Last modified: 2014-01-11 by pete loeser
Keywords: nationaldemokratische partei deutschlands | npd |
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![[National Democratic Party of Germany]](../images/d/de}npd.gif)
3:5 Image by Eugene Ipavec, 8 Oct 2005
Flag adopted 1964
The NPD was founded in 1964 and has now about 6,000 members (third largest right-extremist party). Its youth organization is the JN (Junge Nationaldemokraten, Young National Democrats), founded 1969. From the beginning it was a right-wing party. The foundation actually was a merger of several older right-wing parties, Deutsche Reichspartei (DRP, German Empire's Party), Deutsch-Nationale Volkspartei (DNVP, German National People's Party) and also parts of the GDP (Gesamtdeutsche Partei, All-German Party) and members of the right-conservative wings of the German Party (Deutsche Partei, DP) and the FDP (Freie Demokratische Partei [Free Democratic Party]). Later on former members of several banned organizations, e.g. the former SRP (Sozialistische Reichspartei, Socialist Empire's Party), joined the NPD.
The first years brought successes in elections in the German Länder, e.g. 1968 in Baden-Württemberg 9,8%. However, in federal elections the NPD did never get beyond the 5% necessary for getting seats in the Bundestag (Federal Parliament). In the 1970's the importance of the NPD was low, in the 1980's two new right-wing parties competed with the NPD, the Republikaner (REP, Republicans) and the DVU (Deutsche Volksunion, German People's Union).
The 1990's brought a significant change in the party’s politics. Not only the programmatics have been radicalized, but expecially the style: instead of taking part in elections, the NPD became more and more active in demonstrations (Kampf um die Straße; battle for the street). There was also growing attractivity for loosely organized violent neo-nazis (especially skinheads) to become member of the NPD. Expecially the youth organization JN has become a hinge between the NPD and neo-nazi organisations.
Growing neo-nazi violence in Germany spawned a discussion on banning the NPD and perhaps also other right-extremist parties. A banning of a party has to be performed by the Bundesverfassungsgericht, the Federal Constitutional Court. This happened only twice in the history of the Federal Republic of Germany: in 1952 the SRP (Sozialistische Reichspartei) was banned, in 1956 the KPD (Kommunistische Partei Deutschlands). It is obviously not easy to ban a party in Germany. The NPD is decidedly anti-democratic, racist, antisemitic, against immigration and for relativation of crimes of the Third Reich. Several politicians in Germany think, the NPD could be banned by the Bundesverfassungsgericht, others think, there is not enough evidence.
Sources::
- Mintzel A. and OberReuter H., Parteien in der Bundesrepublik Deutschland,
Bundeszentrale für politische Bildung, Bonn 1992;
- Hirsch K., Rechts von der Union: Personen, Organisationen, Parteien
seit 1945, Knesebeck & Schuler, München 1989;
- Rabbow 1970;
- Weißmann K., Schwarze Fahnen, Runenzeichen: die Entwicklung der
politischen Symbolik der deutschen Rechten zwischen 1890 und 1945,
Droste, Düsseldorf 1991;
- Verfassungsschutzberichte (Reports of the Office for the Protection
of the Constitution) at the Verfassungsschutzberichte
Official Website;
- NPD Website; Letter from the NPD
dated 10th July 2000; News on TV; Süddeutsche Zeitung (several articles
over the last weeks).
Marcus Schmöger, 14 Aug 2000
The NPD uses a lot of flags during demonstrations. The official flag is white-red-white with the party emblem in the center. According to a letter from the NPD this flag was in use since the foundation in 1964. In the 1970's and 1980's the NPD also used flags similar to the JN flag. During demonstrations one also can see red flags with party logo.
At the beginning thw black-red-gold colours played a role in the NPD, although now black-white-red (the colours of the German Empire from 1871-1919) are prominently displayed. These colours are displayed in party conventions and during demonstrations. NPD demonstrators wave different versions of black-white-red.
Marcus Schmöger, 14 Aug 2000
![[National Democratic Party of Germany, variant]](../images/d/de}npd2.gif)
1:1 Image by Eugene Ipavec, 8 Oct 2005
During demonstrations one can also see red square flags with party logo.
Marcus Schmöger, 14 August 2000
![[National Democratic Party of Germany, 2013]](../images/d/de}npd2013.gif)
Image from Pete Loeser, 27 December 2013
The National Democratic Party of Germany (NPD), as part of a new "reform" platform trying to portray itself in a more politically-neutral light, adopted a more simplified flag design which removed the golden oak leaf wreath used on its earlier flags. Since July 2013, this flag has been used in various demonstrations by this radical far-right national socialist party.
Pete Loeser, 27 December 2013
![[Young National Democrats / JN (Germany) obverse, sinister hoist]](../images/d/de}jn.gif) |
Image by Marcus Schmöger 14:15  |
The flag of the youth organization JN is red with a white arrow and white letters "JN" (hoist is on the right). In the 1970's and 1980's the NPD also used flags similar to the JN flag.
Marcus Schmöger, 14 Aug 2000
![[Flag used by NPD'ers]](../images/d/de}npd1.gif)
Image by ND, 13 Feb 2005
This flag was used by the militants of the extreme-right NPD during demonstrations related to the bombardment of the town of Dresden by the Allies in 1945.
ND, 13 Feb 2005