The Deutsche Zentrumspartei (in summary Zentrum , “center”) is a German, founded in 1870 and dissolved catholic political party the July 5th 1933.
Kulturkampf
Founded like parliamentary group by the Archbishop of Mainz Wilhelm Emmanuel Freiherr von Ketteler, the Reichensperger brothers, Ludwig Windthorst to defend the catholic interests and a certain federalism. Hanovrien Windthorst is its first president until his death in 1891. During the Kulturkampf , the Zentrum fight against Otto von Bismarck. Starting from 1890, it supports at least the government policy.
First World War
At the beginning of the First World War, the Zentrum approves the goals of the German government and adopts the Sacred union. But in 1917, the chief of the left wing of the Zentrum , Matthias Erzberger, proposes the July 19th 1917 a Motion of peace without annexation, nor allowance, motion which is voted by the Zentrum , SPD and the Freisinnige (progressists).
Weimar Republic
The social composition of the Zentrum was very heterogeneous, which was determining being before all the catholic religious membership. After 1918, without being enthusiastic, the Zentrum respects the Weimar Republic and is put at the service of the State of Weimar. The majority of the Chancelier S of the Weimar Republic belong to the Zentrum :- Joseph Wirth (1921 - 1922)
- Wilhelm Marx (1923 - 1925/1926 - 1928)
- Heinrich Brüning (1930 - 1932)
- Franz von Papen (June at November 1932, excluded from the party as of its nomination to have torpedoed the chancellor Brüning, it takes part in the government in coalitions between nationalists and conservatives)
Third Reich
After the arrival of Hitler to the capacity the January 30th 1933, the party is directed by M {{gr.}} Kaas.
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January 30th 1933: Hitler is named Chancelier. NSDAP and the national Party (DNVP) form a government coalition. However Franz von Papen (in the past with the Zentrum , from now on without party) is named vice-chancellor of this government in the group of the national Party.
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February 28th 1933: following the Fire of the Reichstag occurred the day before, the government Nazi stops in mass the Communists of the KPD and other opponents of left.
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March 5th 1933: legislative elections; results: NSDAP (288 seats), SPD (120), Zentrum (92), KPD (81), DNVP (52). The government invalidates the communist deputies immediately.
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March 9th 1933: the general Von Epp, with the assistance of SA, shift the catholic government of Bavaria. The March 31st, the diets of the Länder (excluded Prussia Nazi) are dissolved. The April 7th, of the Reichstatthälter are named with being able to name and dissolve with their suitability the diets and local governments.
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March 23rd 1933: the Zentrum lines up in the opinion of M {{gr.}} Kaas and votes the Loi of the full powerss. The deputies KPD having been constrained to enter clandestinity or being interned, the 94 deputies SPD present were the only ones to vote against, in spite of the presence of S and SA out of weapons.
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March 28th 1933: diffusion by the bishop S of the Declaration of Fulda raising prohibition to adhere to NSDAP.
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May 5th 1933: M {{gr.}} Kaas, left with Rome to prepare the Legal settlement, resigns of its station. Heinrich Brüning is elected in replacement.
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July 5th 1933: autodissolution of the Zentrum , at the request of Hitler, following dissolutions of the parties DStP the June 28th, DNVP the June 29th, BVP and DVP the July 4th. SPD had been the subject of a prohibition of activity the June 21st, before being prohibited the July 14th.
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July 14th 1933: a law prohibiting the constitution of parties other than NSDAP founds the mode of the Sole party.
the Federal Republic of Germany
The Zentrum was refondé after the Second world war but was quickly marginalized by the CDU which became the principal party of the Christian Democrat in Germany.
See too
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