Agricultural League

The Imperial Land League (RLB ) was the most important association of German agriculture during the Weimar Republic.

History

The Imperial Land League was created in 1921 by the merger of the two great Protestant right-wing farmers' organizations Agrarian League ( BDL ) and German Landbund to more effectively the agrarian interests - for example, questions the controlled economy - to prevail against the resurgent forces of the working class and large-scale industry can. The leadership pursued an anti- democratic, nationalist course with a rejection of the Weimar Republic, at the same time under the existing system as much influence should be maintained, especially for the large landowners and east of the Elbe Junker. East of the Elbe large landowners were strongly represented in governing bodies. The Imperial Land League was the most influential German farmers' association during the Weimar Republic. Particular focus of the association were Pomerania, Brandenburg, Silesia, Thuringia, East Hanover and Hesse. Only in the Catholic regions of the empire of the Imperial Land League was unable to gain a foothold. Here, dominated the union of the German peasant associations.

The Empire Landbund created a strong organization with a powerful center with numerous newspapers. 1928 were 190 press organs near the Imperial Land League and were even him or the members ' organizations. In 1924 there were already about 500 district offices. So even large parts of the agricultural community could be greatly influenced in the strongholds that were not members of the imperial federal land.

Politically the empire - Landbund close after the founding of the republic especially hostile German National People's Party ( DNVP ). In particular, in 1924 the party supported this association particularly strong, but also promoted candidacies of high-ranking members in other right-wing parties, primarily the German People's Party ( DVP ). In the presidential election in 1925 of the imperial country Federation supported the election of Paul von Hindenburg. In the mid-1920s, leading Reich Landbund members of the DNVP were represented in the government. But this phase of cooperation was short-lived. Customs matters, and the agrarian crisis exacerbated the distance to the state and to the Republic. The support of the government had led, especially in Hesse and Silesia to massive membership losses. So Landbund officials were instrumental in the country people's movement in 1927/28. However, parted more Landbund leader of the DNVP, as Karl Hepp, one of the presidents, or Ernst Hoefer, Chairman of the Thuringian State Federal, and founded the Christian- National Peasants' and Country People's Party ( CNBLP ), which in 1930 changed its name in German peasantry. The new party took the DNVP in the Reichstag elections in 1928 from 10 seats. Inside the National Rural League It conducted considerable turbulence. The battle against other farmers' organizations has been largely discontinued. To get greater impact in the agricultural and economic crisis, the empire - Land League was instrumental in the establishment of an umbrella organization of all farmers' organizations. 1929 joined the Green Front to life.

The Imperial Federation supported country in 1929, initiated by the DNVP, NSDAP and other legal associations referendum against the Young Plan. Through its leading member Martin Schiele, the Imperial Land League in the government Heinrich Brüning, which led to the expulsion from the party Schiele from the DNVP and the German peasantry ( CNBLP ) in the Reichstag election of 1930 involved helped to large gains. However, since the NSDAP now achieved great progress with the construction of " the Political agricultural apparatus " especially in the countryside, the Nazis gained more and more influence in the Imperial Land League. Already in October 1930 had Martin Schiele resign as president of the Reich Peasant League, the new board moved further to the right. The Schiele trailer was pushed back, the Nazis gained ground. Other groups in the Reich Landbund believed they could win back lost through an alliance with the Nazi influence on agriculture. The agitation by the association against Brüning government, democracy and the Weimar Republic intensified, so that the Reich Landbund 1931, the Harzburg Front joined. In the presidential election, 1932, the leadership of the Reich Peasant League recommended a vote for the national German Stahlhelm leader Theodor Duesterberg or Adolf Hitler as Hindenburg not distanced himself from his support of the SPD.

On January 11, 1933, the RLB leadership has been received at Hindenburg and campaigned vigorously against the Chancellor Kurt von Schleicher. The Reich President "ordered " Schleicher more support for the Agrarian Party, but he refused. This contributed significantly to the way Hitler to power on. Transfer of power to Hitler on 30 January 1933 was welcomed by the leadership, so there was no resistance at the DC circuit of agriculture and its detection in Reichsnährstand the part of the largest agricultural organization.

President

Members

1923: approximately 1 million

The exact number can not be determined because the number of affiliated organizations swayed and distinction has been made between full and additional members. According to self-reported 5.6 million members were allegedly present during the peak season. After a separate publication with details of the members of the affiliated associations there were in 1923 about 1 million members. Other estimates range from 0.8 to 1.7 million members.

Affiliated Associations ( 1928)

  • Landbund Anhalt (10,000 members)
  • Baden Agrarian League (40,000)
  • Federation of Farmers in Bavaria ( 27,000 )
  • Brandenburgischer Landbund ( 118 670 )
  • Braunschweigischer Landbund ( 12,000 )
  • Danziger Land League (4000)
  • Grenzmark -South ( 8800 )
  • Hanoverian Landbund ( no details )
  • Landbund for the Hanseatic cities of Hamburg and Lubeck ( 2000)
  • Hessischer Landbund ( 25,744 )
  • Kurhessischer Landbund (40,000)
  • Lippe Land League ( 2500)
  • Landbund for the part of the country Lubeck ( 735 )
  • Landbund Mecklenburg -Schwerin ( 6180 )
  • Mecklenburg- Strelitz Land League ( 6180 )
  • District peasantry for Nassau and the circle Wetzlar, Limburg ( 30,000 )
  • Upper Silesian Land League (10,000 )
  • Landbund for Austria ( 85,000 )
  • Landbund Oldenburg -Bremen ( 14,799 )
  • Agricultural Association East Prussia ( 46,000 )
  • Pomeranian Landbund ( 140,000 )
  • Palatine Farmers' Federation (15,000 )
  • Rhenish Landbund ( 21,000 )
  • Saxon Land League ( 60,000 )
  • Landbund Province of Saxony ( 86,400 )
  • Silesian Land League ( 75,000 )
  • Landbund Schleswig -Holstein ( 17,774 )
  • Thuringian Federation ( 41,150 )
  • Waldeckische shear Land League ( 3066 )
  • Westphalian Land League ( 15,515 )
  • Württemberg peasants and husbandmen covenant. Federation of Farmers ( 40,000 )

Source: Cerny / Fahlbusch, a.a.O, pp. 688-689.

German Agrarian League German People's Party Rural People's Movement German federal election, 1928 German federal election, 1930 Werner Willikens Integrated Authority File
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