SMGM-0226 fichtelberg treffen des reichsbanners 1927 tinnie

A rare Reichsbanner Tinnie in stamped brass. At this time they would have still battling for power with the early nazi party and communist parties.

The Reichsbanner Schwarz-Rot-Gold (German: [ˈʁaɪçsˌbanɐ ˈʃvaʁts ˈʁoːt ˈɡɔlt], “Black, Red, [and] Gold Banner of the Reich“) was an organization in Germany during the Weimar Republic, formed by members of the Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD), the German Centre Party, and the (liberal) German Democratic Party in February 1924.^[1][2] Its goal was to defend parliamentary democracy against internal subversion and extremism from the left and right, to compel the population to respect the new Republic, to honor its flag and the constitution.^[3][4] Its name is derived from the Flag of Germany adopted in 1919, the colors of which were associated with the Weimar Republic and liberal German nationalism.

While the Reichsbanner was set up as a multiparty organization, it came to be strongly associated with the Social Democratic Party and viewed as their paramilitary force. The headquarters of the Reichsbanner was located in Magdeburg, but it had branches elsewhere.^[5]

The Reichsbanner‘s main opponents were the Communist Party of Germany and their Rotfrontkämpferbund on the left, and the Nazi Party and their Sturmabteilung on the right. The third opponent were the ‘reactionary’ traditional nationalist parties. Following the Nazi takeover, Reichsbanner members played a role in the anti-Nazi resistance.^[6][7]

The Reichsbanner was re-established in 1953,^[1] as Reichsbanner Schwarz-Rot-Gold, Bund aktiver Demokraten e.V. as an association for political education.^[8] The post war club is no longer a paramilitary organization but organizes seminars and similar activities. In line with its tradition it is officially open for members of all democratic parties but is closely aligned with the SPD. It has connections with the Memorial to the German Resistance and to members of the armed forces and the police.