, links=no ; Upper Saxon: ''Freischdaad Saggsn''; hsb, Swobodny stat Sakska, links=no), is a landlocked state of ...
that split from the
SPD
The Social Democratic Party of Germany (german: Sozialdemokratische Partei Deutschlands, ; SPD, ) is a centre-left social democratic political party in Germany. It is one of the major parties of contemporary Germany.
Saskia Esken has been t ...
in 1926. It never gained a mass following and disbanded in 1932.
*''
Kommunistische Arbeiter-Partei Deutschlands (KAPD)'' — Communist Workers' Party of Germany. An ultra-leftist party that split from the KPD in April 1920. They rejected participation in the ''Reichstag'' and called for immediate revolutionary action. Immediately after its formation the party endured a series of splinters and lost much of the little influence it had. (Against the government)
*''
Kommunistische Partei Deutschlands
The Communist Party of Germany (german: Kommunistische Partei Deutschlands, , KPD ) was a major political party in the Weimar Republic between 1918 and 1933, an underground resistance movement in Nazi Germany, and a minor party in West German ...
(KPD)'' — Communist Party of Germany. Formed at the very end of 1918 out of a number of left-wing groups, including the left-wing of the USPD and the
Spartacus League. It was a
Marxist-
Leninist
Leninism is a political ideology developed by Russian Marxist revolutionary Vladimir Lenin that proposes the establishment of the dictatorship of the proletariat led by a revolutionary vanguard party as the political prelude to the establishm ...
party that advocated revolution by the
proletariat and the creation of a
communist regime according to the example of the
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union,. officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. (USSR),. was a List of former transcontinental countries#Since 1700, transcontinental country that spanned much of Eurasia from 1922 to 1991. A flagship communist state, ...
. It was the main far-left party for the majority of the Weimar period. The party's major paper was the ''
Die Rote Fahne
''Die Rote Fahne'' (, ''The Red Flag'') was a German newspaper originally founded in 1876 by Socialist Worker's party leader Wilhelm Hasselmann, and which has been since published on and off, at times underground, by German Socialists and Communi ...
'' (The Red Flag). (Against the government)
*''
Kommunistische Partei Deutschlands (Opposition) (KPO)'' — Communist Party of Germany (Opposition). Split from the KPD in 1928, representing the "Right Opposition" of the Bukharinists against the Stalinist "Center" and the Trotskyist "Left Opposition". It never intended to be a real political party, but to influence the KPD.
*''
Sozialdemokratische Partei Deutschlands
The Social Democratic Party of Germany (german: Sozialdemokratische Partei Deutschlands, ; SPD, ) is a centre-left social democratic political party in Germany. It is one of the major parties of contemporary Germany.
Saskia Esken has been th ...
(SPD)'' — Social Democratic Party of Germany (between 1917 and 1922 also called ''Mehrheitssozialdemokratische Partei (MSPD)'' – Majority Social Democrats). Founded in 1875, it was one of the earliest Marxist-influenced parties in the world. A member of the
Weimar Coalition
The Weimar Coalition () is the name given to the centre-leftist coalition of the Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD), the social liberal German Democratic Party (DDP) and the Christian democratic Centre Party, who together had a large major ...
, the SPD supported the parliamentary system of democracy and extensive social programs in the economy. For most of the Weimar Republic's existence until 1932, the SPD was the largest single party in the ''Reichstag'' and it participated in several coalition governments. Its party newspaper was the ''Vorwärts''. (Pro-Weimar Republic)
*''
Sozialistische Arbeiterpartei Deutschlands (SAPD)'' — Socialist Workers' Party of Germany. A left-wing faction that split from the SPD in 1931. Parts of the USPD and dissenters from the KPD and the KPO joined it, but it remained small. Its political positions were near to those of the USPD, wavering between the SPD and the KPD.
*''
Sozialistischer Bund'' — Socialist League. A splinter party that formed from the
USPD
The Independent Social Democratic Party of Germany (german: Unabhängige Sozialdemokratische Partei Deutschlands, USPD) was a short-lived political party in Germany during the German Empire and the Weimar Republic. The organization was establis ...
in 1922 and merged into the
SADP in 1931.
*''
Unabhängige Sozialdemokratische Partei Deutschlands (USPD)'' — Independent Social Democratic Party of Germany. This was formed by an anti-war faction that split from the
SPD
The Social Democratic Party of Germany (german: Sozialdemokratische Partei Deutschlands, ; SPD, ) is a centre-left social democratic political party in Germany. It is one of the major parties of contemporary Germany.
Saskia Esken has been t ...
in 1917. It was a
Marxist party that sought change through parliament and social progressive programs. The left-wing majority of the party joined the Communist Party in December 1920, while the remainder reunited with the MSPD in September 1922. A splinter element (''
Sozialistischer Bund'') continued as an independent party, never attaining any real electoral success and finally merging with the SAPD in 1931. (Against the government)
*''Vereinigte Kommunistische Partei Deutschlands (VKPD)'' — United Communist Party of Germany. Name taken by the
KPD when it merged with the majority of the
USPD
The Independent Social Democratic Party of Germany (german: Unabhängige Sozialdemokratische Partei Deutschlands, USPD) was a short-lived political party in Germany during the German Empire and the Weimar Republic. The organization was establis ...
in December 1920. It reverted to its former name in 1922. (Against the government)
Centre
*''
Deutsche Demokratische Partei
The German Democratic Party (, or DDP) was a center-left liberal party in the Weimar Republic. Along with the German People's Party (, or DVP), it represented political liberalism in Germany between 1918 and 1933. It was formed in 1918 from the ...
(DDP)'' — German Democratic Party. Formed in 1918 as the successor to the
Progressive People's Party, the DDP was a center-left party that supported
social liberalism
Social liberalism (german: Sozialliberalismus, es, socioliberalismo, nl, Sociaalliberalisme), also known as new liberalism in the United Kingdom, modern liberalism, or simply liberalism in the contemporary United States, left-liberalism ...
. A member of the
Weimar Coalition
The Weimar Coalition () is the name given to the centre-leftist coalition of the Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD), the social liberal German Democratic Party (DDP) and the Christian democratic Centre Party, who together had a large major ...
, it was one of the main liberal parties and participated in several coalition governments. (Pro-Weimar Republic)
*''
Deutscher Staatspartei (DStP)'' — German State Party. Formed in 1930 by a merger of the
DDP and the ''Volksnationale Reichsvereinigung'' (VNRV) (People's National Reich Association), the political wing of the
Young German Order
The Young German Order (in German , often abbreviated as ) was a large para-military organisation in Weimar Germany. Its name and symbol (see picture) were inspired by the Teutonic Knights ( in German).
The pseudo-chivalric group was involved i ...
. The VNRV ''Reichstag'' delegates soon seceded from the party, leaving it essentially the DDP under a new name. (Pro-Weimar Republic)
*''
Deutsche Volkspartei
The German People's Party (German: , or DVP) was a liberal party during the Weimar Republic that was the successor to the National Liberal Party (Germany), National Liberal Party of the German Empire. A right-liberal, or conservative-liberal polit ...
(DVP)'' — German People's Party. Formed in 1918 from the pre-Weimar
National Liberals, it was a center-right party supporting
right-liberalism. Its platform stressed Christian family values, secular education, lower tariffs, opposition to welfare spending and agrarian subsidies, and hostility to socialism.
Gustav Stresemann
Gustav Ernst Stresemann (; 10 May 1878 – 3 October 1929) was a German statesman who served as chancellor in 1923 (for 102 days) and as foreign minister from 1923 to 1929, during the Weimar Republic.
His most notable achievement was the reconci ...
was its chairman and it participated in all governments until 1931. After Stresseann's death, the party turned further to the right.
*''
Hanseatischer Volksbund (HVB)'' — Hanseatic People's League. A regional party founded in
Lübeck
Lübeck (; Low German also ), officially the Hanseatic City of Lübeck (german: Hansestadt Lübeck), is a city in Northern Germany. With around 217,000 inhabitants, Lübeck is the second-largest city on the German Baltic coast and in the state ...
in 1926, supported by the middle classes opposed to Marxism and social democracy. It was allied with the
DVP DVP may refer to:
* ''decessit vita patris'', "died in the lifetime of his father", term used by genealogists to denote a child who pre-deceased his or her father and did not live long enough to inherit the father's title or estate.
* Delivery versu ...
.
*''
Schleswig-Holsteinische Bauern- und Landarbeiterdemokratie (SHBLD)'' — Schleswig-Holstein Farmers and Farmworkers Democracy. A regional agrarian party active in
Schleswig-Holstein
Schleswig-Holstein (; da, Slesvig-Holsten; nds, Sleswig-Holsteen; frr, Slaswik-Holstiinj) is the northernmost of the 16 states of Germany, comprising most of the historical duchy of Holstein and the southern part of the former Duchy of Sc ...
between 1919 and 1924. It was a moderate party that leaned towards liberalism, and co-operated with the
DVP DVP may refer to:
* ''decessit vita patris'', "died in the lifetime of his father", term used by genealogists to denote a child who pre-deceased his or her father and did not live long enough to inherit the father's title or estate.
* Delivery versu ...
.
*''Volksnationale Reichsvereinigung'' — People's National Reich Association. This was the political wing of the
Young German Order
The Young German Order (in German , often abbreviated as ) was a large para-military organisation in Weimar Germany. Its name and symbol (see picture) were inspired by the Teutonic Knights ( in German).
The pseudo-chivalric group was involved i ...
and it briefly merged with the
DDP in 1930 to form the
DStP. (Pro-Weimar Republic)
*''
Zentrumspartei
The Centre Party (german: Zentrum), officially the German Centre Party (german: link=no, Deutsche Zentrumspartei) and also known in English as the Catholic Centre Party, is a Catholic political party in History of Germany, Germany, influential i ...
'' — Centre Party. It was the continuation of the pre-Weimar Catholic party of the same name. A member of the
Weimar Coalition
The Weimar Coalition () is the name given to the centre-leftist coalition of the Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD), the social liberal German Democratic Party (DDP) and the Christian democratic Centre Party, who together had a large major ...
, the Centre Party was the third-largest party in the ''Reichstag'' for most of the Weimar Republic and participated in all governments until 1932. Their party newspaper was ''Germania''. (Pro-Weimar Republic)
Right-wing
*''
Bayerische Volkspartei
The Bavarian People's Party (german: Bayerische Volkspartei; BVP) was the Bavarian branch of the Centre Party, a lay Roman Catholic party, which broke off from the rest of the party in 1918 to pursue a more conservative and more Bavarian partic ...
(BVP)'' — Bavarian People's Party. A Catholic and conservative party, in 1918 it split off from the Centre Party to pursue a more conservative and particularist Bavarian course. (Pro-Weimar Republic)
*'' (BNP)'' — Brunswick Lower–Saxon Party. This was a small regional party active in the
Free State of Brunswick
The Free State of Brunswick () was a state of the German Reich in the time of the Weimar Republic. It was formed after the abolition of the Duchy of Brunswick in the course of the German Revolution of 1918–19. Its capital was Braunschweig (Bru ...
. It was conservative, monarchist and anti-republican. It formed an electoral alliance with the
DVP DVP may refer to:
* ''decessit vita patris'', "died in the lifetime of his father", term used by genealogists to denote a child who pre-deceased his or her father and did not live long enough to inherit the father's title or estate.
* Delivery versu ...
and the
DNVP
The German National People's Party (german: Deutschnationale Volkspartei, DNVP) was a national-conservative party in Germany during the Weimar Republic. Before the rise of the Nazi Party, it was the major conservative and nationalist party in Wei ...
.
*''
Christlich-Nationale Bauern- und Landvolkpartei (CNBL)'' — Christian National Peasants' and Farmers' Party. This was a conservative agrarian party that broke off from the German National People's Party (DNVP) in 1928. It contested the 1930 and 1932 ''Reichstag'' elections under the name ''Deutsches Landvolk'' (German Rural Folk).
*''
Christlich-Sozialer Volksdienst (CSVD)'' — Christian Social People's Service. A conservative Protestant party formed at the end of 1929, it was mainly supported by the middle class and Christian trade unionists. It supported state welfare, trade unions and workers participation in management; it opposed atheism, liberalism and Marxism.
*''
Christliche Volkspartei (CVP)'' — Christian People's Party. A short-lived Catholic party based in the
Rhineland
The Rhineland (german: Rheinland; french: Rhénanie; nl, Rijnland; ksh, Rhingland; Latinised name: ''Rhenania'') is a loosely defined area of Western Germany along the Rhine, chiefly its middle section.
Term
Historically, the Rhinelands ...
. (Pro-Weimar Republic)
*''
Deutsch-Hannoversche Partei (DHP)'' — German-Hanoverian Party, also known as the Guelph Party. A regional conservative party in
Prussia
Prussia, , Old Prussian: ''Prūsa'' or ''Prūsija'' was a German state on the southeast coast of the Baltic Sea. It formed the German Empire under Prussian rule when it united the German states in 1871. It was ''de facto'' dissolved by an ...
's
Province of Hanover
The Province of Hanover (german: Provinz Hannover) was a province of the Kingdom of Prussia and the Free State of Prussia from 1868 to 1946.
During the Austro-Prussian War, the Kingdom of Hanover had attempted to maintain a neutral position ...
that unsuccessfully advocated for a Free State of Hanover.
* ''
Deutsche Arbeiterpartei (DAP)'' — German Workers' Party. This was formed in 1919 by
Anton Drexler
Anton Drexler (13 June 1884 – 24 February 1942) was a German far-right political agitator for the Völkisch movement in the 1920s. He founded the pan-German and anti-Semitic German Workers' Party (DAP), the antecedent of the Nazi Party (NSDAP) ...
, with
Gottfried Feder
Gottfried Feder (27 January 1883 – 24 September 1941) was a German civil engineer, a self-taught economist, and one of the early key members of the Nazi Party and its economic theoretician. It was one of his lectures, delivered in 1919, that d ...
,
Dietrich Eckart
Dietrich Eckart (; 23 March 1868 – 26 December 1923) was a German '' völkisch'' poet, playwright, journalist, publicist, and political activist who was one of the founders of the German Workers' Party, the precursor of the Nazi Party. Eckart ...
and
Karl Harrer
Karl Harrer (8 October 1890 – 5 September 1926) was a German journalist and politician, one of the founding members of the ''Deutsche Arbeiterpartei'' ( German Workers' Party, DAP) in January 1919, the predecessor to the ''Nationalsozialistische ...
, and derived in part from the
Thule Society
The Thule Society (; german: Thule-Gesellschaft), originally the ''Studiengruppe für germanisches Altertum'' ("Study Group for Germanic Antiquity"), was a German occultist and '' Völkisch'' group founded in Munich shortly after World War I, n ...
, the cover organization of the occult ariosophist ''
Germanenorden
The Germanenorden (Germanic or Teutonic Order) was an occultist and '' völkisch'' secret society in early 20th-century Germany. Its aim was to monitor Jews and spread antisemitic material.
History
The Germanenorden was founded in Berlin in 1912 ...
''. This party added the adjective "National Socialist" in its name and became the "
National Socialist German Workers' 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 th ...
" (NSDAP) in 1920. (Against the government)
*''
Deutsche Bauernpartei (DBP)'' — German Farmers' Party. An agrarian party founded in 1928 to advocate for the economic interests of small farmers and peasants.
*''Deutsche Reformpartei'' — German Reform Party (splinter party).
*''
Deutschnationale Volkspartei (DNVP)'' — German National People's Party. It presented itself as a ''
volksgemeinschaft
''Volksgemeinschaft'' () is a German expression meaning "people's community", "folk community", Richard Grunberger, ''A Social History of the Third Reich'', London: Weidenfeld and Nicolson, 1971, p. 44. "national community", or "racial community", ...
'' or non-class party. It included remnants from the German Conservative Party, the Free Conservative Party, the Völkische movement, the Christian Social movement, and the Pan-German Association. It established two labor unions; one for the blue-collar worker (the DNAB) and one for the white-collar worker (DNAgB), which had been politically unimportant. The DNVP was the main authoritarian right party of Weimar Germany but moved to the radical right after coming under the control of press baron
Alfred Hugenberg
Alfred Ernst Christian Alexander Hugenberg (19 June 1865 – 12 March 1951) was an influential German businessman and politician. An important figure in nationalist politics in Germany for the first few decades of the twentieth century, Hugenbe ...
in 1928. It organized the National Opposition in 1929, together with leaders of ''
Der Stahlhelm
' (German, 'The Steel Helmet, League of Front-Line Soldiers'), commonly known as ''Der Stahlhelm'' ('The Steel Helmet'), was a German First World War veteran's organisation existing from 1918 to 1935. It was part of the "Black Reichswehr" and ...
'',
Hjalmar Schacht
Hjalmar Schacht (born Horace Greeley Hjalmar Schacht; 22 January 1877 – 3 June 1970, ) was a German economist, banker, centre-right politician, and co-founder in 1918 of the German Democratic Party. He served as the Currency Commissioner ...
, the president of the ''
Reichsbank
The ''Reichsbank'' (; 'Bank of the Reich, Bank of the Realm') was the central bank of the German Reich from 1876 until 1945.
History until 1933
The Reichsbank was founded on 1 January 1876, shortly after the establishment of the German Empi ...
'', and the Nazi Party, to oppose Chancellor
Hermann Müller's Grand Coalition. It joined in coalition with Hitler's government in January 1933. (Against the government)
*''
Deutschsoziale Partei (DSP)'' — German Social Party. A far-right antisemitic and
Völkisch political party, active from 1921 to 1929. (Against the government)
*''
Deutschsozialistische Partei (DSP)'' — German-Socialist Party. A far-right, nationalist party heavily influenced by the antisemitic
Thule Society
The Thule Society (; german: Thule-Gesellschaft), originally the ''Studiengruppe für germanisches Altertum'' ("Study Group for Germanic Antiquity"), was a German occultist and '' Völkisch'' group founded in Munich shortly after World War I, n ...
. It was headed by
Julius Streicher
Julius Streicher (12 February 1885 – 16 October 1946) was a member of the Nazi Party, the ''Gauleiter'' (regional leader) of Franconia and a member of the '' Reichstag'', the national legislature. He was the founder and publisher of the virul ...
, and it was also highly organized, despite having a rather small size. In a controversial move, it dissolved itself in 1922 and many of its members entered the (then very new) Nazi Party. (Against the government)
*''
Deutschvölkische Freiheitspartei (DVFP)'' — German Völkisch Freedom Party. The party of General
Ludendorff. It campaigned for an authoritarian regime that would be very nationalistic and promoted socioeconomic questions. It also sought to close the stock exchanges and nationalize the banks. In May 1924, it obtained 6.4% of the vote in alliance with NSDAP, but fell to 3% in the next election, in December 1924. (Against the government)
*''Deutschvölkische Reichspartei (DVRP)'' (Against the government)
*''Großdeutsche Arbeiterpartei (GDAP)'' (Against the government)
*''
Großdeutsche Volksgemeinschaft (GVG)'' — Greater German People's Community. A Nazi
front organization established in January 1924 when the Nazi Party was outlawed. Centered in
Bavaria
Bavaria ( ; ), officially the Free State of Bavaria (german: Freistaat Bayern, link=no ), is a state in the south-east of Germany. With an area of , Bavaria is the largest German state by land area, comprising roughly a fifth of the total lan ...
, it was led by
Alfred Rosenberg
Alfred Ernst Rosenberg ( – 16 October 1946) was a Baltic German Nazi theorist and ideologue. Rosenberg was first introduced to Adolf Hitler by Dietrich Eckart and he held several important posts in the Nazi government. He was the head o ...
until July when he was ousted by
Julius Streicher
Julius Streicher (12 February 1885 – 16 October 1946) was a member of the Nazi Party, the ''Gauleiter'' (regional leader) of Franconia and a member of the '' Reichstag'', the national legislature. He was the founder and publisher of the virul ...
. Opposed to electoral politics, it was not represented in the ''Reichstag''. It dissolved in March 1925 and was reabsorbed by the Nazi Party. (Against the government)
*''
Konservative Volkspartei (KVP)'' — Conservative People's Party. It split off from the DNVP in 1930, following that party's turn to the far-right under
Alfred Hugenberg
Alfred Ernst Christian Alexander Hugenberg (19 June 1865 – 12 March 1951) was an influential German businessman and politician. An important figure in nationalist politics in Germany for the first few decades of the twentieth century, Hugenbe ...
. (Pro-Weimar Republic)
*''
Nationalsozialistische Deutsche Arbeiterpartei
The Nazi Party, officially the National Socialist German Workers' Party (german: Nationalsozialistische Deutsche Arbeiterpartei or NSDAP), was a far-right politics, far-right political party in Germany active between 1920 and 1945 that crea ...
(NSDAP)'' — National Socialist German Workers' Party (Nazi Party). This was a far-right political party in Germany that was active between 1920 and 1945, and that created and supported the ideology of
Nazism
Nazism ( ; german: Nazismus), the common name in English for National Socialism (german: Nationalsozialismus, ), is the far-right totalitarian political ideology and practices associated with Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party (NSDAP) i ...
. Its precursor, the German Workers' Party (Deutsche Arbeiterpartei; DAP), existed from 1919 to 1920. The Nazi Party emerged from the
German nationalist
German nationalism () is an ideological notion that promotes the unity of Germans and German-speakers into one unified nation state. German nationalism also emphasizes and takes pride in the patriotism and national identity of Germans as one nat ...
,
racist and
populist
Populism refers to a range of political stances that emphasize the idea of "the people" and often juxtapose this group against " the elite". It is frequently associated with anti-establishment and anti-political sentiment. The term develop ...
''
Freikorps
(, "Free Corps" or "Volunteer Corps") were irregular German and other European military volunteer units, or paramilitary, that existed from the 18th to the early 20th centuries. They effectively fought as mercenary or private armies, rega ...
'' paramilitary culture, which fought against the
communist uprisings in post-
World War I
World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...
Germany. It supported the ideas of
Führerprinzip
The (; German for 'leader principle') prescribed the fundamental basis of political authority in the Government of Nazi Germany. This principle can be most succinctly understood to mean that "the Führer's word is above all written law" and th ...
, ''
Volksgemeinschaft
''Volksgemeinschaft'' () is a German expression meaning "people's community", "folk community", Richard Grunberger, ''A Social History of the Third Reich'', London: Weidenfeld and Nicolson, 1971, p. 44. "national community", or "racial community", ...
'',
Pan-Germanism, ''
Lebensraum
(, ''living space'') is a German concept of settler colonialism, the philosophy and policies of which were common to German politics from the 1890s to the 1940s. First popularized around 1901, '' lso in:' became a geopolitical goal of Imper ...
'' and the "
Aryan Master Race". The party incorporated fervent
antisemitism
Antisemitism (also spelled anti-semitism or anti-Semitism) is hostility to, prejudice towards, or discrimination against Jews. A person who holds such positions is called an antisemite. Antisemitism is considered to be a form of racism.
Antis ...
, anti-communism, anti-capitalism, scientific racism, and the use of
eugenics
Eugenics ( ; ) is a fringe set of beliefs and practices that aim to improve the genetic quality of a human population. Historically, eugenicists have attempted to alter human gene pools by excluding people and groups judged to be inferior o ...
into its creed. Headed by
Adolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler (; 20 April 188930 April 1945) was an Austrian-born German politician who was dictator of Nazi Germany, Germany from 1933 until Death of Adolf Hitler, his death in 1945. Adolf Hitler's rise to power, He rose to power as the le ...
from 1921, the party became the largest in the ''Reichstag'' by July 1932. Its main newspaper was the ''
Völkischer Beobachter
The ''Völkischer Beobachter'' (; "'' Völkisch'' Observer") was the newspaper of the Nazi Party (NSDAP) from 25 December 1920. It first appeared weekly, then daily from 8 February 1923. For twenty-four years it formed part of the official pub ...
''.
*''
Nationalsozialistische Freiheitspartei (NSFP)'' — National Socialist Freedom Party. A Nazi front organization established in April 1924 when the Nazi Party was outlawed and Hitler was jailed. The remaining Nazis formed it as a legal means of carrying on the party and its ideology. As the National Socialist Freedom movement (NSFB), it ran as a combined list with the
DVFP in the 1924 ''Reichstag elections'' and disbanded shortly after the Nazi Party was re-established in February 1925. (Against the government)
*''
Reichspartei des deutschen Mittelstandes'' — Reich Party of the German Middle Class. It was formed in 1920 and was known until 1925 as ''Wirtschaftspartei des deutschen Mittelstandes'', or the Economic Party of the German Middle Classes. It commonly was referred to as the ''Wirtschaftspartei'' (WP). It was a conservative party, supporting a reduction in government economic involvement, a freer hand for business and lower taxes. It was particularly opposed to revaluation, which it considered an attack on the rights of property owners.
*''
Reichspartei für Volksrecht und Aufwertung'' — Reich Party for Civil Rights and Deflation, also known as the ''Volksrechtpartei'' (VRP) or People's Justice Party. Formed in 1926, the party was conservative in outlook and represented itself as the defender of savers, calling for the creation of as broad a middle class as possible. It sought to represent those worst hit by the
hyperinflation
In economics, hyperinflation is a very high and typically accelerating inflation. It quickly erodes the real value of the local currency, as the prices of all goods increase. This causes people to minimize their holdings in that currency as t ...
of the early 1920s.
*''Wirtschaftspartei'' — (see ''
Reichspartei des deutschen Mittelstandes.)''
Other political organizations
*''Allgemeiner Deutscher Beamtenbund (ADB)'' — A civil servants' league started by the SPD.
*''
Bund der Landwirte (BdL)'' — the Agrarian League was an agricultural advocacy group that opposed free trade, industrialization, and liberalism. It merged with the ''Deutscher Landbund'' in 1921 to form the ''
Reichslandbund''.
*''Bauernverein'' — Peasant association located in Schleswig-Holstein. Without religious ties, it initially supported a liberal economic and political policy.
*''Bauernvereine'' — Farmers' associations associated with the Center Party, that were located in the Catholic west and south.
*''
Bayerischer Bauernbund'' (BB)'' — Bavarian Peasants' League. Operated throughout Germany but especially in its stronghold of Bavaria. It had democratic, anticlerical leanings and subscribed to a narrow Bavarian particularism. It supported the
BVP and the
DNVP
The German National People's Party (german: Deutschnationale Volkspartei, DNVP) was a national-conservative party in Germany during the Weimar Republic. Before the rise of the Nazi Party, it was the major conservative and nationalist party in Wei ...
, and in 1928 helped found the
DBP
*''
Braunschweigischer Landeswahlverband (BLWV)'' — Brunswick State Electoral Association. This was a regional
electoral alliance
An electoral alliance (also known as a bipartisan electoral agreement, electoral pact, electoral agreement, electoral coalition or electoral bloc) is an association of political parties or individuals that exists solely to stand in elections.
E ...
of conservative bourgeois parties, consisting of the ''
Deutsche Volkspartei
The German People's Party (German: , or DVP) was a liberal party during the Weimar Republic that was the successor to the National Liberal Party (Germany), National Liberal Party of the German Empire. A right-liberal, or conservative-liberal polit ...
'' (DVP), the ''
Deutschnationale Volkspartei'' (DNVP) and the
Welf Welf is a Germanic first name that may refer to:
*Welf (father of Judith), 9th century Frankish count, father-in-law of Louis the Pious
*Welf I, d. bef. 876, count of Alpgau and Linzgau
*Welf II, Count of Swabia, died 1030, supposed descendant of W ...
–oriented ''Braunschweigisch-Niedersächsische Partei'' (BNP), or Brunswick Lower–Saxon Party. It was active between 1918 and 1922 in the
Free State of Brunswick
The Free State of Brunswick () was a state of the German Reich in the time of the Weimar Republic. It was formed after the abolition of the Duchy of Brunswick in the course of the German Revolution of 1918–19. Its capital was Braunschweig (Bru ...
. (Against the government)
*''Christlich-föderalistische Reichswahlliste'' — Combined list of the
Bavarian People's Party
The Bavarian People's Party (german: Bayerische Volkspartei; BVP) was the Bavarian branch of the Centre Party, a lay Roman Catholic party, which broke off from the rest of the party in 1918 to pursue a more conservative and more Bavarian parti ...
(BVP) and the
Christliche Volkspartei (CVP). (Pro-Weimar Republic)
*''Christliche Volkspartei (CVP)'' — Combined list of the
Bavarian People's Party
The Bavarian People's Party (german: Bayerische Volkspartei; BVP) was the Bavarian branch of the Centre Party, a lay Roman Catholic party, which broke off from the rest of the party in 1918 to pursue a more conservative and more Bavarian parti ...
(BVP) and the
Center Party. (Pro-Weimar Republic)
*''
Der Stahlhelm, Bund der Frontsoldaten'' — The Steel Helmet, League of Front-Line Soldiers. Founded in December 1918 by
Franz Seldte, this was the First World War veteran's organisation. Officially above party politics, it was conservative, nationalistic and monarchist. After 1929, it took on an anti-republican and anti-democratic character. Its goals were the overthrow of the Republic in favor of a dictatorship and a revanchist program. In 1931, it joined the
DNVP
The German National People's Party (german: Deutschnationale Volkspartei, DNVP) was a national-conservative party in Germany during the Weimar Republic. Before the rise of the Nazi Party, it was the major conservative and nationalist party in Wei ...
and the
NSDAP
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 ...
to form the
Harzburg Front. (Against the government)
*''Deutsche Landwirtschafsrat'' (German Agricultural Council)
*''
Deutschvölkischer Schutz- und Trutzbund'' — German Nationalist Protection and Defiance Federation. This was the largest and the most active anti-Semitic federation in Germany. Founded in 1919, it was anti-democratic and advocated violence. After the murder of Foreign Minister
Walther Rathenau
Walther Rathenau (29 September 1867 – 24 June 1922) was a German industrialist, writer and liberal politician.
During the First World War of 1914–1918 he was involved in the organization of the German war economy. After the war, Rathenau s ...
in 1922, it was banned in most states of the Reich and disbanded by 1924. (Against the government)
*Federation of German Retail Business
*Green Front — An umbrella group which consisted of the ''Reichslandbund'' (RLB), the ''Deutsche Bauernshaft'' (formerly ''Bauernbund''), the Association of Christian-German Peasant Unions, and the German Agricultural Council. It too heavily promoted the
Junker
Junker ( da, Junker, german: Junker, nl, Jonkheer, en, Yunker, no, Junker, sv, Junker ka, იუნკერი (Iunkeri)) is a noble honorific, derived from Middle High German ''Juncherre'', meaning "young nobleman"Duden; Meaning of Junke ...
s interest and drove out many farmers.
*''
Harzburger Front'' — Harzburg Front. A right-wing, anti-democratic political alliance of the
NSDAP
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 ...
,
DNVP
The German National People's Party (german: Deutschnationale Volkspartei, DNVP) was a national-conservative party in Germany during the Weimar Republic. Before the rise of the Nazi Party, it was the major conservative and nationalist party in Wei ...
, ''
Der Stahlhelm
' (German, 'The Steel Helmet, League of Front-Line Soldiers'), commonly known as ''Der Stahlhelm'' ('The Steel Helmet'), was a German First World War veteran's organisation existing from 1918 to 1935. It was part of the "Black Reichswehr" and ...
'', the
Agricultural League
The Imperial Agricultural League (german: Reichs-Landbund) or National Rural League was a German agrarian association during the Weimar Republic which was led by landowners with property east of the Elbe. It was allied with the German National Pe ...
and the
Pan-German League. It was formed in 1931 to present a unified right-wing opposition to the Weimar government.(Against the government)
*''
Kampfgemeinschaft Revolutionärer Nationalsozialisten (KGRNS)'' — Combat League of Revolutionary National Socialists, commonly known as the Black Front. An opposition group formed by
Otto Strasser
Otto Johann Maximilian Strasser (also german: link=no, Straßer, see ß; 10 September 1897 – 27 August 1974) was a German politician and an early member of the Nazi Party. Otto Strasser, together with his brother Gregor Strasser, was a lead ...
in 1930 after he resigned from the Nazi Party to continue what he saw as the Party's original anti-capitalist stance.(Against the government)
*''
Landvolkbewegung'' — Rural People's Movement. A farmers' movement, mainly in
Schleswig-Holstein
Schleswig-Holstein (; da, Slesvig-Holsten; nds, Sleswig-Holsteen; frr, Slaswik-Holstiinj) is the northernmost of the 16 states of Germany, comprising most of the historical duchy of Holstein and the southern part of the former Duchy of Sc ...
, formed in the aftermath of January 1928 demonstrations against trade and tax policies.
*''
Nationalbolschewismus'' — National Bolsheviks. Led by
Ernst Niekisch
Ernst Niekisch (23 May 1889 – 23 May 1967) was a German writer and politician. Initially a member of the Social Democratic Party (SPD), he later became a prominent exponent of National Bolshevism.
Early life
Born in Trebnitz (Silesia), and b ...
, they combined ultranationalism with social radicalism by claiming to espouse both 'German' principles and much of the program carried out by the Bolsheviks under Lenin.
*'' Reichsbund der Deserteure'' — National Association of Deserters. Led by
Karl Liebknecht
Karl Paul August Friedrich Liebknecht (; 13 August 1871 – 15 January 1919) was a German socialist and anti-militarist. A member of the Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD) beginning in 1900, he was one of its deputies in the Reichstag fro ...
and formed before the breakup from the Independent Socialists.
*''
Reichslandbund'' — the Agricultural League, or National Rural League, was formed in 1921 through the merger of the two large Protestant right-wing agricultural associations, the ''
Bund der Landwirte (BdL) ''and the ''Deutscher Landbund'', in order to more effectively assert agricultural interests against the forces of labor and big business. It strove to maintain as much influence as possible for large
Junker
Junker ( da, Junker, german: Junker, nl, Jonkheer, en, Yunker, no, Junker, sv, Junker ka, იუნკერი (Iunkeri)) is a noble honorific, derived from Middle High German ''Juncherre'', meaning "young nobleman"Duden; Meaning of Junke ...
landowners from east of the
Elbe
The Elbe (; cs, Labe ; nds, Ilv or ''Elv''; Upper and dsb, Łobjo) is one of the major rivers of Central Europe. It rises in the Giant Mountains of the northern Czech Republic before traversing much of Bohemia (western half of the Czech Re ...
, who were heavily represented among its leadership. Opposed to the Republic, it first was allied with the
DNVP
The German National People's Party (german: Deutschnationale Volkspartei, DNVP) was a national-conservative party in Germany during the Weimar Republic. Before the rise of the Nazi Party, it was the major conservative and nationalist party in Wei ...
and later 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 ...
. (Against the government)
*''
Spartakusbund
The Spartacus League (German: ''Spartakusbund'') was a Marxist revolutionary movement organized in Germany during World War I. It was founded in August 1914 as the "International Group" by Rosa Luxemburg, Karl Liebknecht, Clara Zetkin, and other ...
'' — Spartacus League. Originally formed in 1914 by
Rosa Luxemburg and
Karl Liebknecht
Karl Paul August Friedrich Liebknecht (; 13 August 1871 – 15 January 1919) was a German socialist and anti-militarist. A member of the Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD) beginning in 1900, he was one of its deputies in the Reichstag fro ...
, it joined the
USPD
The Independent Social Democratic Party of Germany (german: Unabhängige Sozialdemokratische Partei Deutschlands, USPD) was a short-lived political party in Germany during the German Empire and the Weimar Republic. The organization was establis ...
in 1917. During the
November Revolution, it reformed but shortly joined the
KPD when it was founded on 1 January 1919. (Against the government)
*''
Völkisch-Sozialer Block (VSB)'' — Völkisch-Social Bloc. This was a right-wing electoral alliance of völkisch, anti-Semitic and anti-republican groups formed in 1924 during the period that the Nazi Party was outlawed, and was closely aligned with its ideology. It was particularly strong in
Bavaria
Bavaria ( ; ), officially the Free State of Bavaria (german: Freistaat Bayern, link=no ), is a state in the south-east of Germany. With an area of , Bavaria is the largest German state by land area, comprising roughly a fifth of the total lan ...
and
Thuringia
Thuringia (; german: Thüringen ), officially the Free State of Thuringia ( ), is a state of central Germany, covering , the sixth smallest of the sixteen German states. It has a population of about 2.1 million.
Erfurt is the capital and lar ...
. It disbanded in March 1925, following the reestablishment 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 ...
.
Unions
*''
Allgemeiner Deutscher Gewerkschaftsbund
The General German Trade Union Federation (german: Allgemeiner Deutscher Gewerkschaftsbund, ADGB) was a confederation of German trade unions in Germany founded during the Weimar Republic. It was founded in 1919 and was initially powerful enough to ...
'' (ADGB)
*''
Allgemeiner freier Angestelltenbund
The General Federation of Free Employees (german: Allgemeiner freier Angestelltenbund, AfA-Bund) was an amalgamation of various socialist-oriented trade unions of technical and administrative employees in the Weimar Republic.
Member organizations ...
'' (AfA) white-collar employee union affiliated with the SPD-dominated free trade unions. (Pro-Weimar Republic)
*''
Deutscher Landarbeiterverband'' (German Agricultural Workers' Union) SPD-organized. (Pro-Weimar Republic)
*''Deutschnationaler Handlungsgehilfenverband (DHV)'' (National Association of Clerical Employees) — the conservative white-collar worker union. The DHV leadership did not fully support the NSDAP because it didn't recognize the independence of unions. (Against the government)
*''
Freie Arbeiter-Union Deutschlands (FAUD)'' — an
anarcho-syndicalist
Anarcho-syndicalism is a political philosophy and anarchist school of thought that views revolutionary industrial unionism or syndicalism as a method for workers in capitalist society to gain control of an economy and thus control influence i ...
trade union
A trade union (labor union in American English), often simply referred to as a union, is an organization of workers intent on "maintaining or improving the conditions of their employment", ch. I such as attaining better wages and benefits ...
that participated in the
revolution in Germany and continued to be involved in the German labor movement in the early 1920s.
*''Gesamtverband Deutscher Beamtengewerkschaften (GDB)'' was a conservative civil service union.
*''Gewerkschaftsbund der Angestellten (GdA)'' was a Hirsch-Duncker union.
*''Gewerkschaftsbund deutscher Angestelltenverbände (Gedag)'' was a conservative white-collar union.
*''Reichsbund Deutscher Angestellten-Berufsverbände'' was a conservative white-collar union.
*''Vereinigung der chrislichen-deutschen Bauernvereine'' (Association of Christian-German Peasant Unions)
*''Zentralverband der Angestellten (ZdA)'', an association of white-collar unions started by the SPD. (Pro-Weimar Republic)
Other Organizations
*''
Alldeutscher Verband'' — Pan-German League. A nationalist and colonialist organization whose goal was to nurture, protect and expand German nationality as a unifying force. (Against the government)
*'' Deutsches Handwerk''. German crafts organization headed by Zeleny. Zeleny advocated positions that would improve conditions for the old middle class. It would later back the NSDAP.
*'' Katholische Burschenvereine''. Catholic youth associations that the Catholic Church started in southern Germany to provide Catholic youth with numerous activities.
*''Tatkreis'' movement
*''
Völkisch movement'' (Against the government)
Secret societies
*
Organisation Consul
Organisation Consul (O.C.) was an ultra-nationalist and anti-Semitic terrorist organization that operated in the Weimar Republic from 1920 to 1922. It was formed by members of the disbanded Freikorps group Marine Brigade Ehrhardt and was respons ...
(OC) — An ultra-nationalist and anti-Semitic terrorist organization that operated from 1920 to 1922. It was formed by
Hermann Ehrhardt and several members of his ''
Freikorps
(, "Free Corps" or "Volunteer Corps") were irregular German and other European military volunteer units, or paramilitary, that existed from the 18th to the early 20th centuries. They effectively fought as mercenary or private armies, rega ...
''
brigade
A brigade is a major tactical military formation that typically comprises three to six battalions plus supporting elements. It is roughly equivalent to an enlarged or reinforced regiment. Two or more brigades may constitute a division.
B ...
. It was responsible for political assassinations, including former Minister of Finance
Matthias Erzberger
Matthias Erzberger (20 September 1875 – 26 August 1921) was a German writer and politician (Centre Party), the minister of Finance from 1919 to 1920.
Prominent in the Catholic Centre Party, he spoke out against World War I from 1917 and as a ...
and Foreign Minister
Walther Rathenau
Walther Rathenau (29 September 1867 – 24 June 1922) was a German industrialist, writer and liberal politician.
During the First World War of 1914–1918 he was involved in the organization of the German war economy. After the war, Rathenau s ...
, that had the goal of destroying the Republic and replacing it with a right-wing dictatorship. The group was banned by the German government in 1922.
*''
Black Reichswehr
Black Reichswehr (german: Schwarze Reichswehr) was the name for the extra-legal paramilitary formations promoted by the German Reichswehr army during the time of the Weimar Republic; it was raised despite restrictions imposed by the Versailles Tre ...
'' — Black ''Reichswehr''. Extra-legal paramilitary formations promoted by the German ''
Reichswehr
''Reichswehr'' () was the official name of the German armed forces during the Weimar Republic and the first years of the Third Reich. After Germany was defeated in World War I, the Imperial German Army () was dissolved in order to be reshape ...
'' to circumvent manpower restrictions imposed by the
Versailles Treaty
The Treaty of Versailles (french: Traité de Versailles; german: Versailler Vertrag, ) was the most important of the peace treaties of World War I. It ended the state of war between Germany and the Allied Powers. It was signed on 28 June 19 ...
. Black Reichswehr forces engaged in sabotage acts and assaults during the French
occupation of the Ruhr and were responsible for several
Feme murders
The Feme ('fā-mə) murders (German: ) were a series of politically motivated murders in Weimar Germany from 1919 to 1923 that were committed by elements of the German far right against political opponents they considered treasonous. The practice ...
. Active 1919 to 1923.
*''
Bund Wiking'' — Viking League. A paramilitary organization founded in Munich in 1923 by members of the banned
Organisation Consul
Organisation Consul (O.C.) was an ultra-nationalist and anti-Semitic terrorist organization that operated in the Weimar Republic from 1920 to 1922. It was formed by members of the disbanded Freikorps group Marine Brigade Ehrhardt and was respons ...
as a successor group. Its stated aim was the establishment of a military dictatorship and modification of the Treaty of Versailles by armed means, including provocations intended to incite workers into violence and provide the pretext for a coup.
Reichstag election results
All vote numbers in thousands.
*Regional= Total for regional parties not listed individually
*Rightist= Total for right-wing parties not listed individually
*Splinter= Total for splinter parties not listed individually or among regional or rightist
6/6/1920
includes by-elections in Schleswig-Holstein and East Prussia (20/2/1921)
and Upper Silesia (19/11/1922)
Eligible 35,920
Turnout 28,196
% Voting 78.4
(Party, Votes, Seats)
KPD 590 4
USPD 5047 83
SPD 6104 103
Centre 3910 64
BVP 1173 21
DDP 2334 39
WP 219 4
DVP 3919 65
DNVP 4249 71
Regional 709 5
Splinter 161 0
Total 28415 459
4/5/1924
Eligible 38,375
Turnout 29,282
% Voting 76.3
(Party, Votes, Seats)
KPD 3693 45
USPD 235 0
SPD 6009 100
Centre 3914 65
BVP 947 16
DDP 1655 28
WP 530 10
DVP 2728 45
DNVP 5697 95
NSFP 1918 32
Regional 608 5
Rightist 666 10
Splinter 682 4
Total 29282 455
7/12/1924
Eligible 33,987
Turnout 30,290
% Voting 77.7
(Party, Votes, Seats)
KPD 2709 45
USPD 99 0
SPD 7881 131
Centre 4092 69
BVP 1134 19
DDP 1920 32
WP 639 17
DVP 3049 51
DNVP 6206 103
NSFB 907 14
Regional 708 4
Rightist 545 8
Splinter 401 0
Total 30290 493
20/5/1928
Eligible 41,224
Turnout 30,754
% Voting 74.6
(Party, Votes, Seats)
KPD 3265 54
SPD 9153 153
Centre 3712 61
BVP 946 17
DDP 1479 25
WP 1388 23
DVP 2680 45
DNVP 4382 73
NSDAP 810 12
Regional 956 3
Rightist 1025 23
Splinter 958 2
Total 30754 491
14/9/1930
Eligible 42,958
Turnout 34,971
% Voting 81.4
(Party, Votes, Seats)
KPD 4592 77
SPD 8578 143
Centre 4128 68
BVP 1059 19
DDP 1322 20
WP 1362 23
DVP 1578 30
DNVP 2458 41
NSDAP 6383 107
Regional 683 3
Rightist 2373 46
Splinter 455 0
Total 34971 577
31/7/1932
Eligible 44,211
Turnout 36,882
% Voting 83.4
(Party, Votes, Seats)
KPD 5283 89
SPD 7960 133
Centre 4589 75
BVP 1193 22
DDP 372 4
WP 147 2
DVP 136 7
DNVP 2177 37
NSDAP 13769 230
Regional 219 0
Rightist 552 9
Splinter 185 0
Total 36582 608
6/11/1932
Eligible 44,374
Turnout 35,471
% Voting 79.9
(Party, Votes, Seats)
KPD 5980 100
SPD 7248 121
Centre 4230 70
BVP 1095 20
DDP 336 2
WP 110 1
DVP 661 11
DNVP 2959 52
NSDAP 11737 196
Regional 353 1
Rightist 510 10
Splinter 252 0
Total 35471 584
5/3/1933
Eligible 44,665
Turnout 39,343
% Voting 88.1
(Party, Votes, Seats)
KPD 4848 81
SPD 7181 120
Centre 4425 74
BVP 1074 18
DDP 334 5
DVP 432 2
DNVP 3137 52
NSDAP 17277 288
Regional l246 0
Rightist 384 7
Splinter 5 0
Total 39343 647
List by abbreviation
See also
*
Weimar paramilitary groups
Paramilitary groups were formed throughout the Weimar Republic in the wake of Imperial Germany's defeat in World War I and the ensuing German Revolution. Some were created by political parties to help in recruiting, discipline and in preparation ...
*
Weimar Republic
The Weimar Republic (german: link=no, Weimarer Republik ), officially named the German Reich, was the government of Germany from 1918 to 1933, during which it was a constitutional federal republic for the first time in history; hence it is ...
*
Glossary of the Weimar Republic
*
Glossary of the Third Reich
This is a list of words, terms, concepts and slogans of Nazi Germany used in the historiography covering the Nazi regime.
Some words were coined by Adolf Hitler and other Nazi Party members. Other words and concepts were borrowed and appropriated, ...
*
Weimar Timeline
References
Sources
*
*
*
Further reading
* Halperin, S. William (1946). ''Germany Tried Democracy: A Political History of the Reich from 1918 to 1933'
online
{{Weimar Republic political parties
Defunct political parties in Germany