Democratic Farmers’ Party

political party, East Germany

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June 25, 2026

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The Democratic Farmers’ Party (Demokratische Bauernpartei Deutschlands; DBD) was a political party in East Germany. It was established in 1948 with the support of the Soviet-backed Socialist Unity Party (SED) to attract farmers and represent their interests within the East German political system.1

The DBD was part of the SED-controlled coalition government and its membership was largely composed of farmers. While presented as a democratic party, it operated under the dominance of the SED, which held ultimate political power in East Germany. The party's role was to support the SED's agricultural policies and ensure farmer compliance with state economic plans.21

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Germany
Formation of the German Democratic Republic
Two additional parties, a Democratic Farmers’ Party and a National Democratic Party, designed to attract support from farmers and from former Nazis, respectively, were added with the blessing of the SED. By ensuring that communists predominated in these unity lists, the SED determined in advance the composition of the…
Read More
Two additional parties, a Democratic Farmers’ Party and a National Democratic Party, designed to attract support from farmers and from former Nazis, respectively, were added with the blessing of the SED. By ensuring that communists predominated in these unity lists, the SED determined in advance the composition of the…
Read More