Deutschsozialistische Bergarbeiterverband ('German Socialist Miners' Union') was a Nazi trade union for German miners in Czechoslovakia. It was founded in 1922.[1] The union was based in Most.[2][3] As of 1929, it claimed to have 3,371 members.[2] The union was linked to the German National Socialist Workers Party (DNSAP).[4][5] Heinrich Proste was the leader of the union.[6] Deutschsozialistische Bergarbeiterverband was affiliated with the Reichsvereinigung der Deutschen Gewerkschaften ('National Association of German Trade Unions').[2] The union published the monthly Der deutscher Bergmann from Most between 1924 and 1933.[6][7]
On 11 February 1928 Deutschsozialistische Bergarbeiterverband joined Svaz horníků, Sdružení československých horníků, Union der Bergarbeiter, Mezinárodní všeodborový svaz (miners' section) and Jednota československých horníků, in a joint call for a miners strike in Most District.[8] The strikers demanded higher wages. The strike was called off after an agreement was reached with the employers.[9]
In 1929 key unions broke away from the Reichvereinigung and founded the Verband deutscher Gewerkschaften.[10] Deutschsozialistische Bergarbeiterverband joined the new trade union centre.[3] At this point, the union claimed to have 4,200 members.[11]
The Deutschsozialistische Bergarbeiterverband and the communist Red Trade Unions were the leading forces of the 1931 miners strike in Most.[12] The strike was massive, and caught the attention of Adolf Hitler who reportedly ordered to send organizers to Most to capitalize politically from the strike movement.[12]
At its peak, Deutschsozialistische Bergarbeiterverband had 78 local branches and by 1932 the union claimed to represent a majority of German miners in Czechoslovakia.[13][4]
The union was banned in November 1933 along with its mother party and two other German National Socialist unions.[14]
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