German Fatherland Party
The German Fatherland Party was a short-lived far-right party in the German Empire, active during the last phase of World War I.Political positions and influence
The party represented conservative, nationalist, antisemitic and völkisch political circles, united in their opposition against the Reichstag Peace Resolution of July 1917. It played a vital role in the emergence of the stab-in-the-back myth and the defamation of certain politicians as the November Criminals.Foundation, leadership and funding
Backed by the Pan-German League, the party was founded in September 1917, helped by Heinrich Claß, a founder member.
The party's leaders were Wolfgang Kapp and Admiral Alfred von Tirpitz. Walter Nicolai, head of the military secret service, was also supportive. Media baron Alfred Hugenberg was also a prominent member.
The party's political influence peaked in summer 1918 when it had around 1,250,000 members. Its main source of funding was the Third Supreme Command. The party was officially dissolved in the German Revolution on 10 December 1918. Most of its members later joined the German National People's Party, the major right-wing party of the Weimar Republic.Subsequent influence
One member, Anton Drexler, went on to form a similar organization, the German Workers' Party, which later became the National Socialist German Workers' Party that came to national power in January 1933 under Adolf Hitler.
