Free State of Anhalt

The Free State of Anhalt was a province of the German Empire in the time of the Weimar Republic and the successor to the Duchy of Anhalt. The Free State had with an area of ​​2299 km ² in 1925 351 045 inhabitants. At the time of National Socialism he had 1939 436.213 inhabitants in May with an area of ​​2314 km ².

  • 3.1 Administrative divisions

Development

On November 12, 1918, from the duchy of Anhalt a republic, as Prince Regent Aribert was forced by street demonstrations, to waive on behalf of the still underage Duke Joachim Ernst von Anhalt Anhalt and the entire royal family to the throne. The abdication was followed by the formation of a workers 'and soldiers' council in Dessau, under the chairmanship of mayor Fritz Hesse on November 9, 1918. November 14 led to the formation of a provisional SPD / DDP government under the leadership of Wolfgang Heine ( SPD).

For scheduled for December 15, 1918 elections for the Constituent Assembly, the country's SPD achieved an absolute majority, but decides to continue the coalition with the DDP. The Constituent State Assembly completed its task of drafting a constitution with the adoption of the Constitution for evidence of 18 July 1919.

In the state elections in April 1932, the NSDAP was mixed with 15 seats ( six elected representatives were from Dessau ) strongest faction. With the help of civil rights (NSDAP ) was elected Prime Minister of NSDAP / DNVP coalition in May Alfred Freyberg. Freyberg was the first National Socialist Prime Minister in Germany. Under the Nazi tyranny, among other things, the Bauhaus in Dessau had to adjust his teaching.

With the "Law for the Reconstruction of the Reich " from January 30, 1934 in all countries and free states in Germany had to cede their sovereignty and sovereign rights in the kingdom. In the episode was from the existing since 1918 State of Anhalt, the country Anhalt, where de facto all territorial states of the German Empire had already lost its independence with the " Temporary Law on the Gleichschaltung of the countries with the kingdom " of 31 March 1933.

After the Second World War Anhalt lost its independence and was joined on 20 October 1946 with the former Prussian province of Saxony to the province of Saxony- Anhalt.

After the unification of Germany led the district reform in 1994 within the State of Saxony -Anhalt for the establishment of the district of Anhalt- Zerbst, so that the historical name " Anhalt" lived on not only in the name of the country, but also in a circle name; in a recent district reform in this area was added to the district of the newly formed Anhalt- Bitterfeld on 1 July 2007, thereby Anhalt lives on as part also of this new circle name ( although parts of the county, such as Bitterfeld, never belonged to the historic Anhalt). In the Protestant church, however, the area of the Evangelical Church of Anhalt corresponds today to the former Duchy and the Free State of Anhalt.

Policy

Diet

The Diet of the Free State of Anhalt had its headquarters in Dessau. The first meeting was on 20 February 1919. The legislative periods lasted from 1923 four years before that only three years. In the Imperial Council, Parliament had a voice. As a computational method, the Hare - Niemeyer method was used. There was a set system of proportional representation, but with closed lists.

Prime minister

The President of the State Council 1918-1922 and Minister President of the Free State of Anhalt 1922-1933 or country Anhalt 1933-1945:

Reichsstatthalter

With the Provisional Act for coordination of the countries with the Empire, the countries have lost their sovereignty and following Reichsstatthalter for Anhalt and Brunswick, based in Dessau were used:

  • May 6, 1933 to 23 October 1935: Wilhelm Loeper
  • November 1935 to 20 April 1937: Fritz Sauckel
  • 20. April 1937 to April 1945 Rudolf Jordan

Territorial outline

  • Cities: Ballenstedt, Gernrode, Gröbzig, Guentersberge, Harzgerode, Hoym Bernburg (Saale ), Güsten, Hecklingen, Leopold Hall, Nienburg, Sandersleben Dessau, Radegast, Raguhn, Roßlau, Köthen, Zerbst, Coswig
  • Enclaves: Großalsleben, wholesale and retail Mühlingen, thorn castle, Tilkerode
  • Prussian enclaves: Löbnitz ad Linde, Repau, Pösigk, Priorau

1942, the Prussian communities Löbnitz ad Linde, Repau, Pösigk, Schierau, Priorau, Möst and Goltewitz were incorporated into the country Anhalt and the municipalities Tilkerode, Unterwiederstedt and Wadendorf hived in the province of Saxony in the country of Prussia.

Administrative divisions

Anhalt 1918-1945:

  • County Bernburg (since 1933)
  • County Dessau (since 1933)
  • Urban district Köthen
  • Town Zerbst district (since 1935)
  • County Ballenstedt
  • County Bernburg
  • County Dessau ( to 1932 )
  • District of Köthen (up to 1932)
  • County Dessau- Köthen (since 1932)
  • County Zerbst
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