Deutsche Reichspartei
Encyclopedia
For the party that existed in Imperial Germany, see Free Conservative Party
.
The Deutsche Reichspartei (German Reich
Party, German Imperial Party or German Empire Party) was a nationalist political party
in West Germany
. It was founded in 1950 from the German Right Party
(Deutsche Rechtspartei), which had been set up in Lower Saxony
in 1946 and had five members in the first Bundestag
.
In 1949 the conservative German Right Party's more neo-Nazi
elements split away to form the Socialist Reich Party
. The remaining forces of the German Right Party sought to merge with other right wing groups, and the result was the creation of the Empire Party. The initial founders of the party were, among others: Alexander Andrae
, Oskar Lutz, Hans Bernd von Grünberg, Wilhelm Meinberg, Otto Heß, Hans Schikora, Heinrich Kunstmann, Adolf von Thadden
.
As opposed to more openly neo-Nazi parties, the Empire Party preferred to distance itself from Adolf Hitler
. Instead it preferred to exalt Imperial Germany (1870-1918). The party, however, moved more or less towards a national socialist way in 1952, when the SRP was declared anti-constitutional and disbanded by the Federal Constitutional Court of Germany
and much of its membership re-joined the Empire Party. The membership of Hans-Ulrich Rudel
in 1953 was seen as marking out the party as the new force of neo-Nazism.
Despite this the party suffered through a lean period in the 1950s, which continued until a revival in the regional elections of 1959. By then, however the Empire party was already in the process of going out of existence, as its chairman Adolf von Thadden
wanted to form a broader-based political force of socialists, nationalists and non-reactionary, non-religious conservatives. The party held its final conference in 1964 when it was symbolically dissolved. It was quickly replaced by the National Democratic Party of Germany (NPD).
Free Conservative Party
The Free Conservative Party was a right-wing political party in Prussia and the German Empire, which emerged from the Conservatives in the Prussian Landtag in 1866...
.
The Deutsche Reichspartei (German Reich
Reich
Reich is a German word cognate with the English rich, but also used to designate an empire, realm, or nation. The qualitative connotation from the German is " sovereign state." It is the word traditionally used for a variety of sovereign entities, including Germany in many periods of its history...
Party, German Imperial Party or German Empire Party) was a nationalist political party
Political party
A political party is a political organization that typically seeks to influence government policy, usually by nominating their own candidates and trying to seat them in political office. Parties participate in electoral campaigns, educational outreach or protest actions...
in West Germany
West Germany
West Germany is the common English, but not official, name for the Federal Republic of Germany or FRG in the period between its creation in May 1949 to German reunification on 3 October 1990....
. It was founded in 1950 from the German Right Party
Deutsche Rechtspartei
The German Right Party was a right-wing political party that emerged in the British zone of Allied-occupied Germany after the Second World War....
(Deutsche Rechtspartei), which had been set up in Lower Saxony
Lower Saxony
Lower Saxony is a German state situated in north-western Germany and is second in area and fourth in population among the sixteen states of Germany...
in 1946 and had five members in the first Bundestag
Bundestag
The Bundestag is a federal legislative body in Germany. In practice Germany is governed by a bicameral legislature, of which the Bundestag serves as the lower house and the Bundesrat the upper house. The Bundestag is established by the German Basic Law of 1949, as the successor to the earlier...
.
In 1949 the conservative German Right Party's more neo-Nazi
Neo-Nazism
Neo-Nazism consists of post-World War II social or political movements seeking to revive Nazism or some variant thereof.The term neo-Nazism can also refer to the ideology of these movements....
elements split away to form the Socialist Reich Party
Socialist Reich Party
The Socialist Reich Party of Germany was a West German far-right political party founded in the aftermath of the World War II in 1949 as an openly Nazi orientated split-off from the national conservative German Right Party...
. The remaining forces of the German Right Party sought to merge with other right wing groups, and the result was the creation of the Empire Party. The initial founders of the party were, among others: Alexander Andrae
Alexander Andrae
Alexander Andrae , whose first name is often mistakenly given as Waldemar, was a German military officer from Kösling,...
, Oskar Lutz, Hans Bernd von Grünberg, Wilhelm Meinberg, Otto Heß, Hans Schikora, Heinrich Kunstmann, Adolf von Thadden
Adolf von Thadden
Adolf von Thadden Von Thadden was born at the noble estate of Gut Trieglaff near Greifenberg in Pomerania – was a leading far right German politician...
.
As opposed to more openly neo-Nazi parties, the Empire Party preferred to distance itself from Adolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler was an Austrian-born German politician and the leader of the National Socialist German Workers Party , commonly referred to as the Nazi Party). He was Chancellor of Germany from 1933 to 1945, and head of state from 1934 to 1945...
. Instead it preferred to exalt Imperial Germany (1870-1918). The party, however, moved more or less towards a national socialist way in 1952, when the SRP was declared anti-constitutional and disbanded by the Federal Constitutional Court of Germany
Federal Constitutional Court of Germany
The Federal Constitutional Court is a special court established by the Grundgesetz, the German basic law...
and much of its membership re-joined the Empire Party. The membership of Hans-Ulrich Rudel
Hans-Ulrich Rudel
Hans-Ulrich Rudel was a Stuka dive-bomber pilot during World War II and a member of the Nazi party. The most highly decorated German serviceman of the war, Rudel was one of only 27 military men to be awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves, Swords and Diamonds, and the only...
in 1953 was seen as marking out the party as the new force of neo-Nazism.
Despite this the party suffered through a lean period in the 1950s, which continued until a revival in the regional elections of 1959. By then, however the Empire party was already in the process of going out of existence, as its chairman Adolf von Thadden
Adolf von Thadden
Adolf von Thadden Von Thadden was born at the noble estate of Gut Trieglaff near Greifenberg in Pomerania – was a leading far right German politician...
wanted to form a broader-based political force of socialists, nationalists and non-reactionary, non-religious conservatives. The party held its final conference in 1964 when it was symbolically dissolved. It was quickly replaced by the National Democratic Party of Germany (NPD).