Stahlhelm-Fraktion (German, 'Steel Helmet Faction') is thehard-line orright-wingfaction of apolitical party in Germany, most notably the GermanCDU.[1][2][3][4] The term refers to thehawkish, i.e. pro-military positions often taken by such groups and comes from theStahlhelm, the steel helmet historically used by German soldiers. It was originally used of pro-military politicians in the Weimar Republic who were members of theDer Stahlhelm, an ex-servicemen's organisationwhich acted as the paramilitary wing of theGerman National People's Party.[5] Some prominent members of this informal grouping (the name was coined by its opponents) such asAlfred Dregger had been members of theNSDAP during the war.[6][7][8] Members of theCSU – even those ideologically similar to theStahlhelm Fraktion – were usually not considered part of the group.
