Voice of action. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1933-1936, 1934-07-13
Good Readin'
The Present Situation in
Germany
By o. Piatnitsky
(reviewed by Jack Lewis)

NTeVleWeu Dy JACK LeWls)
Are you interested in Ger
many, in the midst of the re-
cent mass revolts against the
Hitler government? Have you
had anything to say in an
swer to your liberal acquaint-
ances when they have said that
the Communist Party of Ger
many was just as much to
blame for the rise to power
of Hitler as the SOcialDemO-
Gratis, but would never admit
any political mistakes? Would
you like to read a detailed and
mastery piece of Communist
self criticism? Then you would
like this phamplet. In one of
the best pieces of self criti-
ciSm published in this country
the author willingly admits the
mis-steps and mis-calculatiOns
of the Communist Party of
Germany throughout it's his
tory, and explains the course
it has pursued Steadfastly
fighting the militant fight with
like all OrganizatiOns) Occa-
siOnal mistakes.
Admits 1909 Miataka
Was there a revolutionary
situation in Germany in 1923,
when the engines of govern
ment credit and initiation were
pushing the masses to starva-
ton and the calling of great
mass strikes? Had the govern
Inent come to the verge of
collapse and were the masses
nearly ripe for Communism?
Yes. Did the Communist Party
seize upon this opportunity as
they should have done? No.
S. P. Refuses Unity
Was there a revolutionary
situation in January 1888 when
Hitler came to power? No.
The Communist Party of Ger
many had prOfited by its mis-
takes of 1928. 1t had attempt
ed to form a united front with
the SOcial-DemOcratic Party,
but the Social Democratic
refused and walked into the
arms of Hitler. BY 1888 the
Communist Party of Germany
increased its strength in the
trade unions. The party men,
bership had increased by one
fifth within the previous year,
while the Nazi strength had
declined by almost 20 per cent.
But the revolutionary situa-
ton was simply not present
in 1888. The betrayal of the
SOcial-DemOcrats and the fl
nancing of the Nazi by the Ger
man capitalists turned the bal
ance against the Communist
Party. This, together with the
situation in 1898 threw the
German people into slavery
of Nazism. Again at the last
minute the Communist Party
asked the Social Democrats
for united front, but were
turned down.
Gain Strength
But since being driven under
ground the Communist Party
has shown the world that it
knew how to organize the work
ing class in the struggle for
power Even church papers
in foreign countries have voiced
t h cir admiration for the
heroic struggles of the Ger
man comrades. Fascist terror
has failed in its attempts to
Isolate the masses from the
Communist Party (which ac
lively continues its work under
ground in preparation for the
day of reckoning.
In clear, forceful language
the author gives honest praise
and honest criticism in his
story of the history and devel.
Opment of the Communist
Party and SOcialDemocraey I'm
Germany since the war. II
there ever was a fitting an
swer to the criticisms of Social.
lists and liberals regarding
Communist Party tactics On
Germany, then this Is it. You
will search q long time be-
fore you find an author that
knows postwar Germany bet
ter than Piatnitsky does.