The appeal of Communism

• What was the KPD's goal regarding the Weimar government?

  To establish a communist dictatorship
• Why could the KPD not be blamed for the economic problems during the Depression?

  They were never part of the Weimar government
• What relationship did the KPD wish to maintain?

  A close relationship with the Soviet Union
• What were the specific campaign messages of the KPD?

  • No wage or unemployment benefit cuts
  • Nationalise private businesses
  • Legalisation of abortion
  • Cooperation with the Communist USSR
  • Criticism of the Socialist SPD
  • Reduce military spending
• What was the KPD's membership in 1929?

  130,000
• What was the KPD's membership in 1932?

  360,000
• Who did the KPD primarily appeal to?

  The industrial working class
• Why could the KPD not create a left-wing coalition?

  Hatred of the SPD from past conflicts
• What was the KPD's peak election support in November 1932?

  16.9%
• How did the KPD appeal to the unemployed?

  By staging protests and hunger marches
• Who was the leader of the KPD?

  Ernst Thalmann
• What was a significant drawback for the KPD regarding its membership?

  High turnover of new members
• What paramilitary force did the KPD have?

  Red Front Fighters' League
• How did the KPD's support compare to the Nazis in the 1930 and 1932 elections?

  KPD had fewer seats than Nazis
• What were the strengths and weaknesses of the KPD from 1928-32?

  Strengths:

  • Rapid membership growth
  • Strong in industrial cities
  • Successful protests against benefit cuts

  
  

  Weaknesses:

  • Limited appeal to working class
  • High turnover of members
  • Hatred of SPD hindered coalitions
• Why did the KPD lack military resources?

  The army remained loyal to the Republic
• How did the KPD's support limit its electoral success?

  It only appealed to industrial workers
• How did the Nazis benefit from the Communist threat?

  Exploited middle class fear of Communism
• What role did the SA play in the Nazi strategy against Communism?

  Fought the Red Front Fighters League
• What were the KPD's electoral results in the 1930 and 1932 elections?

  • 1930: 77 seats
  • 1932: 89 seats
• What was the KPD's relationship with the Soviet Union?

  • Followed Soviet instructions
  • Alienated some potential supporters
  • Leader Ernst Thalmann aligned with Stalin
• How many members did the KPD have in 1923?

  250,000
• What was the total membership of the KPD in 1929?

  130,000
• How many members left the KPD in 1929?

  39,000
• What was the total membership of the KPD in 1930?

  180,000
• How many members left the KPD in 1930?

  95,000
• What was the total membership of the KPD in 1931?

  260,000
• How many members left the KPD in 1931?

  130,000
• What was a vital factor in the history of the Weimar Republic?

  • Fear of communism
  • Elite cooperation against Bolshevik threat
• When did the Communists have their best chance of gaining power?

  In the chaos of 1919 and 1925
• What did the Communists focus on from 1930 onwards?

  Concentrating on elections
• Why did the elite cooperate with the Nazis?

  Due to hostility towards the weak Weimar state
• What percentage of the vote could the Communists never exceed?

  20 percent
• Who made up about 50 percent of the population?

  The working class
• What was the KPD's relationship with the SPD?

  They remained bitter enemies
• What did the SPD do to the communist risings from 1919-25?

  Suppressed them
• How did the KPD view the SPD?

  As betrayers of the working class
• What did the KPD reject?

  The parliamentary system
• What alienated some potential supporters of the KPD?

  The KPD's close identification with the Soviet Union
• What did the Communist International view Socialists as?

  Rivals and delayers of world revolution