National Democratic Party of Germany (Germany)

Nationaldemokratische Partei Deutschlands, NPD

Last modified: 2004-12-29 by santiago dotor
Keywords: nationalsocialist | neonazi | national democratic party of germany | nationaldemokratische partei deutschlands | npd | young national democrats | junge nationaldemokraten | jn | wreath (yellow) | letters: 3 (white) | dis |
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3:5
by Marcus Schmöger
Flag adopted 1964

• Introduction
• Description
• Flag Variant
• Young National Democrats (Junge Nationaldemokraten / JN)
• Mistaken Flag

See also:

• Nationalsocialist and Neonazi Flags (Germany)
• Germany

The neo-nazi Nationaldemokratische Partei Deutschlands (NPD) was formed in the early 1960s with several right-wing parties merged and was rather successful in the elections during the 1960s (for example 13,1% of the votes in Nuremberg) but lost most of its support in the early 1970s.

Marcus Wendel, 11 December 1999

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 [for my information in this page]:

• 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 August 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 is 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 also black-red-gold 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 August 2000

1:1
by Marcus Schmöger

During demonstrations one can also see red [square] flags with party logo.

Marcus Schmöger, 14 August 2000

Junge Nationaldemokraten / JN

by Marcus Schmöger | ~14:15

The flag of the youth organization JN is red with a white arrow and white letters "JN" (remark: 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 August 2000

by António Martins

The flag of the NPD was red with a white circle.

Marcus Wendel, 11 December 1999

The red flag with white circle shown on our pages is a misinterpretation. This was (according to Rabbow 1970) only used as a symbol on election posters in the 1960's and never as a proper flag.

Marcus Schmöger, 14 August 2000