Arbeiter-Turn- und Sportbund

The organization actively promoted leftist political views built around class struggle and nationalism.

[1] Sport in late 19th century Germany was centered on the development of gymnastics and was highly politicized with strong nationalist overtones.

A clear class divide developed and often workers were not accepted within the ranks of established sports clubs.

In June 1919, following World War I, the federation was renamed Arbeiter-Turn- und Sportbund to reflect the rise of sports other than gymnastics including athletics, handball, and especially football.

By 1930, the federation had a membership of 1.2 million, however, it splintered when the communist-oriented Kampfgemeinschaft für Rote Sporteinheit (KG, en:Fighting Community for Red Sport, commonly Rotsport) was formed.