A Struggle for Domination - A Role of the Carpathian German Party in Nazification of the German Community in Slovakia

Abstract

Two decades of existence of the First Czechoslovak Republic (CSR) were a time of adaptation of its citizens to the flow of changes, which affected all aspects of political, economic and social life. As a consequence of democratic political system, inhabitants of Czechoslovakia could actively participate in political activities in the Republic. Shortly after establishment of CSR, a number of political parties were founded, including associations representing ethnic minorities. In Slovakia, the most numerous minority was the Hungarian one and next to it the German minority. Similarly like the Slovak majority, also these ethnic groups were represented by several political parties, which associated themselves either with a coalition of ruling parties, or stayed in opposition. The paper analyzes the political development of German minority parties in Slovakia during the existence of the inter-war CSR. The attention is focused upon the differences of political orientation of two major German settlements in Slovakia -the Germans living in Bratislava and its surroundings and German community in the region of Spiš. Whereas the Carpathian German Party, which held a dominant position in Bratislava since its inception at the close of twenties, aspired to be a sole representative of German minority in Slovakia, the Spiš German Party was the most influential in the region of Spiš. Despite being a political representative of overwhelming majority of German minority members in Spiš, it pursued a pro-Hungarian policy and closely cooperated with Hungarian opposition parties. The Spiš German Party refused any form of cooperation with the Carpathian German Party, which during the second half of thirties became a part of the Sudeten German Party and took an active role in spreading of Nazi ideology in Slovakia.