The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1924-01-19
By F. WEBER

committee OF the Communist Party
of Germany, and the writer is one of
the leading comrades of the Party.)
The New Orientation of the Policy of
the Communist Party of Germay
HAVING determined that Fascism
at present possesses the real
power in Germany, we must make it
clear to the masses that Fascism,
which draws a good deal of it's force
from their sympathies now bears the
responsibility for their fate. Regard
less Of what the Parliamentary scene
looks like, General Seeckt has the
power in his hands. The lower mid
die class masses who, with longing
awaited the dictator, the Saviour,
must receive an object lesson now be-
fore they can get rid of Fascist illu-
sions. And the Communist Party of
Germany must help them to it by
comparing day in and day out the
words of Fascism with its deeds, its
promises before the victory with its
actions after. The more thoroughly
the lower middle classes discard their
Fascist illusions, the quicker they do
so, the sooner and more decisive will
be our victory.
We can see more clearly the political
effect upon our tactics resulting
from our realization of the victory of
Fascism if we call to mind the most
outstanding points of the tactical de-
velopments of the Communist Party
of Germany.
Tactical Changes
In the year 1888 the working
class was engaged in the direct strug-
gle for power: proletarian dictator
ship or middle class democracy, the
power of the working class or of the
capitalist class, these were the objects
of the struggle. Our program and
the first phase of our tactic was in
keeping with this situation. Our fight
ing program called for the proletarian
dictatorship, our tactic consisted in
splitting away all the labor elements
from the Social Democratic Party. all
those who, fired by revolutionary
struggles, found themselves together
under the flag of proletarian dictator
ship and Soviets. As the direct aim
which we set for ourselves was the
conquest Of power by the working
class, we had to aim also directly for
the destruction Of the Social De-
mocracy, the decisive opponent of the
proletarian dictatorship.
The second Ihae of cur tactic be-
gan when it became apparent that the
capitalist class and the Social De-
mocracy proved to be stronger than
the revolutionary movement of the
workers. The middle class democracy
remained intact after it had with
ease overcome the Kapp-Putsch. The
Social Democracy played a big role
IN the middle class democratic state,
the same as though taking part in the
government, whether openly or tacit-
~. The various cabinets counted upon
the leaders of trade unions. which
were one of the most important props
Of the November system. The con-
quest of power by the working class
ceased being an immediate object of
the struggle, although every action of
the Communist Party was determined
by considerations of the later struggle
for the dictatorship. But the masses
of the working class, even of the
Communistic masses, fought during
this period, not for power, but against
the offensive Of capital, against the
continual. even though concealed,
deterioration of the living conditions
of the working class.
As result of this change in the
general situation of the working class
change necessarily took place in our
tactic. The immediate demand be-
came the object of struggle. All
workers suffered from the high cost
of living, which was caused on the
one hand by the financial chaos, on
the other hand by the economic chaos.
How could the economic chaos be
met? Through the seizure of real
values. The seizure of real values
entailed the government classification
Of industry, which measure, although
it was rather neglected in our agita-
ton, was even considered as an op-
portunist original sin by the left com
hat - l1I,.