Weimar Paramilitary Groups - Groups Affiliated To Political Parties

Groups Affiliated To Political Parties

  • Rightwing
    • Stahlhelm, Bund der Frontsoldaten (Steel Helmet, League of Front Soldiers), officially a veterans' organization, it was the largest organisation stemming from the Freikorps with about 500,000 members. It was led by Theodor Duesterberg and was opposed to the Weimar Republic and politically close to the DNVP and other conservative parties. The Stahlhelm organized an employment service for its unemployed working-class members and a housing program. In 1931, it formed part of the Harzburg Front. In 1934 it was integrated into the SA and in 1935 dissolved.
    • Deutschvölkischer Schutz und Trutzbund (German Nationalist Protection and Defiance Federation)
    • Sturmabteilung (SA) (storm troop), affiliated to the Nazi Party. Its leadership was purged by Hitler in the Night of the Long Knives in 1934. One SA section (originally called Stosstrupp) was created as Hitler's personal body guard and would develop into the Schutzstaffel (SS).
    • Kampfbund (Fightleague) was an umbrella group involving NSDAP paramilitary groups and a freikorp group. It was created on 30 September 1923 and disbanded after the failed Beer Hall Putsch.
    • Jungdeutscher Orden, led by Artur Mahraun. He distanced his group from the Nazis because his group was fundamentally hostile to political parties. In 1930, its political arm merged with the DDP to form the DStP.
  • Centralists
    • Reichsbanner Schwarz-Rot-Gold (Imperial Banner Black-Red-Gold), devoted to the defense of the Weimar Republic, politically close to the SPD and the liberal DDP. It was part of the Iron Front meant to counter the right-wing Harzburg Front. In 1933 the organisation was banned.
    • Eiserne Front (Iron Front) was established in 1931 against the Harzburg Front. It was banned in 1933.
  • Left wing
    • Rotfrontkämpferbund (Red Front Fighters' League), affiliated to the KPD. It was banned in 1933.
    • Other communist groups included the Young Antifascist Guard, the Fighting League Against Fascism, and the Anti-Fascist Action Group. They were banned in 1933. Also the Red Army of Ruhr was active during 1920.

Similar organisations also existed in the Republic of Austria, most notably the Schutzbund and the Heimwehr.

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