The Main Parties of the Weimar Republic
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A: The Right
German Nationalist People's Party (Deutschnationale Volkspartei; DNVP)
Until the electoral success of the Nazis in 1930 the strongest right-wing party (best
result: 22% of the national vote in December 1924). Was formed in 1918 out of
conservative and anti-Semitic parties. Its strongholds were the East German areas
dominated by large landlords (Junkers) as well as the Protestant middle classes in midsized towns and the countryside. Several prominent industrialists funded the party. The
DNVP was officially for restoring the monarchy, but many members in private
considered an authoritarian Republic or a military dictatorship preferable to the return of
a discredited monarch. Economic interests (agriculture and industry) led the party to
participate in right-to-center governments in 1925 and 1927 despite its rejection of the
Weimar Constitution and democracy. The party had strong affiliations with the army,
paramilitary leagues, the Protestant church, and rightist women's groups. Although its
most outspoken anti-Semites left the DNVP in 1922 to found their own party, the DNVP
continued to have a strong anti-Semitic wing. Under the pressure of unreconcilable
economic interests and political controversies, the DNVP declined after 1928 under the
leadership of press magnate Alfred Hugenberg, who wanted to use it to destroy
democracy at all cost. Hugenberg’s DNVP ended up as a junior partner in Hitler's
accession to power. The DNVP attracted a large share of the Protestant women’s vote.
National Socialist German Worker's Party (Nationalsozialistische Deutsche
Arbeiterpartei; NSDAP)
Rather unimportant until 1929/30. Initially based mostly in Bavaria. Radically anti-Semitic
and nationalist. Rejected all participation in the Weimar system (unlike the DNVP until
1928) and went to parliaments mostly to disrupt proceedings and proclaim the
bancruptcy of democracy. Involved in the failed Beer Hall Putsch of November 1923.
Expanded to the rest of Germany after 1925 and established itself as the leading party
of the right by 1929. Supported by massive propaganda, a charismatic leader, and a
paramilitary movement (the SA), the Nazis toned down their ideological radicalism and
won the profile as the only party able to deal with the country's giant economic and
political crisis after 1930. By 1932 the NSDAP's appeal thus cut across class and
gender boundaries and made it a true people's party (although the Catholic electorate
and the industrial working class remained comparatively resistant to its appeal).
B. Parties of the Middle
German People's Party (Deutsche Volkspartei; DVP)
Formed in 1918 out of the National Liberal Party. Represented mostly business and
industry. Its constituency overlapped with the DNVP's. The DVP, after rejecting the
Weimar Constitution in 1919, decided to work within the Weimar system despite strong
reservations. Its outstanding representative was Gustav Stresemann, foreign minister
1923-1929. But the party always had a powerful right wing resentful of Stresemann's
policy of international reconciliation and pragmatic acceptance of democracy. This wing
gained control after Stresemann's untimely death in October 1929 and played a role in
destabilizing democracy and helping the success of the Nazis. Like the DNVP, the DVP
lost much of its electorate to splinter parties and, after 1929, the Nazis.
Center Party (Zentrumspartei; Zentrum)
Since Bismarck’s times this party was allied with the Catholic Church and mobilized
about half of Germany’s Catholics. Its strongholds were the predominantly Catholic
West and South of Germany. Although the Center Party propagated conservative
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cultural values, it supported democracy in the 1910s and 1920s and helped to draft the
Weimar Constitution with democrats (DDP) and moderate socialists (SPD). It always
included a conservative and authoritarian wing, however, which won control of the party
in the late 1920s and led it into tactical compliance with the Nazis in 1933. The Center
Party was very popular with Catholic women voters.
Bavarian People's Party (Bayerische Volkspartei; BVP)
Split off from the Center Party during the revolution of 1918-1919. The BVP, the
strongest force in Bavaria throughout the Weimar Republic, resented the Center's
alliance with the SPD and deplored Bavaria's loss of separate rights during the
revolution. The BVP was rather openly opposed to democracy and tried to establish an
authoritarian constitution in Bavaria. The party had a separatist wing and produced
much anti-Berlin rhetoric. In 1925, the BVP voted for right-wing candidate Paul von
Hindenburg as president – against Wilhelm Marx of the Center Party. It did, however,
join several cabinets led by the Center Party and the DVP.
C: The Liberals and the Left
German Democratic Party (Deutsche Demokratische Partei; DDP)
Formed in 1918 out of the former Progressive Party. Represented the liberal
bourgeoisie and supported democracy. Got amonst 20% of the national vote in 1919 but
declined dramatically as democracy became discredited in 1920 and thereafter. Allied
with the bourgeois women's movement. Lost almost all of its voters first to the DVP and
DNVP, then to splinter parties, and finally to the NSDAP.
Social Democratic Party (Sozialdemokratische Partei; SPD)
Represented the industrial proletariat and the free trade unions. Reform-oriented,
moderate, not revolutionary. For democracy and social welfare state. Lost its radical
wing during the war (see USPD). Remained progressive on women's issues and had
large representation of women in parliaments. Until the Nazi success in 1932, the SPD
was the strongest party (usually between 20 and 30% of the vote).
Independent Social Democratic Party (Unabhängige Sozialdemokratische Partei
Deutschlands; USPD)
Came into being as a group of SPD deputies disenchanted with the SPD’s support for
war credits in 1916-17. The USPD joined the revolutionary government with the SPD in
November 1918 but left it in protest against SPD repression of workers’ uprisings only a
few weeks later. The USPD advocated a mixed system of councils (soviets), especially
workers’ councils, and parliamentary democracy. Unable to enforce its vision in 1919,
the USPD lost influence and broke apart in 1922. The majority joined the SPD, and a
strong minority merged with the KPD.
Communist Party (Kommunistische Partei Deutschlands; KPD)
Formed in 1918-1919 out of leftist groups in- and outside the USPD who wanted to
radicalize the revolution and substitute a communist state for democracy. Attempted to
take power in several abortive putsches and worker uprisings until 1923 (Spartacus
Uprising 1919; Munich Soviet, 1919; Red October 1923). Increasingly dominated by
doctrinaire Leninists obedient to Moscow who saw the SPD as their most vicious enemy.
Involved in bloody street battles with the Nazis in the early 1930s, mostly in the big
cities. Gained strong support from unskilled and unemployed workers disillusioned with
the SPD, particularly after 1929. It was the most progressive party on women's issues
and had the strongest representation of women in parliaments, but (like the NSDAP until
1932) it remained rather unpopular with women voters.
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