Bund Reichskriegsflagge
German Paramilitary unit
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Bund Reichskriegsflagge (Imperial War Flag League) or the Verband Reichskriegsflagge (Imperial War Flag Association) was a paramilitary organization founded by Ernst Röhm in 1923. It was opposed to the Weimar Republic, and it participated in Adolf Hitler's failed attempt to overthrow it in the Beer Hall Putsch, which resulted in it being outlawed.
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| Bund Reichskriegsflagge | |
|---|---|
Imperial War Flag of the German Empire | |
| Active | October–November 1923; 1925 |
| Country | Germany |
| Allegiance | Deutscher Kampfbund |
| Type | Paramilitary |
| Size | c. 500 |
| Headquarters | Munich |
| Engagements | Beer Hall Putsch |
| Commanders | |
| Commanders | Ernst Röhm Joseph Seydel |
History and leadership
On 11 October 1923, Ernst Röhm formed the Bund Reichskriegsflagge from four local groups (Memmingen, Schleißheim, Augsburg and Munich) of the Wehrverband Reichsflagge (Imperial Flag Defense Association), which had been expelled for insubordination.[1] Of the approximately 500 members, a large number were young activists, and many were students. Röhm appointed a loyal colleague, Joseph Seydel, as the nominal leader (Bundesführer) but he retained de facto control.[2] It became part of the Deutscher Kampfbund (German Combat League) that had been formed on 2 September 1923, and which had placed itself under the political leadership of Adolf Hitler on 25 September.[3]
The Bund Reichskriegsflagge under Röhm was instrumental in the Beer Hall Putsch – the unsuccessful attempt by Hitler and the Nazi Party (NSDAP) to seize power in Munich on 8–9 November 1923. Both the Bund and the NSDAP were banned in the immediate aftermath of the putsch. The Bund Reichskriegsflagge was briefly resurrected in 1925 after the ban was lifted, then merged with the Tannenbergbund.[2]