Roter Frontkämpferbund

a workers’ self-defense organization that existed in Germany from 1924 to 1933. The organization was founded by the Communist Party of Germany in response to the growing activity of fascist militarized organizations. It consisted of communists, Social Democrats, and non-party workers over the age of 23; workers between the ages of 16 and 23 belonged to the Rote Jungfront. In 1929 the two organizations had a combined membership of 215,000.

E. Thälmann was head of the Roter Frontkämpferbund, beginning in February 1925. The organization protected workers’ organizations, assemblies, and demonstrations against fascist raids, exposed the actions and plans of fascists and militarists, and played an important part in the struggle for a united workers’ front. After it was banned in Prussia in May 1929 and in other Länder, it operated illegally until the establishment of the fascist dictatorship.