Iron Front

The Iron Front was an alliance of the Reichsbanner black, red and gold, the General German Trade Union Federation ( ADGB ), the general free Employees' Association ( AFA Association), the SPD and the Workers Gymnastics and Sports Association ( ATSB ) in the resistance against National Socialism. Her political opponents, the KPD was. The Communist Party chairman Ernst Thalmann characterized the Iron Front as a " terrorist organization of social fascism ".

It was founded on 16 December 1931 on the initiative of the Reichsbanner to the merger of the anti-democratic rights in the Harzburg Front face a counterweight can. The political leadership of the defense alliance was the party chairman of the SPD Otto Wels, the technical management of the Reich banner chairman Karl Höltermann. Höltermann stated in his call for the foundation of the Iron Front:

"The year 1932 will be our year, the year of the ultimate victory of the Republic over their opponents. Not a day not an hour more we want to remain on the defensive - we are attacking! Attack down the line! Our deployment must already be part of the general offensive. Today we call - tomorrow we hit "!

This unique challenge of the Iron Front caused a temporary boost of motivation among supporters of the Republic, but turned into resignation after noncombat acceptance of Prussia shock on July 20, 1932.

Symbol of the Iron Front were three arrows that were well suited to "destroy" a swastika painted over by to. The three arrows were interpreted differently. They stood for the opponents of the Iron Front, the three enemies of democracy. Communists, monarchists and Nazis, but also for the three pillars of the labor movement: party, trade union and empire banner as symbols for the political, economic and physical power of the Iron Front

The Iron Front heard with the suppression of the labor movement and the destruction of the unions on May 2, 1933, to exist.