The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1933-04-08
Sailors! Workers! On Guard! Expose All Shipment and
Production of Munitions, War Material in United State
How German Socialist Leaders
Supported the Last World War
Teachery Exposed of TherOn Mouths; Only
Reichstag Member to Fight Against War Credits

The betrayal by German Social
Democracy of the workingclaSs; its
shameful acts during recent events;
its support of Hindenburg for pres
ident last year, paving the road for
the present Hitler fascist regime,
and its present surrender to this
regime, dates back to its long his
tory of betrayal. In reviewing
these events it is sufficient to quote
from its records in the beginning
Of the war. On August 5, 1914, the
day following the declaration Of
war, these social patriots approving
the action Of their vote for war
credits wrote in the "Arbeiter-zei-
tung'' CWorkers' Gazette of Vienna
as follows:
"THE DAY OF THE GERMAN
NATION
Man for man the German So
ciaI democracy voted for the war
credits. Together with the whole
international social democracy, our
German party, this jewel in the
crown Of the class conscious pro-
letariat, is the most bitter OPP
ponent of war and the most pas
sionate supporter Of the harmony
and solidarity Of the peoples and
it has left nothing undone in It's
attempts to prevent this world war
which Is above all war against
the German character, in its at
tempts to ward on the terrible dis
aster which is threatening the
whole world. It Is no fault Of the
German social democracy when the
German Reich and with it the
whole European world is now feel
ing the scourge OF war But as
the German Fatherland is in
danger, as the national independ-
ence of the people is threatened,
the German social democracy places
itself protectingly before the home
land, and the men without a
Fatherland, the red horde" as the
Kaiser once reViled them, are nov
lending the State the strength and
blood Of the working masses. a.
Never has party acted more nobly
or with more real grandeur than
the German social democracy
which has showed itself more than
worthy of the terrible situation"
L@bknecht Speaks
While the social democratic lead
ers were busy shouting their sup
port Of the Kaiser in Germany.
While the French and socialist"
leaders in every country were busy
running 10 the defense OF their
capitalist government, the voice OF
the revolutionary leader broke
through the thick fog Of imperial
1st war hysteria-this was the voice
OF Karl Liebknecht.
Liebknecht ripped OF the mask
Of defense Of the Fatherlsnd" and
i'll its stead raised the banner of
the international unity OF all toll
ers. He said:
THE German slogan: against
Czarism!'', like the present English
and French slogan: Against Mil
itarisml'', pursued the purpose of
mobilizing the noblest instincts, the
revolutionary traditions and aspdr-
atoms of the people, in the service
OF national hatred. Germany, the
accomplice of Czarism, and to this
day q pattern of political back
wardness, has no mission to act
as a liberator of nations. The lib
Grafton OF the Russian people-like
that Of the German people-must
come from within"
And continuing: e.. against the
social and political responsibility
Of which the Government and the
ruling classes are today guilty, 1
vote against the war credits asked
(FTom text of the proposed de-
claration which Liebknecht intend
ed to pronounce on December 2,
1914, to explain his refusal 10 vote
the war credits.