Crumbling Reich: A Weimar Republic Game (Gameplay Thread)

[Devout Centrist]

Courtesy of Creative Commons

Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

1932 Unity Congress of Antifaschistische Aktion

Ernst Thälmann:

“Comrades, members of the Roter Frontkämpferbund, members of the KJVD, to all workers of the German Nation.

I stand before you today to inaugurate the first Unity Congress of the newly formed Antifaschistische Aktion League. These brave representatives of the German working class have gathered here today to express their undying commitment to anti-fascism and to International socialism. These men and women come from every region of our Nation. From the drydocks of Stettin to the foundries of Essen, from the foothills of Oberbayern to the streets of Berlin, these emissaries of the working class dedicate themselves to the opposition and annihilation of the Fascist menace within Deutschland.

In the past few years, the ancient scourges of militarism, imperialism, and fascism have formed an unholy alliance within our Nation and around the world. Their aim is nothing less than the total subjugation of the International Working Class and the revival of destructive, imperialist warfare. Enabled by their Capitalist handlers, these forces have united to form the so-called National Socialist Party.

They call themselves ‘socialists’ and ‘allies of Germans everywhere.’ They mask their true horror with empty words and gestures. These men disgrace socialism with their bloodthirsty imperialism. Given the opportunity, they would send your children to the fiery cauldron of International warfare and conquest. They are nothing more than modern barbarians.

They claim to be representatives of the German worker. They are no such thing. Their Party maintains close relationships with the Capitalist robber barons of the Ruhr and Rhine. Krupp, Daimler, and Thyssen are their puppeteers, manipulating and coordinating every word, action, and speech made by Mr. Hitler.

It is our sacred duty to educate the working class of Germany. We must prevent the Imperialist Fascists of the NSDAP from leading these men to their deaths. We are the only bulwark against International Fascism that threatens Germany. These men and women will stand on the frontline in the coming struggle!

Comrades, our Nation is crying out in hunger! The failed leadership of Chancellor Brüning continues to plague Deustchland. Under his inauspicious rule, millions of our brothers and sisters starve in the streets and reduce themselves to begging for food or whoring their bodies out to the Capitalist class. Meanwhile, the Chancellor’s backers, the Industrialists, rob the workers of their labor and maintain their palatial estates without a hint of hardship.

We must put an end to the unjust and murderous austerity enacted by Chancellor Brüning! The KPD will put an end to the Hunger Chancellor and to his anti-worker austerity. Our Party also stands for full employment of the working class, whereby all German workers may enjoy the full fruits of their labor, free from the oppression of the vampiric Capitalist class.

We condemn the Social Democrats, for their tacit and cowardly support of the Hunger Chancellor. Their refusal to act against austerity is a reflection of their failure to advocate for the working class. Mr. Wels tells us that he is a representative of the German working man and a true trade unionist. But his actions betray his true motivations. By refusing to stand up to Brüning, he has shown his support for the Capitalists and the Industrialists over the working class.

Today, we dedicate ourselves to the renewal of the German Nation and solidarity between all working men and women in Deutschland. We stand in support of all our brothers and sisters around the world in their struggle against imperialism and capitalism. In our capacity as representatives of the German worker, we pledge to end the corrupt, capitalist system of oppression that has reduced the Fatherland to destitution and economic ruination! Workers of Deutschland, workers of the world, Unite!"

[Devout Centrist]

Statement on the violence in Breslau

Comrades, reports from the City of Breslau indicate that the reactionary rabble known as 'Der Stalhelm'  have launched an unprovoked and dastardly attack on our brothers and sisters within the city. This deliberate assault on German workers is a blatant act of fascist terror. It's no surprise that Mr. Hugenberg, himself a capitalist, is hellbent on destroying the spirit of the working man. Mr. Hugenberg and his band of barbarians have declared themselves enemies of Deutschland and enemies of the German working class.

I urge all working men and women to arm themselves. The KPD encourages all members to practice appropriate self defense in the face of reactionary terror. In our capacity as protectors of the German working class, we solemnly promise to defend every German worker from the reactionary death squads roaming in our streets. The men of the RFB stand ready to keep peace in our communities and to prevent violent incursions from the fascist menace.

In Solidarity,

Ernst Thälmann

[Devout Centrist]

Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

After the Hunger Chancellor: Rebuilding The German Working Class

Comrades! Brothers and Sisters! I bring with me good news. Just moments ago, the Reichstag formally passed a vote of no confidence against Chancellor Brüning, a man whose government has ruined the German economy and has brutalized the German worker. His reign of economic sabotage is at an end. The collective parties of the Reichstag have finally tossed the tyrant off his golden throne. This is a remarkable victory for every German man and woman.

I must temper my praise with measured condemnation for those who have waited until this moment to turn on the Hunger Chancellor. We cannot forget that the Social Democrats doggedly refused to call a vote of no confidence in Chancellor Brüning, even as the horrific effects of his capitalist robbery were made plain to see. Regardless, I extend my sincere gratitude to Herr Kurt Schumacher for his gallant stand against the Hunger Chancellor. We hope to have his support and the support of men like him in the coming struggle.

Unfortunately, we still have much work to do. Ousting Herr Brüning was merely the first step on the path towards national revival. To truly progress on the road to socialism, we must enact a series of vital economic policies that will shake the very foundation of the capitalist system itself. We can no longer tolerate the gross incompetence and rapacity of the industrialists. We must point Germany firmly in the direction of socialism. This move will enable the working class to assert its political power and gradually erode the pernicious class divide in Deutschland.  

In order to hasten this transition, the KPD is proud to unveil a new economic plan. One that will empower the working class of Germany and revitalize the industrial sector, which has heretofore been pilfered by the capitalists and foreign imperialist powers. These policies will enable a speedy transition to socialism, one that will be marked by the emergence of a truly German proletariat.

--Guarantee Employment to All Adult Germans. National statisticians have recently announced that over 6 million German men are currently out of work. These men are reduced to mere beggars, forced to scrounge from refuse bins and line up at soup kitchens across our country. These men are the root of our current political crisis. Without honest work, a man feels no dignity. His sense of worth is destroyed. He is a lonely itinerant, a victim of a capitalist system that profits from his own destruction. He demeans himself, trying to find any meaning in his misery. These men are the favorite targets of the fascist industrialists. Their lies about national humiliation and Judeo-Bolshevism hasten his own demise.

Comrades, we must attack the problem of unemployment directly: by providing every German worker with meaningful and fair work! A KPD government will act quickly to end unemployment in Germany, by building a formal administration to assign fair labor to every working man and woman. This new labor will invigorate the sliding economy, raising the price of labor and putting the squeeze on the capitalist class.

--Nationalize the Commanding Heights of the Economy. Currently, private interests control much of the German economy. Their rent seeking and vampiric nature means that the rightful product of labor is directed towards foreign shareholders rather than the German worker. The KPD proposes a programme of nationalization. The great sectors of energy production, defense, shipbuilding, and automobile manufacturing should be brought under the immediate control of the workers! This measure will ensure that every worker will receive the full value of their labor. In turn, workers will be lifted out of destitution and a new sense of dignity will be enjoyed by the German working class.

--Stabilize the Agricultural Sector. Comrades, we must not forget that the German farmer is also a member of the international proletariat. Their labor is devalued in much the same way as the industrial proletariat. We must not undermine their contribution to the German working class. Currently, German farmers suffer from the ever present ‘profit motive’, a capitalist invention that forces the farmer to sell their goods in the domestic market at a low price. These goods are bought by the capitalists and then sold at higher prices to the urban working class. This diabolical system creates division within the working class and furthers the divide between our cities and the countryside.

The KPD will institute measures to regulate the price of agricultural goods. This policy will allow farmers to sell surplus harvests at a higher price, enabling them to contribute more food to the German nation. We also support more investments into our moribund agricultural sector, which requires more modernization in order to boost productivity. Finally, we support the importation of other foodstuffs from the international proletariat. These measures will allow German farmers to partner with their international counterparts and form stronger relationships among the international proletariat.

Comrades, these measures are just our first steps on the road to German socialism. Nevertheless, we must embrace these policies wholeheartedly if we are to transform the capitalist system into a truly fair and equal economic structure. With the destructive profit motive removed from society, we can begin the process of ending division between the classes. Workers of Germany, we have nothing to lose but our chains!

[Devout Centrist]

(Courtesy of u/rose-tinted-cynic)

Ernst Thälmann Presidential Campaign Platform

Economic Policy:
1. Guarantee Employment to All Adult Germans!
2. Nationalize the Commanding Heights of the Economy, including the Defense, Energy, and Automotive Sectors.
3. Stabilize the Agricultural Sector with Price Controls, Trade Amongst The International Proletariat, and by Reducing the Power of the Junker Class.
4. Instruct the Reichsbank President to Cut the National Interest Rate to 0%
5. A Week-Long Bank Holiday to Support a Working Class Recover
6. An Immediate Halt to Foreign Reparation Payments
7. Massive State Investment in Agriculture, Manufacturing, and Infrastructure.
8. State Support for the Trade Union Movement.
9. Full Insurance for all German Deposits.

Social Policy:
1. An Immediate Ban on Anti-Worker and Anti-Social Militias.
2. An End to State Cooperation with the Freikorps.
3. Continued Progress towards Ethnic and Gender Equality.
4. Embrace State Federalism in Service of a Worker’s Republic.
5. Embrace Total Secularism in Religious Affairs.

Foreign Policy:
1. Work Towards Rapprochement with the International Proletariat.
2. Aid the German Road to Socialism through Peaceful Diplomatic Relationships.
3. Empower the International Proletariat Overseas
4. Negotiate within the League of Nations
5. Form International Alliances that Aim to Prevent Warfare

Full Statement from Comrade Thälmann to come...

[Devout Centrist]

Statement from KPD Leader Ernst Thälmann on the Violence in Berlin

Enough is enough! The Anti-Worker violence on display in Berlin sickens every member of the German Proletariat. Our brothers and sisters are being mercilessly gunned down before our very eyes. Hitler's squad of reactionary goons and his mentally challenged lapdog Hugenburg must be brought to heel!

I am calling on President Hindenburg to swiftly bring an end to the violence in the streets. Additionally, I am authorizing the RFB to defend the working men and women of Berlin by any means necessary! If the Government is unable to stop these Fascists thugs, the KPD will take all appropriate action to restore order and protect our working class brethren.

I call on the Iron Front to join the RFB in the streets, in the spirit of working class solidarity. Today, we will formally enshrine our new Anti-Fascist Alliance. Workers of Germany, arm yourselves!

[Devout Centrist]

(Courtesy of Wikimedia)

Ernst Thälmann für Reichspräsident: Hope through Socialism

(Courtesy of Wikimedia)

Comrades, Brothers and Sisters, I am speaking to you today from the Sportpalast Hall in Berlin! I want to make plain my thoughts on the current political situation and clearly state my plans for the upcoming Presidential election.

Comrades, I am officially announcing my candidacy for President of Germany! Today, I stand before you to make the case for socialism, for humanity, and for hope.

Brothers and sisters, I do not need to tell you what you already know. The state of our Nation saddens every German man and woman. The German worker has been left destitute and defenseless against the machinations of the bourgeoisie and the industrialists. The fascist militias of Hitler and Hugenburg viciously attack the working man in the streets of every German city.

That is why I am running for President, comrades! The only solution to the economic and political crisis of our day is socialism. Socialism in service of humanity. Socialism that supports the working man. Socialism that protects Germany from the capitalist, the imperialist, and the fascist.

As your President, I will enact policies designed to free the working class from the chains forged by the capitalist system. Under a President Thälmann, the German worker will receive fair political representation, higher wages, and guaranteed employment. No man or woman will be subject to the harsh economic banditry of the capitalist system. We will end the misery of deprivation once and for all!

My administration will seek to build ties with the international proletariat around the world. They are our brothers in this struggle and we must stand by their side. We will support a system of international peace brought about through socialism. No more imperialist warfare!

Comrades, our struggle requires working class solidarity. With your support, we will be able to bring about a better world from the ashes of the old. Workers of Germany, unite!

[Devout Centrist]

Ernst Thälmann für Reichspräsident Campaign Schedule

March 1st: Comrade Thälmann launches his campaign in Berlin with a rally at the Sportpalast, followed by a tour of the RFB-operated soup kitchens and an impromptu speech to the working men injured in recent street violence.

March 2nd: Thälmann begins a whistle stop tour across the German industrial heartland, beginning in Magdeburg. The campaign tours a factory in the city and Herr Thälmann addresses an audience at the Centraltheater.

March 3rd: The campaign heads to Merseburg. There, Comrade Thälmann works at one of the local soup kitchens for the better part of two hours before shaking hands with onlookers and distributing pamphlets.

March 4: Next stop is the city of Leipzig, where the campaign organizes a march of striking workers at the Porsche plant. Comrade Thälmann explains his economic plan to local socialist leaders.

March 5: Comrade Thälmann visits Dresden, meeting with a modern art collective and distributing Party aid to recently laid off factory workers.

March 6: The campaign swings west, as Thälmann travels to Thuringia. He gives a speech over the radio in Erfurt, followed by a tour of several working class neighborhoods.

March 7th: On the 7th, the campaign turns towards Hanover, with a brief stop at a local KPD office and a speech outside the Staatsoper.

March 8th: Comrade Thälmann finally arrives in Dusseldorf Ost and begins a three day tour of Cologne, Dortmund, and Essen. On the 8th, the campaign visits Essen and Thälmann meets local workers outside a beer hall.

March 9th: Thälmann reaches Dortmund and meets with leaders of the local RFB branch. Comrade Thälmann talks with recently laid off workers and gives a brief speech about the need for a government that serves the working class.

March 10th: The campaign concludes its tour of the Rhineland with a visit to Cologne. There, he holds a speech outside the Cologne Cathedral and marches across the Hohenzollern Bridge with several thousand KPD loyalists.

March 11th: The campaign leaves the Rhine and visits Hamburg, where Thälmann addresses a large crowd of KPD sympathizers outside a soup kitchen.

March 12th: With the first round drawing closer, the campaign stops in Stettin. Comrade Thälmann addresses several hundred striking workers at a local dockyard before giving an interview to the local press.

March 13: As voting begins, Thälmann travels back to Berlin to meet with supporters and turn out the vote.

[Devout Centrist]

Comrade Thälmann's Comments on Recent Right Wing Violence before Departing Berlin

Quite frankly, it sickens me that the right wing paramilitary groups have been given free reign to run wild through the streets of the Berlin. The KPD asked the Hindenburg government to restore order, yet thousands of our brothers and sisters have been beaten senseless by reactionary thugs.

Our Party will not disarm the working men of Berlin while militarist mobs cause chaos. The RFB will continue to use appropriate force to protect the working class in Berlin and around this country. To that end, I am once again calling on the Iron Front to stand alongside the RFB against the Fascist mobs of Hitler and Hugenberg.

It has also come to my attention that Herr Hitler is departing Germany to meet with Italian Leader Benito Mussolini, a bloodthirsty militarist of questionable character and of even lower stature. The Nazi's openly meet with one of our enemies from the Great War, yet they have the gall to call us puppets of some foreign government? It is clear that the Fascists will stop at nothing to spread their pernicious influence throughout Europe. Hitler has repeatedly called for another imperialist war, a final war that will 'once and for all' settle the destiny of the German people. It's clear to me that this 'destiny' is nothing more than a spot in the common grave.

He and his lackey Hugenberg tell us that a good German has 'nothing to fear' from a Fascist government. Yet they have committed themselves to a nakedly pro-war agenda. Do the German people not fear for their sons when they hear such words?

A President Hitler would use the full force of his office to trample on the rights of the working man and clear the way for a second Great War. Why else forge closer ties with Fascist Italy?

[Devout Centrist]

Comrade Thälmann Addresses Supporters in Berlin

Good evening, comrades! The final tally from the first round of voting is in and I couldn't be happier with the result! I want to thank the 6 million men and women of the working class who voted for a better future this afternoon. Your vote has sent a clear message to the capitalists and imperialists in Berlin: The working class will be silent no more. Based on this fantastic result, I am officially announcing my candidacy for the second Presidential ballot in April!

This result would have been impossible without the support of hard working German men and women across Deutschland. Since the founding of our Republic, the working class has cried out for leadership from the political and capitalist class in this country. They have found none in the parties of the center.

The KPD is the only party offering a better future for the working class of Germany. Our plan will eliminate unemployment, raise working class wages, and begin an economic recovery that will propel Germany down the road of socialism.

Brothers and Sisters, that is the rallying cry of our times: hope. Our political situation is dire to be sure, but it is not unsolvable. With the right ideas and the right leadership, the German working class can enjoy a future free from the oppression of capitalist exploitation and militarist slaughter. As President, I will dedicate the German nation towards a  peaceful and prosperous future under the banner of socialism.

My opponents, President Hindenburg and Herr Hitler, have nothing to offer you but lies, slander, and recrimination. President Hindenburg has failed to solve the economic crisis during his time in office. Government after government has fallen due to infighting, chicanery, and treachery. We cannot trust our current President to end our economic and political crisis under these circumstances.

Hitler, on the other hand, offers national annihilation at the hands of the imperialist West and the Russians. He has committed himself to the dubious ideology of capitalist militarism. His allies are murderous generals from the Great War, who failed to win any great victory for Germany and sent millions of our brothers to their graves. His plan would turn the working man into an automaton, further enslaving them to the capitalist system and turning our brothers into human machinery.

The German people must choose between socialism or barbarism now. Today, I am asking every German to choose hope over fear, socialism over capitalism, and peace over war. Together we can build a truly socialist future.

[Devout Centrist]

Karl Frank will endorse Comrade Thälmann

I would like to extend my heartfelt gratitude to Herr Frank for his endorsement in the second round. When the working class is united behind a common goal, nothing can stand in our way. The KPD is willing to work with any party that supports the German working class. Thank you Herr Frank for your support!

[Devout Centrist]

Ernst Thälmann Campaign Schedule, Second Round

March 14:  Comrade Thälmann spends the day resting in Berlin, meeting with Party leaders and strategists to prepare for the second round of voting.

March 15th-March 18th: The campaign embarks on a 3-day tour of Berlin and Potsdam. Thälmann meets with union leaders, striking workers, and small shopkeepers who are victims of recent right wing violence.

Comrades, the devastation visited upon Berlin by the fascist forces of Hitler and Hugenberg is unacceptable! How can we trust President Hindenburg to protect our brothers in the working class while he hands power to thugs and criminals? If elected, I pledge to stop the tide of right wing violence gripping this country. Until that day arrives, I am instructing the RFB to protect the workers of Germany from the fascist mob.

March 19th-March 26th: Thälmann turns west, campaigning in regions historically favorable to the Social Democrats, with visits to Westfalen Sud, Hessen-Nassau, Hessen-Darmstadt, Aachen, and Dusseldorf West. The candidate visits miners in the Ruhr and takes questions from local reporters. Meeting with members of the Socialist Workers Party, the candidate issues a clarion call for left wing unity in the race for the Presidency.

I am humbled to stand before you today as a representative of the working man in German. The KPD is the only party offering a better future for the working class in Germany. I ran for Reichspräsident because I believe that the only solution to the great political and economic crisis of our time is working class solidarity. By empowering the German worker and building a truly socialist German, we can end the chaos that grips our country and end this capitalist Depression once and for all!

March 27th-April 1st: The campaign travels to Northern Germany. Thälmann gives speeches in Kiel, Bremen, Hamburg, and Wilhelmshaven, to throngs of supporters. He announces a new policy aimed at reviving the moribund shipbuilding industry in the region and joins workers on the picket line. Thälmann and his entourage end the trip in Stettin with a rally in the central square.

April 1st-April 8th: The campaign returns to the east, visiting Leipzig, Dresden, and Chemnitz. Thälmann addresses founding members of the Independent Social Democrats and reiterates his call for working class solidarity.

Brothers and sisters, with the campaign nearly at an end, I come here today to ask for your support in the spirit of unity and friendship. In the past, I have been quite critical of the Social Democrats and of the other left wing parties across the country. Such criticism was necessary to prevent an unholy alliance with the capitalist robber barons or the fascist mobs in the streets.

But in this moment, we can no longer pick and choose who are friends and who are our enemies. I welcome the support of Social Democrats and Liberals. We live in a moment where solidarity matters above all else. Solidarity against Fascism. Solidarity against hunger. Solidarity against capitalism! If you oppose the bloodthirsty militarism of Hitler, if you think President Hindenberg has failed to protect the German nation, I urge you to vote for me and join our campaign. The German people have a choice between the radiant light of socialism or the growing darkness of modern barbarism. Which side are you on?

April 9th: Thälmann returns to Berlin for a short day of rest.

April 10th: The campaign ends with a flurry of interviews, speeches, and public appearances. Thälmann gives remarks to reporters from across Germany and ends the campaign with a final radio address from Berlin. Rallies and marches are held in the streets, Thälmann sets up soup kitchens outside key KPD precincts, and KPD-affiliated unions organize a worker’s march to the polls.

[Devout Centrist]

Statement from Comrade Thälmann on Herr Wels's Recent remarks

Quite frankly, it baffles me that a purported 'friend of the working class' is openly endorsing the failed policies of President Hindenburg over a campaign of and by the German working class. Movements are more than their leaders, and I hope the rank and file of the SPD will embrace my candidacy. In this Presidential election, the KPD is the only party advocating for a socialist future for Germany.

[Devout Centrist]

Ernst Thälmann Addresses Herr Hitler's Remarks on Gregor Strasser

Herr Hitler has let the mask finally come off! His remarks today confirm what the KPD has said since the very beginning: The NSDAP is a degenerate perversion of socialism. Hitler has tossed Herr Strasser to the wolves in a feeble attempt to placate his capitalist puppeteers. We urge all working Germans to reject the false socialism promised by the Nazi's. They have no intentions of aiding the working men of Deustchland.

[Devout Centrist]

Ernst Thälmann Concession Speech

Thank you, comrades! Thank you! I am so humbled by your support and your faith in this campaign.

I have just sent a telegram to President Hindenburg to concede the Presidency and congratulate him on a well run campaign. We may have many disagreements, but it is important to show our solidarity against the Fascist menace posed by Herr Hitler and his ilk. President Hindenburg is no socialist, to be sure, but we extend our congratulations to him at this important hour.

Brothers and sisters, where do I begin? Your efforts throughout the past two months have not been in vain. The KPD has ascended to new heights on the backs of your labor. I am touched by the efforts of our organizers across Germany and the efforts of the RFB to protect the working class in this country. Six million of your countrymen, mostly members of the international proletariat, voted for our campaign. That is a remarkable achievement that would have been unthinkable just a year ago.

Comrades, there is still much work to be done. We must leverage our success in this election to our utmost advantage in the upcoming Reichstag election. We must ensure that the KPD becomes the standard bearer of the German working class. There can be no misapprehension as to which political party truly represents the working men of Deutschland. To that end, we will seek to make new inroads with people disaffected by the mainstream Weimar parties and organize the working class wherever they are found.

For everyone who has supported me in this campaign, let me end on this. Our work continues, our resolve is strengthened, and the dream of a socialist Germany shall endure! Thank you!

[Devout Centrist]

Ernst Thälmann Speaks at the First Annual Red Front Banquet

Courtesy of Bundesarchiv, Bild

Comrades, members of the KPD central committee, protectors of the working class, I am honored to be addressing you today.

As we approach our most sacred of days, International Workers' Day, it is time to reflect on our performance this past year and on our dedication to the cause of worker's liberation. And now, with May Day on the horizon, I can safely say that 1932 has been a banner year for the cause of working class freedom in Deutschland!

This year has blessed us with a bountiful harvest. The KPD has made great strides in electoral politics. This past Presidential election saw our party earn the most votes in its history. With Reichstag elections in the near future, we have the potential to make major gains at all levels of government. Every seat we hold in the Reichstag is more power and influence in the hands of the working man! For that reason, I am setting a goal of 100 seats in the Reichstag for this coming election. If we manage to cross this symbolic threshold, we will be one step closer to being the most vocal member of the opposition to Hindenburg's incompetence and Hitler's capitalist brutality!

As the Vanguard Party of the German working class, we must make it clear that no other political party or coalition can adequately represent the workers of Germany. The SPD remains our biggest opponent in this regard. They have weaved a web of lies that has managed to trap many of our brothers and sisters in its sticky rings. We are told by Herr Wels and his colleagues that the SPD is dedicated to building a better future for German workers. In turn, he labels us as 'red painted Fascists', in league with Hitler and Stalin. Such slander hides the sheer scale of the SPD's failure to protect the working class in Deutschland.

I ask you, what has the SPD done for the working class of Germany? In 1914, Wels and his colleagues voted to support the Kaiser's imperialist war. Without their support, there would have been no Great War. And yet, they voted to send millions of our brothers to their deaths in the muddy trenches of the West. This original sin highlights the magnitude of their hypocrisy.

In 1919, they suppressed our brothers and sisters who rose up against capitalism. Rather than negotiate with Herr Liebknecht and Frau Luxemburg, the SPD had them murdered by the bloodthirsty proto-fascist Freikorps. They would sooner work with their arch enemies than their socialist brothers and sisters.

When Friedrich Ebert came to power, was the capitalist system dismantled? Were the landlords tossed out? Were the speculators banished from Germany? No! The SPD invited them into the government. They entrenched the very system they swore to destroy. And what do they say now, with our nation in the grips of a capitalist depression? "Invest in roads, Invest in bridges...but do not dare change the system that allowed the crisis in the first place!"

Let me be clear: I have no quarrel with the men and women who support the SPD. They are members of the German proletariat and they are our friends. But we cannot stand idly by while Wels and his cronies continue to spout baldfaced lies to the German people. It is our duty to call out the liars and charlatans who would lead our comrades astray. Unless Herr Wels sees the true nature of his words, there can be no collaboration with the SPD. We must supplant them as the largest party of the left as soon as possible.

[Devout Centrist]

Statement from Comrade Thälmann on the Suppression of Working Class Demonstrations

So it has come to this. The Fascist Thug Hitler is now openly using his dictatorial power to suppress the spirit of the working man in Germany. Such outright brutality brought down upon peaceful demonstrations...I've seen enough. I am ordering the RFB to let the marches go on. Any agent of the State or the SA who attacks peaceful demonstrators will be met with unrelenting force from the unified power of the German people.

In response to today's events, the KPD is endorsing a vote of no confidence in Chancellor von Papen. The German people must be allowed to go to the polls and condemn this blatant dictatorial show of force against the German working class.

[Devout Centrist]

May Day Violence: Thälmann Speaks

As the dust settles on a profoundly violent day, I want to extend my gratitude to the brave men and women of the RFB for keeping the peace and protecting their brothers from reactionary agitators.

The KPD renews its call for a vote of no confidence in Chancellor von Papen. It is my hope that this crisis can be solved by using constitutional provisions and above all else, peaceful tactics. Only a durable left wing majority, composed of the whole breadth of the working class, can deliver a better future for the German people.  

[Devout Centrist]

Descent into Dictatorship: Ernst Thälmann Speaks!

Courtesy of Ernst Thälmann - Leader of his class (1955)

Comrades, members of the Reichstag, brothers and sisters, to all Germans wherever they live or roam, I am speaking to you!

Today, we received confirmation of a most grievous threat to the working men and women of Deutschland. The Reactionary von Papen government, which is composed of militarists, war profiteers, and capitalists, has just endorsed a truly frightening proposition: personal loyalty oaths to President Hindenburg. Under this scheme, all Germans and all elected officials will be required to swear total allegiance to the President, to the dictatorial von Papen, and to his militarist cronies in the government.

I strongly condemn this attack on the inherent right of the German people to dissent. Let us not mince words. Any oath of loyalty strips the people of political self determination. It would require the working class to swear total obedience to the capitalist class. It would end the Weimar Republic once and for all.

I stand before you today to swear an oath of loyalty to the people of Germany. I solemnly swear to protect and defend the German people and the German working class against reactionary tyranny, against fascism, and against the forces of international capitalism that threaten to destroy the very foundations of the German nation. We will never give up our rights to an unelected Chancellor and a militarist President.

We urge all parties in the Reichstag to vote against this government in the coming vote of no confidence. Workers of Germany, I ask you to stand with me and the KPD as we fight back against the reactionary forces that seek to strip you of life and liberty.

Solidarity Forever!

[Devout Centrist]

Statement from Ernst Thälmann on the VoNC

Today's vote of confidence in the government represents nothing less than a complete betrayal of the German working class. Those who voted in favor of this motion have shown their true colors and have embraced reactionary capitalism over the well being of the German people.

The KPD will take all appropriate and nonviolent means to oppose this unholy alliance between bloodthirsty capitalism and the militarists behind the Great War. We stand with the 106 members of the SPD who opposed this blatant power grab.

In the coming days, I will personally introduce a bill to ensure German economic revival and working class liberation. While this is a setback for German socialism, it represents only an obstacle on the road to working class freedom.

Solidarity Forever!

[Devout Centrist]

Incident in Kiel: The KPD Responds

Today's incident in Kiel is yet another example of this Reactionary Government's efforts to undermine the working men of Germany, This blatant act of tyranny caused more unrest than it prevented, and what's more, it completely ignored the anti-worker, anti-Republican militias of Der Stahlhelm and the SA.

The RFB will continue in its mission to protect and defend the working class of Germany. We have no interest in violence or bloodshed, but an attack on one of our brothers and sisters is an attack on all of us. I am once again calling on the von Papen Government to call off their depraved assault against the German people.

[Devout Centrist]

The KPD votes Ja!

[Devout Centrist]

Der KPD:
Zusammen Stehen Wir!

Courtesy of Ernst Thälmann - Leader of his class (1955)

Good afternoon Comrades!

I have just received word from a representative of Reichschancellor von Papen confirming that the Reichstag has been officially dissolved and that new elections will be held on September 12th. This is a great victory for the German working class, and indeed for all Germans. Today, I stand before you to, once again, make the case for socialism. Socialism without tyranny! Socialism without appeasement! Socialism of and for the German working class!

Much has changed in the past few months, but the cause of German socialism is timeless. Our cause is one worth fighting for! The forces of capitalism, militarism, and imperialism are hellbent on the complete subjugation of the German people. It is the duty of the KPD and the RFB to protect the workers of this land against the existential threat posed by the capitalist class and their reactionary stooges.

To that end, I am proud to announce our platform for the September campaign. If enacted, these proposals would transform Deutschland into a truly socialist republic. Through this platform, we can finally bring an end to the violence in the streets and the material destitution that cripples the working men and women of our country. Our plan would bring hope to the millions of hardworking Germans who have been cast into the streets by a corrupt, capitalist system. We intend to give honest work to the unemployed, dignity to the working class, and freedom to the oppressed!

We pledge a guarantee of full employment! Every working man and woman would be guaranteed honest, meaningful work that is best suited to their current skills. This proposal would provide enough income to support one of our nation’s many fledgling families, stabilizing the turmoil that has gripped many German households. Such a law would end starvation and put an end to the brutal exploitation of the working man by the rapacious capitalist class!

We pledge to nationalize the defense, automotive, and energy sectors! Millions of our factories lay idle because the capitalist class bears fewer costs with their closure. The KPD will put a stop to this insanity! We will nationalize the commanding heights of the German economy and reopen the idle factories and mines across our country. This will sustain full employment and boost our national economy through increased productivity. We will reject the management of production under the capitalist system and substitute it with our own.

We pledge to provide for German farmers! A KPD government will act immediately to boost productivity on small farms through investment in machinery and labor. We will seek to increase agricultural exports to the international proletariat and support German production through price supports. No farmer should lose their livelihood because of capitalist speculation!

We pledge to end any and all foreign reparation payments! The KPD will not pay a single Reichsmark to the imperialist powers behind the Great War. We will halt any future reparation payments and pledge to abolish the practice entirely.

We pledge our full support to the trade union movement! A KPD government will support the working men of this nation and vigorously defend their inalienable right to collective bargaining. We will promote unionization among all workers in Deutschland and seek to support the existing trade unions through all available means.

We pledge to roll back Herr von Papen’s regressive laws on policing! The recent ‘reforms’ passed by the Reichstag are just cover for the reactionary capitalist class to strengthen its grip on the lives of everyday German workers. We will repeal this regressive piece of legislation as soon as possible!

We pledge ourselves to peace and international cooperation! The horrors of the Great War are scarcely two decades behind us. And yet, some servants of the capitalist class, namely Herr Hitler, argue that we should seek to commit ourselves to such a horrific adventure once again! The KPD opposes militarism, in all its forms. We seek international cooperation and friendship among the workers of the world.

Comrades, today I pledge to do everything in my power to protect and defend the German nation. We are all brothers and sisters, united in a common purpose against the inhuman nature of the capitalist class and their bloodthirsty, imperialist allies. Together, we shall stand together and finally build a truly Socialist Germany. Brothers and sisters, heed my call! Join me on September 12th. Vote for the KPD!

[Devout Centrist]

Official KPD Platform

Courtesy of Invaluable.com

Part 1: Our History and Our Future

The story of the German people is one of class struggle. Since the days of Arminius, our people have engaged in a titanic struggle against the forces of imperialism and capitalism. These forces have ruthlessly conspired against the German people. Today, we are locked in the same struggle against the horrors of a vicious capitalist system and their allies on the reactionary right. To successfully resist their inhuman brutality, the German people must unite under the banner of socialism and shake the foundations that provide legitimacy to their banditry. Like Arminius and our forefathers pushed the Romans out of Deutschland, we must do the same capitalists and the militarists.

In doing so, we shall build a nation dedicated to the peace and prosperity of the working man. Such a state of affairs will end the material destitution that grips our nation. Poverty, homeless, starvation: the evils of the capitalist system shall be eradicated. With the forces of capitalism and militarism driven into the dustbin of history, the German people will realize a Socialist Workers Republic. One where the working class drives the economic and political life of the nation.

To that end, the KPD supports the following policies:

--A Full Employment Guarantee
--Nationalization of the Commanding Heights of the Economy
--A Reichsbank Policy of Lower Interest Rates
--Grants and Low Interest Loans to German Farmers
--Rail, Road, and Canal Construction
--Easing Burdens on Exports
--Trade Union Mobilization
--A National Minimum Wage

Part 2: Peace at Home and Peace Abroad

In 1914, an unholy alliance of capitalists and imperialists came together to send the German People into the Great War. Millions of our brothers were killed in the muddy trenches of the Western Front and on the steppes of Russia. Wives were widowed by the hundreds of thousands and innumerable children were left fatherless. The KPD pledges to do everything in its power to avoid international conflict, while asserting the right of the German people to self determination.

We Pledge to:
--Form International Pacts for Peace
--Support International Cooperation in the League of Nations
--Support Referendums in Lands Lost during the Great War
--Work with our Brothers and Sisters in Foreign Lands for Economic Improvement

Our nation has been gripped by chaos and bloodshed since the onset of the capitalist Great Depression. The root cause of this violence is clear: economic destitution has left the men of Germany without honest work. Beyond economic revival, the KPD pledges to end street violence through working class solidarity.

We Pledge to:
--Expand Suffrage to All Men and Women over the Age of 18
--Empower Local and Regional Governments against Right Wing Violence
--End Federal Cooperation with the Freikorps
--Embrace Community Policing
--Establish Neighborhood Watches in Key Cities

[Devout Centrist]

We Stand Together: Ernst Thälmann Kicks Off the Campaign in Hamburg

Courtesy of http://vanguard-cpaml.blogspot.com/

Comrades, brothers and sisters, I am addressing you today from the Kammerspiele in Hamburg!

Today, we begin a month long effort to revitalize the German working class and fight for the cause of German socialism! I am proud to start this campaign with representatives of the dockworkers of Hamburg. These hard working men have earned a living toiling for hours on end in the hot summer day, laboring to earn a wage to support their families. Their struggle is our struggle, brothers and sisters. We stand in solidarity with them as they strike for better pay and better working conditions.

This election comes down to a defining choice for the German people. Do we accept the failed leadership of monarchists and capitalists? Do we allow ourselves to be led astray by the bloodthirsty militarists and their imperialists lapdogs? Or will the German people embrace freedom, brotherhood, and worker's liberation?

That, comrades, is the decision that lies before us. I don’t need to tell you that the politics of the past has failed our nation. The working class of this country lies prostrate before the capitalist class, who have robbed them of all dignity and all purpose. Anti-worker mobs brutalize our brothers and attack small storefronts in the name of fascist barbarism. Our ‘war hero’ President oversaw some of the worst austerity measures in our nation’s history, stripping untold working men of their jobs and tearing the fabric of our society in half. Our so-called allies supported the Hunger Chancellor and left millions of our brothers to fend for themselves when their unemployment benefits were cut to the bone.

Comrades, this grave situation requires fresh leadership and a Chancellor who will protect the German working class. I have devoted my entire life advocating on behalf of the German worker. I have made the cause of socialism my life’s work because it is a cause worth fighting for! This moment marks just another step in the fierce contest between the industrialists and the workers of Deutschland. Under my leadership, the German working class would go back to work, for honest pay in safe working conditions. We will end the national humiliation of mass poverty and mass starvation. The oppressed shall be liberated! The unemployed shall become employed! And the hopeless shall become the hopeful!

We reject the stifling political climate that led our nation down the path of depression and ruination. Some men argue that their experience in the Great War or their experience in national politics makes them fit to lead the nation. Nothing could be further from the truth. Let me remind you that these same men were the ones who led our nation into the Great War. They stood side by side with the monarchist, the militarist, and the capitalist in ensuring the destitution of Germany. They are chameleons, shedding their skin in one season so that they may hide their legacy of failure and mismanagement. We must reject their empty promises and their false hope. Our only hope lies through freedom, solidarity, and socialism.

Brothers and sisters, as we launch our campaign today, I ask you to stand with me against the capitalists, against the militarists, and against the industrialists. Together we will stand for worker’s liberation, peace, cooperation, and socialism. Brothers and sisters, stand together!

[Devout Centrist]

Making Moves: Thälmann Hits the Road!

Courtesy of Me

With the campaign in full swing, Thälmann begins a fast paced tour across much of Germany. From Essen to Stettin, from Leipzig to Bonn, Thälmann makes the case for German socialism. Travelling by bus, by train, and even by airplane, the campaign seeks to make a favorable impression on as many onlookers as possible.

The campaign uses a variety of novel and unorthodox tactics. At campaign stops, visitors are given a free sandwich and a free can of Beck’s. Friends and well wishers are encouraged to recruit their neighbors and acquaintances to vote for the KPD. Radio is used to announce polling locations, right wing militia movements, and spread the KPD message. Telephones are used to ‘bank’ votes, by reminding voters of the upcoming election; volunteers attempt to persuade even the most stubborn of holdouts.

Speaking in Erfurt, Thälmann had this to say about recent attacks on marxist economics:

Some of my opponents claim that our economic policies pose an existential threat to Germany. They say that our policies will bankrupt the economy and leave millions without a job! To them I say, just take a look outside. Our nation is bankrupt! Our workers are jobless! The KPD programme is specifically designed to combat the failures of the capitalist system and replace it with a new economic plan. When the workers control their workplace, they will be the ones who benefit from production. This production will drive the economy and uplift the entire German nation. Lower interest rates will ease the burden on the working class and support a price recovery. State investment in mining, shipbuilding, farming, and other industries will promote more spending and boost economic activity.

The capitalists and the industrialists are afraid of the KPD.They know that our policies will render their class obsolete and eliminate their political stranglehold on Deutschland. Their failed leadership led Germany down this road. Socialism is the only solution to the current turmoil created by the capitalist system.