Alfred Mayer (politician)

Alfred Mayer (born December 23, 1878 in Posen, German Empire; died August 10, 1960 in Tübingen, West Germany) was a German politician and lawyer. He was a member of the Weimar National Assembly and the Reichstag during the Weimar Republic, representing the German Democratic Party (DDP) and later the German State Party (DStP).

Mayer studied law in Berlin and Greifswald, receiving his doctorate in 1903. He then worked as a lawyer in Berlin. After World War I, he became involved in politics. He was elected to the Weimar National Assembly in 1919 and subsequently to the Reichstag in 1920. He remained a member of the Reichstag until 1933.

During the Weimar Republic, Mayer was a prominent voice for liberal politics and advocated for the strengthening of democratic institutions. He was a staunch opponent of both right-wing extremism and communism.

Following the Nazi seizure of power in 1933, Mayer was persecuted for his political views and his Jewish background. He was forced to emigrate in 1939, initially to England and later to the United States. After World War II, he returned to Germany and resumed his legal career. He also remained politically active, though not seeking public office again. He devoted his efforts to supporting liberal causes and promoting reconciliation. His writings from exile offer significant insight into the political climate of the time. He is recognized for his contributions to German liberalism during a tumultuous period in its history.