Iron Front

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The Iron Front was an anti-Nazi/anti-fascist alliance formed in Germany on 16 December 1931 by the Social Democratic Party (SPD) with the Catholic Centre Party^{[citation needed]} and others. It was meant to counter the right-wing Harzburg Front. The organization sought to engage the old Reichsbanner, the SPD youth, and labor and liberal groups. The SPD rallied to the Iron Front, held mass demonstrations, fought fascists in the streets, and armed themselves. This is more than the SPD leaders wanted, but SPD workers grew increasingly revolutionary. In 1933 the organisation was banned.

Its logo (three arrows, pointing south-east inside a circle) was designed by Sergei Tschachotin. It was designed so as to be able to easily cover Nazi swastikas. The meaning of the three arrows have been interpreted differently. One claim is that they stood for the opponents of the iron front, the three enemies of the democracy: communism, monarchism and national socialism. Another claim is that they stand the three columns of the German workers' movement: a party, a trade union and the reichsbanner as symbols for the political, economic and physical strength of the Iron Front.^{[citation needed]}

About its formation, Karl Hoeltermann (chairman of the Reichsbanner) commented "The year 1932 will be our year, the year of victory of the republic over its opponents. One day nor one hour more do we want to remain in the defensive - we attack! Attack on the whole line! We must be part of the general offensive. Today we call - tomorrow we strike!"^{[citation needed]}