Formation and early developments (1924–1930) At the time of ''Reichsbanner's
formation, armed groups like the nationalist , the Nazi Sturmabteilung, and the Communist continued to radicalize and intensify the armed struggle in Germany. The Reichsbanner'' was initially formed in reaction to the Nazis'
Beer Hall Putsch and Communists'
Hamburg rebellion, both failed
coups, which had taken place at the end of 1923. A number of atomised left-wing republican defensive leagues had emerged throughout the country. Social Democratic leaders, most notably
Otto Hörsing sought to consolidate these groups into a paramilitary organisation uniting supporters of the Republic. Thus on 22 February 1924 members of the
SPD, the
German Centre Party, the
German Democratic Party and trade unionists in Magdeburg established the . While the Reichsbanner was intended to include all elements within Germany that favoured the Republic, Social Democrats comprised roughly 90 percent of its membership. In the fall of 1927, the expelled all members belonging to the
Old Social Democratic Party, accusing the party of seeking alliances with the Fascists. was a veterans' organization, in which former soldiers of the First World War enlisted their military experience in the service of the Republic. Its main goal was the defense of the Weimar Republic against usurpations of democracy from the National Socialist, Monarchist, and Communist camps. Social Democratic politician
Otto Hörsing described as a 'non-partisan protection organization of the Republic and democracy in the fight against the
Swastika and the
Soviet star'. Members saw themselves as guardians of the continuation of Germany's democratic traditions such as the
Revolutions of 1848 and their namesake constitutional national colors of black, red and gold.
End of Weimar democracy (1930–1933) Following substantial Nazi electoral successes in 1930, the in September sought to strengthen itself against intensified street violence by units with a restructuring of the operational organization. Active members were divided into master formations (
Stafo) and the elite units into protection formations (
Schufo). In spring 1931, 250,000 men belonged to the
Schufos. The "Young Banners" were also formed. On 16 December 1931, the , the Workers' Gymnastic and Sporting Federation (ATSB), the General German Trade Union Federation (ADGB), and the Social Democratic Party formed the
Iron Front. The last federal general assembly of the met on the 17th and 18 February 1933 in Berlin. In March, and the Iron Front were banned throughout the Reich. Following the banning of the , some members joined
Der Stahlhelm, which led to an incident where a mass registration in Braunschweig was raided by the Nazis, who called it the
Stahlhelm Putsch.
Reichsbanner members in the Resistance (1933–1945) Following its ban, some of the organization's membership, in particular the elite
Schufos, took part in the Social Democratic
Resistance. Resistance circles of former
Reichsbanner members formed around individuals like
Theodor Haubach.
Reichsbanner in post-Nazi Germany The was re-formed in 1953 as an association for political and historical education. After its reestablishment, the
Reichsbanner continued its historical practice of publishing magazines. In its modern form, the publication informs members and the public of current social issues and often contains interviews with high-ranking German politicians. ==Historical structure and organisation==