Deutsche Rechtspartei
Encyclopedia
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
.
Also known as the Deutsche Konservative Partei - Deutsche Rechtspartei (the party used both names, varying the name used between different Länder
, but had no direct links to the pre-World War I German Conservative Party
), the initially national conservative
party was formed in June 1946 by a merger of three smaller groups - the Deutsche Konservative Partei, the Deutsche Aufbaupartei of the Völkisch
politician Reinhold Wulle
and the Deutsche Bauern- und Landvolk Partei. Its manifesto was in large parts authored by Hans Zehrer
.
Originally intended as a continuation of the German National People's Party
, it soon attracted a number of former Nazis
and its programme changed towards a more neo-Nazi
stance, while many centrist members left to join the German Party
(DP). In the 1949 federal elections to the first Bundestag
, the party captured five seats, among the deputies was also Fritz Rössler
(alias Dr. Franz Richter), who soon became notorious for his radical attitudes.
Despite this success, the DRP was also weakened that same year when the Socialist Reich Party
(Sozialistische Reichspartei, SRP) was formed and a number of members around Otto Ernst Remer
and Gerhard Krüger
left to join the more openly neo-Nazi party. Within the Bundestag, the DRP began to work closely with a number of more minor groups on the far-right, such as the National Democrats (a minor group that should not be confused with the later National Democratic Party of Germany
). Between 1950 and 1951, the remaining DRP MPs around Fritz Rössler sought to merge with these groups in order to form a larger grouping, which resulted in the creation of the German Empire Party
(Deutsche Reichspartei). Rössler had to vacate his party offices for his contacts with SRP chairmen, he joined the party in September 1950.
Although effectively defunct, a report on the party was produced by the Federal Constitutional Court of Germany
in the context of the SRP ban in 1952. The report claimed that the party had actively tried to organise members of earlier right wing groups, although no action was taken as the party had ceased to exist.
Right-wing politics
In politics, Right, right-wing and rightist generally refer to support for a hierarchical society justified on the basis of an appeal to natural law or tradition. To varying degrees, the Right rejects the egalitarian objectives of left-wing politics, claiming that the imposition of equality is...
political party that emerged in the British zone of Allied-occupied Germany after the Second World War
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
Also known as the Deutsche Konservative Partei - Deutsche Rechtspartei (the party used both names, varying the name used between different Länder
States of Germany
Germany is made up of sixteen which are partly sovereign constituent states of the Federal Republic of Germany. Land literally translates as "country", and constitutionally speaking, they are constituent countries...
, but had no direct links to the pre-World War I German Conservative Party
German Conservative Party
The German Conservative Party was a right-wing political party of the German Empire, founded in 1876.- Policies :It was generally seen as representing the interests of the German nobility, the East Elbian Junkers and the Evangelical Church of the Prussian Union, and had its political stronghold...
), the initially national conservative
National conservatism
National conservatism is a political term used primarily in Europe to describe a variant of conservatism which concentrates more on national interests than standard conservatism as well as upholding cultural and ethnic identity, while not being outspokenly nationalist or supporting a far-right...
party was formed in June 1946 by a merger of three smaller groups - the Deutsche Konservative Partei, the Deutsche Aufbaupartei of the Völkisch
Völkisch movement
The volkisch movement is the German interpretation of the populist movement, with a romantic focus on folklore and the "organic"...
politician Reinhold Wulle
Reinhold Wulle
Reinhold Wulle was a German Völkisch politician and publicist active during the Weimar Republic.-Völkisch politics:...
and the Deutsche Bauern- und Landvolk Partei. Its manifesto was in large parts authored by Hans Zehrer
Hans Zehrer
Hans Zehrer was a German journalist. He edited a leading right-wing journal, Die Tat, and founded the Tat Circle.-Biography:...
.
Originally intended as a continuation of the German National People's Party
German National People's Party
The German National People's Party was a national conservative party in Germany during the time of the Weimar Republic. Before the rise of the NSDAP it was the main nationalist party in Weimar Germany composed of nationalists, reactionary monarchists, völkisch, and antisemitic elements, and...
, it soon attracted a number of former Nazis
Nazism
Nazism, the common short form name of National Socialism was the ideology and practice of the Nazi Party and of Nazi Germany...
and its programme changed towards a 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....
stance, while many centrist members left to join the German Party
German Party
The German Party is a name used by a number of German political parties in the country's history. The current incarnation is represented only at the local level in Germany. However, from 1949 to 1961, a German Party was part of the ruling coalition in the Bundestag...
(DP). In the 1949 federal elections to 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...
, the party captured five seats, among the deputies was also Fritz Rössler
Fritz Rössler
Fritz Rössler was a low-level official in the Nazi Party who went on to become a leading figure in German neo-Nazi politics. In his later life he was more commonly known as Dr. Franz Richter.-Nazi activity:...
(alias Dr. Franz Richter), who soon became notorious for his radical attitudes.
Despite this success, the DRP was also weakened that same year when 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...
(Sozialistische Reichspartei, SRP) was formed and a number of members around Otto Ernst Remer
Otto Ernst Remer
Otto-Ernst Remer was a German Wehrmacht officer who played a decisive role in stopping the 1944 20 July Plot against Adolf Hitler. During the war he was wounded nine times in combat...
and Gerhard Krüger
Gerhard Krüger
Gerhard Krüger was a Nazi Party student leader and later a leading figure within the neo-Nazi movement.-Early years:...
left to join the more openly neo-Nazi party. Within the Bundestag, the DRP began to work closely with a number of more minor groups on the far-right, such as the National Democrats (a minor group that should not be confused with the later National Democratic Party of Germany
National Democratic Party of Germany
The National Democratic Party of Germany – The People's Union , is a far right German nationalist party. It was founded in 1964 a successor to the German Reich Party . Party statements self-identify as Germany's "only significant patriotic force"...
). Between 1950 and 1951, the remaining DRP MPs around Fritz Rössler sought to merge with these groups in order to form a larger grouping, which resulted in the creation of the German Empire Party
Deutsche Reichspartei
For the party that existed in Imperial Germany, see Free Conservative Party.The Deutsche Reichspartei was a nationalist political party in West Germany...
(Deutsche Reichspartei). Rössler had to vacate his party offices for his contacts with SRP chairmen, he joined the party in September 1950.
Although effectively defunct, a report on the party was produced 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...
in the context of the SRP ban in 1952. The report claimed that the party had actively tried to organise members of earlier right wing groups, although no action was taken as the party had ceased to exist.