German National People's Party

(Deutschna-tionale Volkspartei), a political party in Germany representing the interests of the German monopolies and Junkers (Prussian landed nobility); it existed from 1918 to 1933.

The German National People’s Party was founded out of the German Conservative Party (Deutschkonservative Partei) and several other political groups. It demanded restoration of the monarchy, opposed parliamentary government, preached extreme chauvinism and anti-Semitism, and called for ruthless suppression of the revolutionary movement. The party joined the government from 1925 to 1928, which signified a general strengthening of reaction in Germany. Among the leaders of the party were O. Hergt and K. Westarp, and, from 1928, A. Hugenberg.

A coalition that was formed in January 1933 between the German National People’s Party and Hitler’s National Socialist Party helped establish the fascist dictatorship in Germany. However, as early as June 1933 the fascists forced the German National People’s Party to disband.