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] Heinrich Proste was the leader of the union. 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.[5] [6]
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.[7] The strikers demanded higher wages. The strike was called off after an agreement was reached with the employers.[8]
In 1929 key unions broke away from the Reichvereinigung and founded the Verband deutscher Gewerkschaften.[9] Deutschsozialistische Bergarbeiterverband joined the new trade union centre.[3] At this point, the union claimed to have 4,200 members.[10]
The Deutschsozialistische Bergarbeiterverband and the communist Red Trade Unions were the leading forces of the 1931 miners strike in Most.[11] 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.[11]
At its peak, Deutschsozialistische Bergarbeiterverband had 78 local branches and by 1932 the union claimed to represent a majority of German miners in Czechoslovakia.[12] [13]
The union was banned in November 1933 along with its mother party and two other German National Socialist unions.[14]