The German Centre Party (Deutsche Zentrumspartei or merely Zentrum), often called the Catholic Centre Party, was a Catholic political party in Germany during the Kaiserreich and the Weimar Republic. While the German people were not fully unified into a single political unit until the late 19th century, they exerted a tremendous influence upon Western civilization from its very beginnings. ... This is a timeline of German history. ... The Franks were one of several west Germanic tribes who entered the late Roman Empire from Frisia as foederati and established a lasting realm in an area that covers most of modern-day France and the region of Franconia in Germany, forming the historic kernel of both these two modern... The crown of the Holy Roman Empire (2nd half of the 10th century), now held in the Vienna Schatzkammer. ... The German Confederation (German Deutscher Bund) was a loose association of Central European states created by the Congress of Vienna in 1815 to organize the surviving states of the Holy Roman Empire, which had been abolished in 1806. ... The term German Empire (Deutsches Reich) commonly refers to Germany, from its consolidation as a unified nation-state on January 18, 1871, until the abdication of Kaiser ( Emperor) Wilhelm II on November 9, 1918. ... The period of German history from 1919 to 1933 is known as the Weimar Republic (Pronounced Vye-Mar, and in German it is known as the Weimarer Republik). It is named after the city of Weimar, where a national assembly convened to produce a new constitution after the German monarchy... Nazi Germany, or the Third Reich, commonly refers to Germany in the years 1933–1945, when it was under the firm control of the totalitarian and fascist ideology of the Nazi Party, with the Führer Adolf Hitler as dictator. ... This page is intended to serve as a focal point for information pertinent to understanding German military activity during World War II. Foreword When in 1933 Hitler gained power, and set on a massive program of rearmament, no one could have predicted the scope, intensity, and duration of the armed... After the beginning of the Cold War, following Germanys defeat in World War II, Germany was split for about 40 years, representing the focus of the two global blocks in the east and west. ... The Federal Republic of Germany (German: Bundesrepublik Deutschland) is one of the worlds leading industrialised countries, located in the heart of Europe. ... This article or section should include material from German Monarchy The term German Empire (the translation from German of Deutsches Reich) commonly refers to Germany, from its consolidation as a unified nation-state on January 18, 1871, until the abdication of Kaiser (Emperor) Wilhelm II on November 9, 1918. ... The period of German history from 1919 to 1933 is known as the Weimar Republic (Pronounced Vye-Mar, and in German it is known as the Weimarer Republik). It is named after the city of Weimar, where a national assembly convened to produce a new constitution after the German monarchy...

Founded in 1870 to protect Catholic minority rights in the new Germany, the party gained strength in the 1870s in reaction against Bismarck's Kulturkampf, or "cultural struggle" against the Catholic Church. In addition to supporting Church interests, the Centre Party generally supported representative government and minority rights. However, it was most notable for its pragmatism - the party was willing to support a wide variety of policies so long as the interests of German Catholics and of the Catholic Church itself were advanced. The party was also notable for the mixture of class interests it represented, ranging from Catholic trade unions to aristocrats. 1870 was a common year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar). ... Otto Eduard Leopold von Bismarck-Schönhausen, Duke of Lauenburg (April 1, 1815 – July 30, 1898) was one of the most prominent European aristocrats and statesmen of the nineteenth century. ... The German term Kulturkampf (literally, cultural fight) commonly refers to the early years of the 1871 German Empire, when Chancellor Otto von Bismarck attempted to reduce the influence of the Catholics in Germany, but can be used to refer to similar cultural conflicts at other periods and in other places. ...

Although many members and leaders of the Centre Party had grave misgivings about the Nazis, the party also proved crucial in allowing the Nazi takeover, with most of its delegates voting for Hitler's Enabling Act in March of 1933, thus giving Hitler the two thirds vote necessary to pass the bill. Monsignor Ludwig Kaas, the erstwhile leader of the party, was instrumental in the drafting of the Concordat of 1933 between Germany and the Vatican, and it appears that Kaas and the Vatican were willing to acquiesce in the Nazi dictatorship and the dissolution of the Centre Party if the Concordat could be achieved. The party dissolved itself on July 6, 1933, shortly before the conclusion of the Concordat. The Enabling Act (in German: Ermächtigungsgesetz) was passed by the Reichstag on March 23, 1933. ... 1933 was a common year starting on Sunday (link will take you to calendar). ... Monsignor is an ecclesiastical honorific used by certain priests and bishops of the Roman Catholic Church. ... July 6 is the 187th day of the year (188th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 178 days remaining. ... 1933 was a common year starting on Sunday (link will take you to calendar). ...

The Centre and Weimar

After the ceasing of the Kulturkampf, the Centre Party made its peace with the government and frequently supported it in the Reichstag. Although the party supported the government upon the outbreak of World War I, many of the leaders of its left wing, particularly Matthias Erzberger, came to support a negotiated settlement, and Erzberger was key in the passage of the Reichstag Peace Resolution of 1917. When a parliamentary sytem of government was introduced in October 1918, the new chancellor Max von Baden appointed representatives of Centre party, the Social Democrats and the left-liberals as ministers. This coalition survived the collapse of the monarchy and in the 1919 national assembly cooperated in drawing up the Weimar constitution. This Weimar Coalition however lost its majority in the 1920 elections. The German term Kulturkampf (literally, cultural fight) commonly refers to the early years of the 1871 German Empire, when Chancellor Otto von Bismarck attempted to reduce the influence of the Catholics in Germany, but can be used to refer to similar cultural conflicts at other periods and in other places. ... The term Reichstag (in English: Imperial Diet) is a composition of German Reich (Empire) and tag (which does not mean day here, but is a derivate of the verb tagen, which means assembling for debate). ... Ypres, 1917, in the vicinity of the Battle of Passchendaele. ... In politics, left-wing, political left, leftism, or simply the left, are terms that refer (with no particular precision) to the segment of the political spectrum typically associated with any of several strains of socialism, social democracy, or liberalism (especially but not exclusively in the American sense of the word... Matthias Erzberger (September 20, 1875 - August 26, 1921) was a German political figure. ... 1917 was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ... Prince Maximilian of Baden (Max von Baden) ( 1 July 1867– 6 November 1929) was the cousin and heir of Grand Duke Frederick II of Baden, and succeeded Frederick as head of the Grand Ducal House in 1928. ... The Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD – Sozialdemokratische Partei Deutschlands) is the second oldest political party of Germany still in existence and also one of the oldest and largest in the world, celebrating its 140th anniversary in 2003. ... The Weimar constitution was the document that governed the short-lived Weimar Republic (1919-1933) of Germany. ... The Weimar Coalition is the name given to the coalition of the Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD), the German Democratic Party (DDP), and the Catholic Centre Party, who together had a large majority of the delegates to the Constituent Assembly which met at Weimar in 1919, and were the...

The Centre Party, whose pragmatic principles generally left it open to supporting either a monarchical or republican form of government, proved one of the mainstays of the Weimar Republic, participating in every Weimar government between 1919 and 1932, despite the defection of its Bavarian wing in 1919 to form the Bavarian People's Party. As such, the Centre had a share of the odium attached to the so-called "Weimar Establishment," which was blamed, especially on the right, for the "stab in the back" of the German army at the end of the war, as well as for the humiliations of the Versailles Treaty and reparations. Erzberger himself, who had signed the armistice, was assassinated by right wing extremists in 1920. The period of German history from 1919 to 1933 is known as the Weimar Republic (Pronounced Vye-Mar, and in German it is known as the Weimarer Republik). It is named after the city of Weimar, where a national assembly convened to produce a new constitution after the German monarchy... 1919 was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ... 1932 is a leap year starting on a Friday. ... The Bavarian Peoples Party (Bayerische Volkspartei) was the Bavarian branch of the Centre Party, which broke off from the rest of the party in 1919 to pursue a more conservative, Bavarian particularist, course. ... 1920 is a leap year starting on Thursday (link will take you to calendar) Events January January 7 - Forces of Russian White admiral Kolchak surrender in Krasnoyarsk. ...

The party's electorate also proved less susceptible to the allure of Nazism than most other bourgeois parties, largely due to its strong ties to the Church. The Nazi party used a right-facing swastika as their symbol and the red and black colors were said to represent Blut und Boden (blood and soil). ...

Although the parties of the Weimar Coalition remained the base of the Weimar Republic, they could not agree to resume a formal coalition government, especially because of disagreements between the Centre Party and the Social Democrats on issues like religious schools or a nationwide concordat with the Holy See. Twice between 1925 and 1928, the Centre participated in coalition governments which also included the right-wing German National People's Party (DNVP), and cooperated with the DNVP in supporting legislation to expand religious schools. In 1928 the party entered into a grand coalition government, which also comprised the Social Democrats, the left-liberal German Democratic Party and the national-liberal German People's party, und Social Democrat Hermann Müller as chancellor. After this coaltion fell apart in 1930, the party's leadership under Ludwig Kaas moved to the right. Heinrich Brüning, from the party's right wing, was appointed chancellor without the support of a party coalition, basing his government on informal toleration by the parties and the presidential Decree of article 48 of the Constitution. The Weimar Coalition is the name given to the coalition of the Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD), the German Democratic Party (DDP), and the Catholic Centre Party, who together had a large majority of the delegates to the Constituent Assembly which met at Weimar in 1919, and were the... The period of German history from 1919 to 1933 is known as the Weimar Republic (Pronounced Vye-Mar, and in German it is known as the Weimarer Republik). It is named after the city of Weimar, where a national assembly convened to produce a new constitution after the German monarchy... Events January-May January 3 - Benito Mussolini announces he is taking dictatorial powers over Italy. ... 1928 was a leap year starting on Sunday (link will take you to calendar). ... The German National Peoples Party (German: Deutschnationale Volkspartei) (DNVP) was a right wing national_conservative party in Germany during the time of the Weimar Republic. ... The German Democratic Party, or Deutsche Demokratische Partei (DDP), was founded by leaders of the former Progressive Peoples Party (Fortschrittliche Volkspartei) and the left wing of the National Liberal Party (Nationalliberale Partei) in the early days of the Weimar Republic. ... Hermann Müller may refer to: Hermann Müller, ( 1829- 1883), German botanist whose work provided important evidence for Darwins theory of evolution, and with whom Darwin corresponded. ... 1930 is a common year starting on Wednesday. ... Dr. Heinrich Brüning ( November 26, 1885– March 30, 1970) was a German politician who was Chancellor of Germany. ... Decree is an order that has the force of law. ...

In May 1932 the military and President Hindenburg, through the intrigue of General Kurt von Schleicher, picked the marginal Centre Party figure of Franz von Papen, a charming Catholic nobleman and Cavalry Captain, as nominee to succeed Chancellor Heinrich Bruning. It was Schleicher's intention that by replacing one Centre Chancellor by another that he would split the Party and destroy it as a political factor. Papen of all the previous Chancellors (Müller, Marx and Brüning) obtained close relations with Hindenburg because the latter appreciated Papen's attempt to break the connection of the Centre Party with the Left and to build up a Catholic Conservative movement. However, Papen was disowned by the Centre and expelled from the party, bringing with him few, if any, fellow travellers. 1932 is a leap year starting on a Friday. ... Paul von Hindenburg President of Germany Paul von Hindenburg (full name Paul Ludwig Hans Anton von Beneckendorff und von Hindenburg) (October 2, 1847 – August 2, 1934) was a German Field Marshal and statesman. ... Kurt von Schleicher (4 April 1882–30 June 1934) was a German general and the last Chancellor of Germany during the era of the Weimar Republic. ... Dr. Heinrich Brüning (November 26, 1885–March 30, 1970) was a German politician who was Chancellor of Germany. ...

1932 - Brüning's dismissal and the "Prussian Coup"

The Centre Party thus entered the opposition following Brüning's dismissal. Although the party generally was supportive of neither the right-wing authoritarian rule of Papen or of Kurt von Schleicher, who succeeded him in December, nor of Adolf Hitler's National Socialists, they were far from the bulwark of democracy and the republic that they had been in the early years of the republic. Brüning had, during his chancellorship, had hoped to restore the monarchy, and, in general, the Centre, like most of the other parties, supported a revision of the constitution in a more authoritarian direction. Kurt von Schleicher (4 April 1882–30 June 1934) was a German general and the last Chancellor of Germany during the era of the Weimar Republic. ... Adolf Hitler (20 April 1889 – 30 April 1945), a German politician who was the founder of the Third Reich (1933-1945), is widely regarded as one of the most significant and reviled leaders in world history. ...

In July 1932 the NSDAP gained nearly 14 million votes out of a total of 37 million and though it came short of achieving a majority, it supplanted the Social Democrats as the biggest party in parliament. A vote of no confidence in the Papen Government was carried by 512 to 42 ith the support of virtually every party with a mass following in the Reichstag - the Social Democrats joined the Centre, the Nazis, and the Communists in the vote, with only the DNVP supporting the government. Although Papen almost immediately produced a presidential decree dissolving the Reichstag again, the Centre and the Nazis continued to negotiate over the possibility of a coalition. However, the aims of the two groups were largely incompatible. The Centre hoped to tame the Nazis by bringing them into a coalition under Brüning's leadership, while the Nazis would only accept a dominant position in any coalition. Following the November 6 elections, in which the NSDAP vote dropped again, negotiations largely came to an end.

The April 24, 1932 elections to the Prussian state parliament resulted in the Social Democratic-Centre coalition under Social Democrat Otto Braun losing their majority. The Braun government however continued in office, since a different majority could not be found. Papen's "Cabinet of Barons", with President Hindenburg's assent, used this oppurtunity to stage the Prussian Coup, which brought Prussia under the direct control of the national government via Article 48 of the Weimar Constitution. This was achieved by von Schleicher presenting false charges of a Prussian Police conspiracy with the Communists. Following strong protest from the BVP Prime Minister of Bavaria, Dr. Heinrich Held. a compromise was reached under which Braun's government remained as the official representatives of the Prussian state in the Reichsrat. A coup détat, or simply a coup, is the sudden overthrow of a government, usually done by a small group that just replaces the top power figures. ... The Weimar constitution was the document that governed the short-lived Weimar Republic (1919-1933) of Germany. ... With an area of 70,553 km² and 12. ... The Reichsrat was the German upper house of parliament from 1919 until 1934, with representatives from the various states of the Reich. ...

Hitler's appointment as chancellor

General von Schleicher fell out with Papen and began to undermine the chancellor by suggesting the German Army's inability to restrain insurrection (by the Communists or the Nazis or both). He persuaded President Hindenburg to install himself, Schleicher, as Chancellor, as the only man who could guarante the safety of the State. The General's "Querfront (transverse front)" policy - aiming at driving a wedge between Hitler and the left wing of the NSDAP and forming a coalition between these left-wing Nazis, Social Democrats and the military - failed. German army refers to different armed forces through history: Reichswehr - 1918 to 1935 Wehrmacht - 1935 to 1945 Bundeswehr - 1955 to present This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ...

In the meantime Papen returned the favour and formed an intrigue against Schleicher, conferring with the DNVP, with Hitler and with the Westpahalian Industrial Magnates. The Nazi popular vote had dropped from 13,732,413 in July to 11,700,000 in November and the Nazi Party had built up huge debts, which were now guaranteed by the magnates, thus repairing the waning fortunes of the Nazis - who were close to dividing under the financial strain. Ultimately, Papen engineered the installation of a new coalition government of the Nazis and the DNVP, installing himself as Vice-Chancellor under Hitler. This happened through the feverish night of 29 January with neither Papen nor Hitler nor Hindenburg nor Schleicher clear as to the outcome until the last, which was actually Hitler's swearing in as Chancellor. For genres of music known as industrial, see industrial music. ... For a wealthy or powerful business baron, executive, or tycoon, see business magnate Magnate is a title of nobility commonly used in Sweden, Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, and some other medieval empires. ...

Hindenburg was given comfort by the previous swearing in of a new minister of defence, General Werner von Blomberg into an as yet non-existent Cabinet. On the morning of January 30, 1933, Papen assembled Hugenberg and Hitler in Hindenburg's presence, assuaging the enraged Hugenberg by assurances that he, Papen, would consult with the Centre Party (and of course its offshoot the Bavarian People's Party) to ensure the widest possible basis for parliamentary majority. Papen had come to install the Nazis, nominally as a way of controlling them and of forestalling the threat of a military coup by von Schleicher and the Abwehr, saying: "If the new government isn't formed by eleven o'clock, the army is going to march", claiming as his informant Hindenburg's son Oskar. Werner von Blomberg Werner von Blomberg (September 2, 1878-March 22, 1946) was a leading member of the German Army prior to World War II. Born in Stargard, Pomerania, Germany, Werner von Blomberg joined the army at a young age and attended Germanys War College in 1904. ... The Bavarian Peoples Party (Bayerische Volkspartei) was the Bavarian branch of the Centre Party, which broke off from the rest of the party in 1919 to pursue a more conservative, Bavarian particularist, course. ... The Abwehr was the common name for the German military foreign information and counterintelligence department, during both World War I and World War II. Abwehr is a German word, which is commonly translated to the English defence. The head of the Abwehr during World War II was Admiral Wilhelm Canaris. ...

However, in spite of the wishes of Papen and Hugenberg, no real negotiations were entered into with the Centre for the purpose of establishing a government majority. Instead, the Reichstag was dissolved, and new elections called for March.

The Enabling Act

In the March 1933 elections the Centre Party campaigned hard against the Hitler government, and, in spite of considerably obstructions to the campaign, was able to secure 14% of the vote.

After the election, Hitler demanded an Enabling Act to delegate the government the power of legislation for a period of four years. However, even with the rather tepid support of Hugenberg's DNVP, the Centre Party vote was again required, since the Enabling Act would authorise deviations from the constitution and thus required a two thirds majority. The Enabling Act (in German: Ermächtigungsgesetz) was passed by the Reichstag on March 23, 1933. ...

Many members of the Centre Party, including former Chancellor Brüning, were deeply uncomfortable with Hitler's government and with the Enabling Act, with Brüning describing it as the "most monstrous resolution ever demanded of a parliament." Nevertheless Kaas as Party Leader pushed his party towards accepting the Act to facilitate the ongoing negotiations about a Concordat between Germany and the Holy See.

In a conciliatory broadcast on 1 February and on the "Day of Potsdam", the opening session of the newly elected Reichstag held in the Potsdam Garrison Church, Hitler gave a display of his preferring cooperation with the old elites in state and military to the revolutionary approach of Ernst Röhm. Broadcast could refer to: Broadcast, an electronica musical group broadcasting, the distribution of audio and video signals Broadcast address, an IP address allowing information to be sent to all machines on a given subnet. ... Ernst Röhm Ernst Röhm (or Roehm) (November 28, 1887, Munich; July 1, 1934, Munich-Stadelheim prison, executed) was a German military officer and commander and co-founder of the Nazi Sturmabteilung or stormtroopers. Early Nazi years Röhm served as a career officer with the Bavarian Army during...

Kaas negotiated a letter of assurance from the Nazi party at the final stage before the vote, accompanied by assurances to the Centre Party, but at the fateful moment Kaas was told that it was still being finished. The vote was cast amidst turbulent scenes and intimidating crowds without. Brüning refused to counsel voting for the Enabling Act, but the Centre Party majority decided to vote in favour and Kaas submitted the vote on 23 March. In the end, only the Social Democrats opposed it. March 23 is the 82nd day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (83rd in Leap years). ...

Following the Enabling Act the Centre Party was weakened both by defections to the Nazi Party, as well as losses due to accommodations to the Nazis. It is said that the decisive blow was provided by Hitler's willingness to sign a Concordat between the State of Germany and the Vatican’s Holy See. Hindenburg also wrote the Centre Party requesting it to wholeheartedly support Hitler.

The Centre Party dissolved

Kaas relinquished the leadership of the Centre party on April 3. On April 8 Papen secretly joined Kaas in Munich, claiming he was taking a holiday in Rome. Arriving on April 9th, Kaas first is received alone by Cardinal Pacelli, later Pope Pius XII. On April 10 von Papen and Kaas meet Pacelli twice, the second time accompanied by Hermann Goering representing the NSDAP. They meet with Pope Pius XI as well, who expresses pleasure that Germany has found a 'strong man' to counter the Communists. The Venerable Pope Pius XII, born Eugenio Maria Giuseppe Giovanni Pacelli (March 2, 1876 – October 9, 1958 in Rome, Italy), served as the Pope from March 2, 1939 to 1958. ... April 10 is the 100th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (101st in leap years). ... Hermann Göring Hermann Wilhelm Göring (also spelled Hermann Goering in English) (January 12, 1893–October 15, 1946) was a prominent and early member of the Nazi party, founder of the Gestapo, and one of the main architects of Nazi Germany. ... The Pope is the Catholic Bishop and patriarch of Rome, and head of the Roman Catholic Church and the Eastern Catholic Churches. ... Pius XI (born Achille Ratti May 31, 1857 - Rome, February 10, 1939) was Pope from February 6, 1922 until February 10, 1939. ...

Kaas announced after his audience with the Pope "Hitler knows how to guide the ship. Even before he became Chancellor I met him frequently and was greatly impressed by his clear thinking, by his way of facing realities while upholding his ideals, which are noble .... It matters little who rules so long as order is maintained " (John Toland Adolf Hitler Doubleday 1976).

The Italian press then revealed the secret Papen visit. On April 15 Papen and Kaas met with Cardinal Pacelli and Kaas, no longer chairman of the Centre Party, was given the honour of drafting the terms of the future Concordat. This Kaas rapidly drafted and the result was perused at length on April 18 by Pope Pius XI and Cardinal Pacelli. Hitler's government accepted the Concordat on Jul 14. A concordat is an agreement between the pope and a government or sovereign on religious matters. ...

The Holy See signs a concordat with Germany. Cardinal Pacelli, representing the Vatican and Pope Pius XI, signs the "Reichskonkordat" on July 20, 1933 in Rome. From left to right: Franz von Papen, representing Germany, Giuseppe Pizzardo, Pacelli, Alfredo Cardinal Ottaviani, Rudolf Buttmann

Kaas left Germany forever to take up a position as lifelong Keeper of the Fabric of St Peter's on the 6th of July. The day before the Centre Party dissolved itself, thereby not embarrassing Hitler with the necessity to remove it. Eugenio Pacelli, later Pope Pius XII, signs the Reichskonkordat with the national socialist government under Adolf Hitler on July 20, 1933. ... Pius XI (born Achille Ratti May 31, 1857 - Rome, February 10, 1939) was Pope from February 6, 1922 until February 10, 1939. ... The Reichskonkordat is the concordat between the Holy See and the German Reich, signed in 1933. ... July 20 is the 201st day (202nd in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian Calendar, with 164 days remaining. ... 1933 was a common year starting on Sunday (link will take you to calendar). ... Franz von Papen (October 29, 1879–May 2, 1969) was a German politician and diplomat from the Catholic Center Party. ... Giuseppe Cardinal Pizzardo (July 13, 1877-August 1, 1970) was named a Cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church by Pope Pius XI in the consistory of 1937. ... Alfredo Cardinal Ottaviani ( October 29, 1890 - August 3, 1979) was Secretary of the Holy Office of the Roman Curia from 1959 to 1966 when that dicastery was reorganized as the Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith, in which he served as Pro-Prefect. ...

Refounding

The Centre Party was refounded following World War II, but soon the majority of its members merged with other confessional parties to form the Christian Democratic Union. Mushroom cloud from the nuclear explosion over Nagasaki rising 18 km into the air. ... The Christian Democratic Union (CDU - Christlich Demokratische Union) is a political party in Germany, founded after World War II by Konrad Adenauer among others. ...