Social Democratic Party of Fengelia

## Social Democratic Party of FengeliaSozialdemokratische Partei Fengelien

Flag of the SDF

The **Social Democratic Party of Fengelia** (*Sozialdemokratische Partei Fengelien*; SDF) is a leftist party in Fengelia. It is one of the oldest and largest left wing organizations and labor unions in Fengelia, and the second largest party in the Reichstag.

## History

### Early history

The SDF was formed in 972 as a merger of labor unions across the Fengelian states. 29 unions from 13 states convened in the industrial city of Dorstadt and formed the Social Democratic Party. The SDF was generally anti-war and republican, which led to it being banned in 1013 under Chancellor Max von Heinstauffen's anti-socialist campaigns. In 1022, Emperor Ferdinand considered unbanning the SDF, but the 1022 Labor Riots made him drop the idea.

The SDF was unbanned by Emperor Friederich II in 1035 as part of his reconciliation and liberalization campaign, but had to drop its republican ideology. The SDF participated in the Reichstag's elections, gaining over 40% of the seats and remaining either the largest or second largest party until 1048. However, the Reichstag was largely powerless and had no say in government or military affairs, and so the SDF never produced a Chancellor before 1048. Nonetheless, as one of the largest parties in the Reichstag, the Chancellors had to occasionally make concessions to the SDF to pass bills

### The War

When the Sixth Fengelo-Aulmierrese War broke out, the SPF was split on whether or not to support the war. By then, high ranking members of the SPF had grown accustomed to being members of the Fengelian parliament, and did not want to risk getting banned for being anti-war. Because of this, the SPF's leaders declared that the party would support Fengelia's war efforts, which caused many in the party to leave and establish the People's Democratic Party (VDP), which would publish anti-war and pro-labor posters and writings underground throughout the war.

In 1053, as the VDP launched revolutions in Osteryern, several more high-ranking SDF members switched sides to join the revolutionaries. However, Franz August returned to Heinstadt to take the throne, and sent in the free corps to crush the revolutionaries. Chancellor Georg von Reinerbach urged Franz August to purge the SDF, but the Emperor decided not to, to prevent the rest of the party from joining the revolutionaries. However, the SDF had to swear fealty to the Emperor, and renounce socialism and republicanism.

### Post-War

While the SDF narrowly survived, many of its members and former members had fled or were arrested for assisting in the revolutions. It dropped to the third largest party in the Reichstag, and then the fourth largest. Chancellors Larriech von Naydea allied with the SDF to push forth his post-war demilitarization and economic reconstruction policies, and for a few years, Edward von Kliffton-Eirollen had did the same. However, the SDF's opposition to Kliffton's new economic policies led to Kliffton allying with Center Justice instead.

After Kliffton's resignation, SDF leader Klaus Berendt was appointed Chancellor. His 6 year tenure saw some reconciliation and liberalization, but his more radical proposals failed to pass, as his commoner background made it difficult to secure partnerships with the largely aristocratic parliamentarians and bureaucrats. His most significant contribution was the Heinese deindustrialization campaign, which reduced pollution along the Hein River and saw factories move to other states, decreasing the Heinese domination in Fengelia and providing nearly a million jobs. This secured the support from Center Justice and the Federalists, who were largely non-Heinese and/or against the Heinese domination in Fengelia. However, numerous Heinese workers lost their jobs and took to the streets, causing the Volkspartei and Liberals to blame Berendt for inciting a "new revolution". The Emperor dismissed Berendt in response, and replaced him with Volkspartei member Baron Karl von Horwitz