Reichsbanner Schwarz-Rot-Gold

The Reichsbanner Schwarz-Rot-Gold was a Republican paramilitary force set up during the Weimer Republic in 1924.

Their party name, literally translated from German, means "Red, Gold, Black Country Flag".

The RB (Reichsbanner Party) was one of many right-winged parties who believed in the Republic. It was one of the parties that was affiliated with the Social Democratic Party, whose primary goal was to defend against internal subversion, teaching the population to celebrate the foundation of their new Republic, honor its flag and constitution."

Founded in 1924, the RB was set up as a multiparty organization, who recruited men who were strong supporters of the Republic. The Headquarters of the RB were located in Magdeburg, but had cells wherever right-winged, small groups were found. [Swett, Pamela E. Neighbors and Enemies: The Radicalism in Berlin, 1929-1933. Cambridge, England: Cambridge University Press, 2004.]

The RB party was similar to Hitler's initial Nazi Party and many other paramilitary in their propaganda methods, which ranged from torch-light meetings to grassroots gatherings, even uniforms.

Yet, by the end of the 1920's, the multiparty aspect of the RB, a trait that had once been of great value to the RB, was now turning against it, leading to intra-party tension. Those who were affiliated the Center Party, a moderate party, felt that their representation was diminishing, while the Berlin members hoped to make the RB a purely Socialist Party. [Swett, Pamela E. Neighbors and Enemies: The Radicalism in Berlin, 1929-1933. Cambridge, England: Cambridge University Press, 2004.]

In 1930, the conflict came to a head when the Weimer government’s finance minister, Heinrich Brüning, made massive cuts to the social programs in Germany. This infuriated the socialist as they took it as an act of betrayal. The lack of internal support and external support for the SDP was a deep blow the Center Party.

By the end of the year, the RB had reorganized their paramilitary wing into a two tier system, with the lower rung being those too old for active service and the second, higher, those who were. [Swett, Pamela E. Neighbors and Enemies: The Radicalism in Berlin, 1929-1933. Cambridge, England: Cambridge University Press, 2004.] By the spring of the next year, 250,000 new members were accounted for, seemingly showing a revival of the RB. The new troops, or Schufo, were to prevent an uprising from communist or the Nazi party. However, they were mainly used to protect the political members during assembly meetings and public rallies.

Soon after this influx of troops, Nazi papers, under the direction of Joseph Goebbels, printed allegations of co-operation between the state police and the RB army. The Nazi propaganda stated that in the event of an uprising, the RB would help in suppressing the masses of workers. [Swett, Pamela E. Neighbors and Enemies: The Radicalism in Berlin, 1929-1933. Cambridge, England: Cambridge University Press, 2004.]

However, Prussian Interior Minister Carl Severing, in a Speech made in April of 1932, stated that, “The protection of the state and the protection of the state installations is the work of the state organs… No supplementary form of protection is needed, neither from the Reichsbanner, nor any other organization,”. [Swett, Pamela E. Neighbors and Enemies: The Radicalism in Berlin, 1929-1933. Cambridge, England: Cambridge University Press, 2004.] But with many of the Berlin police officers belonging to such organizations, many of these rumors seemed to hold water.

The Reichsbanner’s downfall, however, came from the fact that it was not a radical organization, like those who it was in competition with. The RB only wanted to maintain the status quo of the Republic. Without any change in mind, it could not convince many people that change was wanted. Also, without an official mandate, not needed by the opposition, i.e. Nazis or Communists, the RB had no power. Secondly, the RB was never a real military organization, even going so far as to have an initial pacifist clause in their charter. [Swett, Pamela E. Neighbors and Enemies: The Radicalism in Berlin, 1929-1933. Cambridge, England: Cambridge University Press, 2004.]

After the Enabling Act that allowed Hitler to come to power, the disbanded all paramilitary organizations, most deemed to be a threat to the new Nazi government.

Notes