NDPD
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National-Democratic Party of Germany
National-Demokratische Partei Deutschlands |
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| Founded | 1948 |
| Dissolved | 27 March 1990 |
| Preceded by | Former East German Political Party |
| Merged into | Free Democratic Party |
| Headquarters | East Berlin, East Germany |
| Membership (late 1980s) | ca. 110,000 |
| Ideology |
1948-1989: Socialism German nationalism Conservatism 1989-1990: Conservative liberalism German nationalism Centrism |
| Political position |
1948-1989: Left-wing 1989-1990: Centre-right to Right-wing |
| Party flag | |
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The National-Democratic Party of Germany (German: National-Demokratische Partei Deutschlands, NDPD) was an East German political party that acted as an organisation for former members of the NSDAP, the Wehrmacht and middle classes. It should not be confused with the National Democratic Party of Germany (Nationaldemokratische Partei Deutschlands, NPD), which was a party in West Germany and continues in modern united Germany.
The NDPD was co-founded by Lothar Bolz, Wilhelm Adam (former member of the SA) and others. It was intended to reach out to social groups that had been attracted by the Nazi Party before 1945 (such as military men and some of the middle classes) and provide them with a political outlet, so that they would not be tempted to support the far-right again or turn to anti-communist Western Allies. Considering the fact that German nationalism was a potent force during the interwar era and that millions of Germans were members of NSDAP, Stalin wanted to use them to create a new pro-Soviet and anti-Western strain in German politics. According to top Soviet diplomat Vladimir Semyonov Stalin even suggested that they could be allowed to continue publishing their own newspaper, Völkischer Beobachter. German Communists and some Soviet officials were initially appalled by Stalin's ideas and weren't enthusiastic in their implementation.
The NDPD was recognized by the Soviet Military Administration in Germany on 16 August 1948 and later sent 52 delegates to the East German parliament, the Volkskammer, as part of the National Front. None of these ever voted against the government on any issue, similarly to other block parties which were effectively puppets of the ruling party, the Socialist Unity Party of Germany (SED). Nonetheless, after the fall of the Berlin Wall, it became an independent agent in politics, participating in the only free Volkskammer election ever held (March 18, 1990). NDPD was not included in the electoral cartel of the other liberal-to-be parties in East Germany and entered the race alone. The results were a debacle, though: with 44,292 votes (0.38%) they received fewer votes than they (nominally) had members. After these results, they soon merged with the FDP West German Free Democrats.
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