Democratic Socialists (Germany)
The Democratic Socialists (DS ) was a left-wing party in the Federal Republic of Germany, the (SPD ) had turned away in the early 1980s the policy of the social-liberal government under Chancellor Helmut Schmidt; it was the same alternative and catch basins for some Euro Communists who broke with DKP and SEW. It saw itself as " socialist alternative " to the SPD and as democratic for DKP.
Background
An important trigger for the removal of the DS of the SPD was the criticism of the DS on the support of the so-called NATO Double-Track Decision of 12 December 1979, the ruling SPD. This decision saw a " retrofit " with nuclear -tipped Pershing II medium-range missiles and cruise missiles ( cruise missiles ) in U.S. bases on the territory of the Federal Republic of Germany, supposedly to create a counterweight against the SS - 20 missiles of the USSR. The DS rejected this " upgrade " from and supported so that important positions of the former peace movement that aimed to prevent further rotation of the arms race.
Foundation
The DS were officially and formally founded on 28 November 1982 in Münster. Previously, the movement had for half a year there as an initiative of Democratic Socialists. The driving force behind the DS were the SPD Bundestag member Karl -Heinz Hansen and Manfred Coppik ( MPs until 1983 ). Hansen had been expelled from the party on 13 December 1981 because of repeated criticism from his own party. Coppik joined in solidarity with Hansen also made from the SPD. Hansen and Coppik used their parliamentary mandates until the elections on March 6, 1983 for the dissemination of their political views in favor of the DS. With the loss of these mandates to put the initially excited discussion about the DS. She disappeared more and more from the public view. More accomplice, conveyor or " ghosts " in the Basic Hinder were the Bonner journalist Walter Barthel and Eberhard Rondholz.
The Democratic Socialists cooperated with disgruntled trade unionists as well as the Greens, founded in 1979 in extra-parliamentary initiatives. They were especially active in the peace movement. In addition, the DS were also a part of the peace list, an association of various peace organizations and groupings in which participated mainly DKP- close and Christian parts of the peace movement in elections. Discussions about a collaboration with the United Socialist Party (VSP ) with the later goal of unification led to no result.
Own Press
The DS gave Walter Barthel together as " nationwide " newspaper 1982-1985 first Bonn extra service out of later in Left Extra service was renamed little and fortnightly appeared. From 1985 to 1990 appeared to set the left and then the newspaper The sting, not to be confused with the organ of West Berlin Green.
Decline
The DS as a party was crushed between the left- SPD and the then alternate the green and could always make less clearly-defined policy, but was perceived as part of the extra-parliamentary movement and as discussion circles until its dissolution in 1991. The few ex- DKP defectors were not given the power to act. In West Berlin prevailed " other laws ", the DS did not come there to train.
The DS moved to the loss of federal mandates of Hansen and Coppik never in the Bundestag and also reached in any state legislature a mandate. In some councils they were represented temporarily. After its dissolution in 1991, some Democratic Socialists continued a corresponding political work in other existing or newly established groups from the spectrum of the trade unions, the alternative movement or the New Left.