The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1933-02-11
Background of the Struggle
Against FaScism in Germany

(The following is the fourth
and last installment OF an analy-
sis of the driving forces behind
the present events in Germany,
II is taken from No. 20 of the
Communist International
HOWEVER great may be the de
ii feat of Social-democracys 1t
would be criminal and frivolous to
rest on our laurelS, and underestl-
mate the significance of its still
strong influence among the masses
of the German working class. The
German working class is turning
from the social-democratiC leaders
With ever growing disgust since
their treachery of July 20, since the
cynical strike breaking part of the
Trade Union bureaucrats IN the
Berlin transport strike, since the
open talk of a trade union gov
eminent OF Leipart-StrasSer, since
the open support of the govern
nlent of the fascist dictatorship OF
Won Papen by SoCial-demOCracy.
But so long as the role OF social
democracy, as the main social bull
Wark of the present fascist Cllcta-
torship in Germany, does not pene-
trate to the innermost conscious
ness of the overwhelming masses
of al-democratic workers and
the members Of reformist trade
unions, so long as the sOclal-demo-
cratic workers have not become
convinced of this, by their own
experience, German social-democ-
racy will still be able to preserve
its influence on considerable mass
es Of the German proletariat.
The task of tie Communist Par
ty of Germany remains, as before
to direct the chief blow, at the
present stage, against sOcial-de-
mocracy. Therefore the prompt
and rapid defeat OF the new ma
neuvers Of sociaI-democracy is the
task of the moment, for the Com
mllnist vanguard. The insufficient
cy Of the successes of the Commu-
mist Party of Germany in the dis
trictS where the influence of left
social-democracy is strongest, aris-
es, above all, from the fact that
the Communists in these places
were least able to prove to the
broad masses Of German workers
that the role of social-democracy
is to be the instrument of mo-
nopoliSt capital, to sweep the path
for the fascist dictatorship
WHAT are the immediate per-
W spectives OF the Won Papen
Government of the fascist dicta-
tatorship. This was written before
Hitler became Characterization
D. W.
Won Papen IS also pretending to
be Satisfied" with the results of
the Reichstag elections. The aIge-
braical calculations of the Won Pa
pen government are as follows:
The nationalist, the Hugenberg
party, the leading government par
ty Of Won Papen, have increased
their votes by 100000. He includes
the 100000 non-voters in his as
sets as supporters of the 'Presi-
dents government" and opponents
OF the Party System" Won Papen
does not count the Communists at
all, as he regards them as being
entirely outside the bourgeois gov
eminent. But the Opposition" par
ties National Socialists, social
democrats, Centre have lost ev-
erything. The possible majority of
the NationaI-Socialists and the
Centre has been broken. without
the nationalist there cannot be a
bourgeois majority in the new
RetchStag, This is the success Of
the Won Papen government. There
Is no doubt that the Won Papen
government, after browbeating the
National-SocialistS, will now once
more offer Hitler the opportunity