The Free State of Anhalt (German: Freistaat Anhalt) was formed after Joachim Ernst, Duke of Anhalt abdicated on 12 November 1918, ending the Duchy of Anhalt. It became a state of Germany under the Weimar Republic (1919–1933) and for most of that time it was led by politicians from the Social-Democratic Party of Germany (SPD).

Free State of Anhalt
Freistaat Anhalt (German)
State of Germany
1918–1945
Flag of Anhalt
Flag
of Anhalt
Coat of arms

The Free State of Anhalt (red) within the Weimar Republic
Anthem
Anhalt Lied
"Song of Anhalt"
CapitalDessau
Area
 • Coordinates51°50′N 12°15′E / 51.833°N 12.250°E / 51.833; 12.250
 
• 1925
2,314 km2 (893 sq mi)
Population 
• 1925
351,045
Government
 • TypeRepublic
Reichsstatthalter 
• 1933–1935
Wilhelm Loeper
• 1935–1937
Fritz Sauckel
• 1937–1945
Rudolf Jordan
Minister-President 
• 1918–1919
Wolfgang Heine (first)
• 1919–1924
Heinrich Deist
• 1924–1924
Willy Knorr
• 1924–1932
Heinrich Deist
• 1932–1940
Alfred Freyberg
• 1940–1945
Rudolf Jordan (last)
Historical eraInterwar / World War II
• Established
12 November 1918
• Disestablished
23 July 1945
Preceded by
Succeeded by
Duchy of Anhalt
Saxony-Anhalt (1945-1952)

However, in May 1932, the Nazi Party won the Landtag election and formed a coalition government with its ally, the German National People's Party (DNVP). Following the Nazi seizure of power at the Reich level in 1933, Anhalt, along with all other German states, had its Landtag abolished and its state sovereignty transferred to the Reich government by the "Law on the Reconstruction of the Reich" of 30 January 1934. Though the state itself was not formally abolished, it was superseded in administrative importance by the Nazi Party Gau Magdeburg-Anhalt.

At the end of World War II, when Germany was divided into zones of occupation, Anhalt was merged with the bulk of the Prussian Province of Saxony to form the Soviet-administered German state of Saxony-Anhalt. This state was then dissolved in 1952 but reformed in 1990 after the reunification of Germany.

See also

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References

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Detailed map of Anhalt
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