The Reichsbanner Schwarz-Rot-Gold was a paramilitary organisation established to defend the Weimar Republic from attacks from the KPD (Communists) and right wing extremists. The organisation was formed in 1924 by former members of the armed services who were supportive of the Weimar Republic.
Reichsbanner Schwarz-Rot-Gold
Reichsbanner Schwarz-Rot-Gold had representatives from the 3 main centrist parties: Social Democratic Party, German Centre Party and German Democratic Party. It was established as a reaction to the actions of paramilitary wings of the Communist Party (called the Rotfrontkämpferbund) and the Sturmabteilung (SA) of the Nazi Party. Indeed, it was the actions of the SA and the Nazi Party at the Munich Putsch that led to the moderate parties meeting in Magdeburg to form the Reichsbanner organisation.
Membership and organisation
Membership of the organisation was open to former servicemen. They would march at party meetings and act as a protection squad against attacks from the extremist paramilitary groups. As fighting with the KPD and Nazi’s intensified in the early 1930’s a special unit, The Iron Fist, was established to deal with the more violent approach they were combating. They also restructured their organisation and introduced a Youth Wing.
Size of the Reichsbanner Schwarz-Rot-Gold
The Reichsbanner Schwartz-Rot-Gold was not a small organisation by any means. Party records show that at the time the Nazi’s banned the Reichsbanner organisation, there were approximately 3 million signed up members and some 250,000 youth members.
The Reichsbanner organisation was banned by the Nazi’s following the Enabling Act.
Activities of members after the organisation was banned
After the organisation was banned many of its members were arrested. Other members looked to join underground movements.
Some leading members of the Reichsbanner movement continued to resist the Nazi’s throughout the course of the Third Reich. For example:
Walter Schmedemann, operated a resistance cell until being arrested and sent to Sachenhausen. Whilst imprisoned he worked to ensure that forced labourers were fed.
Karl Henrich and Theodor Haubach operated an illegal, underground, version of the Reichsbanner organisation that reputedly had 1000 members. Henrich spent much of the remainder of his life in concentration camps and prisons. Haubach spent some time in prison but was released in 1935. He made contacts with members of the Kreisau Circle. After the July Bomb Plot he was again arrested. He was found guilty of treason and executed in January, 1945.
Germany 1919 – 1945 Links
The Second Reich
Unification of Germany – Political systems within the Second Reich – German Society during the Second Reich – Collapse of the Second Reich
Weimar Republic
Interim Government – Founding of the Weimar Republic – Impact of the First World War on Germany – The Treaty of Versailles and its impact on Germany – Weimar Constitution – 1919-1923: Years of Crisis? – Spartacist Uprising – Kapp Putsch – Reichsbanner Schwarz-Rot-Gold – Reparations – Hyperinflation in Germany, 1923 – 1924-1928: A Golden Era? – 1925 Presidential Election – Gustav Stresemann – German Foreign Relations 1919-1932 – Germany in the Great Depression – Failings of the Weimar Republic – Dada Movement
Rise of the Nazi Party
The Munich Putsch – Did the Economic Crisis of 1923 help the Nazi’s? – Origins of the Nazi Party – Rise of the Nazi Party
Nazi Germany
Totalitarian Regime in Nazi Germany – How did Hitler consolidate power? – Mein Kampf – Nazi methods of control – Opposition to the Nazi Regime – Organisation of the Nazi Party – Fuhrerprinzip – Kristallnacht – Youth and Education – Goering and the 2nd 4 Year Plan – Anti-Jewish Boycott, 1933 – Nazi Anti-Semitism – DAF (The German Labour Front) – Propaganda in Germany 1919-39 – Economic Policy of the Nazi Party – Kreisau Circle – The Confessing Church – Catholic Church – Edelweiss Pirates
Biographies
Ludwig Beck – Dietrich Bonhoeffer – Bishop Clemens von Galen – Carl Goerdeler – Robert Ley – Helmuth von Moltke – Martin Niemoller – Erwin Rommel – Hjalmar Schacht – Sophie Scholl – Albert Speer – Claus von Stauffenberg – Fritz Todt