The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1931-12-29
BY ERNST THAELaiANN (Berlin)


The November December number of die In
ternationaIe", the theoretical organ of the
Communist Party of Germany, contains long
article by Coprade ThaeImann on some mis-
takes which have appeared In the theoretical
and practical work Of the G. p. of Germany In
the year 1881. We give below, In condensed
form. the main contents of this article.
II we subject the whole practical policy OF the
Communist Party OF Germany in the year 1881
to q thorough Bolshevstic examination we are
compelled to record number OF theological dey-
iations and political weaknesses, and In fact DO
litica1 mistakes These are: y weaknesses in the
fight against the social democracy and in ap-
plying the united front tactics; p mistakes in
employing the slogan Of the peoples revolution
81 weaknesses in the fight against national So
cialisrn; and - individual deviations in ques-
tons OF the outlook for the future and indi-
vidua1 terror.
In all these four main questions however, 1t
is not a case OF political errors which were com
nlitted by the entire Party and were the express
sion of political theology definitely opposed to
the decisions Of the Cominintern. They are rather
mistakes or even only weaknesses and mc1ear-
ness, the part OF certain sections of the Party
for which, however, the whole Party and the
Central Committee in the first place bears full
responsibility.
Weaknesses la the Fight Against Social Dernoc-
racy and I'm Employing United Front Tactics.
At the XII P1enmn OF the E.CCI, Connrade
Manuilsky examined the question wherein was
expressed the fact that in regard to the uues-
ton OF fascisrn, the Communist Parties Jagged
behind the revolutionary upsurge. He stated in
this connection that this tagging behind on the
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that We allowed the social democracy to naneu-
yer IL, regard to the question of the forms OF the
bourgeois dictatorship He declared that, in order
to undermine the mass foundation OF social de-
n1ocracy in the working class 1t was necessary TO
destroy the Illusion existing among the masses
that fascsm and social Yascisnn are not two
varieties OF one and the same social buttress Of
the bourgeois dictatorship He further character
lied as a weakness Of the Con1intern that We
had not made the fight against the theory of the
"1esser eviI' In all its manifold character our
central task.
We must raise the question, whether in our
whole policy in Germany we have taken suffi-
GENTLY into account this extraordinarily impor-
tant principle. This has not been the case. In
stead Of placing the extremely important his
toricaI antagonism: dictatorship of the bour-
MISUNDERSTANDING OF the pro1etariat in the
CGnC6r OF our WrlOl6 aglldUlOr1 ana prOpd0anQa,
leading the masses in the fight against the Of
fensive of the bourgeosie, which is being carried
out step by step, In all spheres, and in the every
day fight. showing them the socialist way out.
we have INDUCED in percentage calculations re-
guarding the degree Of fascisrn in Germany"
and such like things There have been revealed
IN our ranks tendencies to draw contrast be-
tween fascism and bourgeois democracy between
the Hitler party and social fascism. COLLECTIONS
among some, even If only isolated functionaries
OF the Party In regard to the question of the Red
Referendum against the Prussian government,
existence In the ranks Of the revolutionary pro-
lstariat-for which we are also responsible Of
at least an unconscious feeling. that perhaps
Braun and Severing are after ali lesser evil"
az compared with Hit1er- GoebbeIs government
In rrussis.) That is the worst danger FOR the
Communist Party. How great Is this danger Is TO
be seen at the present time from the latest ma
neuver OF the. social fasclsts who threaten" to
make united front with the Communist Party.
The G. P. of Germany has not created all the
prerequisites IN order to be easily able to thwart
such attempts to mislead the masses We have
likewise undoubtedly neglected TO increase our
Tight against the treacherous centrist plan Of
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