KPD - Kommunistische Partei Deutschlands
Communist / Bolshevik / Marxist
At a Glance
- Founded: 1919 (split from SPD)
- Reichstag Seats: 54 / 491 (11.0%)
- Support Base: Radicalized workers, unemployed, urban poor
- Stance on Republic: Implacably hostile - seek to destroy it through revolution
- Paramilitary: Red Front (Rotfrontkämpferbund) - BANNED May 1929
- International Affiliation: Comintern (Moscow) and Stalin
Who We Are
The KPD has become the largest communist party outside of the USSR, yet it only formed officially in 1919, after splitting from the SPD over questions related to the war (the KPD opposed war) and the Russian Revolution (the KPD supports the Bolsheviks).
Committed to social revolution, the KPD launched several attempts to seize power in the Republic's early years but has since adopted a policy of building its support legally. Though often wracked by internal conflict, it has become a mass party—implacably hostile to fascism, liberalism, and social democracy.
Our Martyrs
On January 15, 1919, Rosa Luxemburg and Karl Liebknecht—founders of the KPD—were murdered by right-wing Freikorps acting with SPD government approval.
We will never forget. We will never forgive.
The SPD chose to ally with reactionary militarists rather than build socialism. Their hands are stained with workers' blood. They are social fascists—more dangerous than the NSDAP because they deceive workers into supporting capitalism.
Our Relationship with Moscow
We look to the Soviet Union, now firmly in the hands of Stalin, and the Comintern (Communist International). Moscow provides:
- Ideological guidance: Stalin's Third Period theory guides our strategy
- Financial support: Funding for party operations and propaganda
- International solidarity: We are part of the global communist movement
- The model: The Bolshevik Revolution shows the way forward
Core Beliefs
Revolutionary Marxism
Capitalism cannot be reformed—it must be destroyed and replaced. Parliamentary democracy is a bourgeois sham. The only path to socialism is proletarian revolution and the dictatorship of the proletariat.
Social Fascism Theory
At the moment, we follow Stalin's directive: denounce "social fascism". The SPD is a greater threat than the NSDAP because it dupes workers into supporting capitalism and thus provides the basis for fascism.
The SPD are not our allies. They are the enemy. Their "democratic socialism" is a lie that delays revolution.
Anti-Fascism
We are the only true anti-fascist force in Germany. The NSDAP represents the violent wing of capitalism. When capitalist democracy fails (as it must), the bourgeoisie will turn to fascism. Only communist revolution can stop them.
Proletarian Internationalism
Workers have no country. German workers have more in common with Soviet workers than with German capitalists. We reject nationalism and support the international communist movement led by the USSR.
Destabilize the Republic
The Weimar Republic is a capitalist state that must be destroyed. Every crisis brings us closer to revolution. We do not want to save this system—we want to replace it.
Key Figures in the Reichstag
Ernst Thälmann
Party Leader
Party leader, staunch Moscow loyalist, and advocate of a Stalinist interpretation of the party, he brooks no compromise with capitalism, the Republic, or the "social fascist" SPD.
Position: Hardline Stalinist. Completely loyal to Moscow. Believes in social fascism theory. Will not cooperate with SPD under any circumstances.
Clara Zetkin
Eldest Member of the Reichstag
Eldest member of the Reichstag and personal friend of the martyred Rosa Luxemburg, she is firmly committed to the revolutionary path to socialism as carried out by the Bolsheviks.
Role: Delivers the "First Address" after any Reichstag election as the eldest member. Symbol of revolutionary continuity.
Willi Münzenberg
"The Red Millionaire" - Propaganda Chief
One of the few members of the Reichstag from the working class, he has emerged as the party's greatest publicist, creating a communist press empire that rivals that of Hugenberg—a fact that has led many to criticize him as the "red millionaire."
Power: Controls newspapers, magazines, film companies. Masters communist propaganda and mass mobilization.
Walter Ulbricht
Rising Star; Street Fighter
A founding member of the KPD, he is now a rising star in the party, closely associated with the street fighting of the Red Front.
Position: Militant. Believes in direct action. Angry about Red Front ban.
Franz Dahlem
Thälmann Loyalist; Anti-Fascist
A staunch Thälmann supporter, leader of the Ruhr Rebellion in 1923, and now an advocate of the antifascist approach, he denounces the SPD as social fascists.
Arthur Ewert
Comintern Agent; Factional Rival
Directly involved with the KPD uprising in 1923, for many years he was a wanted man in Germany, but now he has close links to the Comintern, though he seems to have ended up on the wrong side of a factional struggle against Thälmann.
Martha Arendsee
Women's Advocate; Pragmatist
Rivaling even the venerable Zetkin, she represents the strong stance of the party on women's issues, but also serves as one of the leading communist publicists and organizers of charitable actions; she has always been willing to find coalition partners.
Position: More pragmatic than Thälmann. Open to tactical alliances if they advance the revolution.
Maria Reese
Recent Convert from SPD
A recent crossover from the SPD elected to the Reichstag by the SPD in 1928, she switched to the KPD in 1929 due to the overly moderate stance of that party.
Significance: Proves that SPD is losing its most committed socialists to us.
Goals and Strategy
What We Want
Immediate Goals (1929-1932)
- Discredit the SPD: Expose them as traitors to the working class
- Win workers from SPD: Radicalize unemployed, show SPD's compromises betray workers
- Lift Red Front ban: Restore our paramilitary
- Block SPD policies: Make them fail, prove parliamentary socialism is impossible
- Increase our seats: Grow from 11% to 20%+ in next election
- Destabilize the Republic: Every crisis brings revolution closer
Long-Term Vision
- Proletarian revolution: Overthrow capitalism and the Republic
- Soviet Germany: Establish dictatorship of the proletariat
- Join USSR: Germany as a Soviet republic
- World revolution: Spread communism across Europe
- Destroy fascism: Eliminate NSDAP and all reactionary forces
The Social Fascism Dilemma
⚠️ Moscow's Orders vs. Reality on the Ground
Stalin's Comintern directive is clear: The SPD are "social fascists" and must be treated as the main enemy. United Front with SPD is forbidden.
But...
- The NSDAP is growing rapidly
- SA and Stahlhelm paramilitaries outnumber Red Front
- Our Red Front is banned while SA remains legal
- If NSDAP takes power, they will destroy us first
The debate within the party:
- Thälmann faction: Obey Moscow. SPD are the enemy. After Hitler, our turn.
- Pragmatists (Arendsee, some others): United Front with SPD to stop fascism
Can you defy Moscow? Should you?
Relationships with Other Factions
| Faction | Relationship | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| SPD | BITTER ENEMIES | "Social fascists"; murdered Luxemburg/Liebknecht; banned Red Front; betray workers daily |
| DDP | Bourgeois enemies | Liberal capitalists; part of pro-Republic coalition; must be destroyed |
| Centre | Reactionary enemies | Catholic conservatives; opium of the masses; agents of Vatican and capitalism |
| DVP / BVP / WP | Bourgeois enemies | All represent capitalist interests; different flavors of the same exploitation |
| DNVP | Reactionary enemies | Monarchists, landlords; but sometimes align against SPD/Republic |
| NSDAP | Fascist enemies BUT... | Violent wing of capitalism; BUT sometimes align tactically against SPD; "After Hitler, our turn" |
| Camarilla | Militarist enemies | Reactionary Junkers; will crush revolution if they can; Hindenburg is the enemy |
| Moscow / Comintern | Allied | Stalin provides guidance and funding; we follow Comintern directives |
Strengths and Weaknesses
Strengths
- Growing support: Economic crisis radicalizes workers; we gain from SPD's compromises
- Moscow backing: Financial and ideological support from USSR
- Propaganda machine: Münzenberg's press empire rivals Hugenberg's
- Committed base: Our voters are true believers, not wavering liberals
- Street presence: Even with Red Front banned, workers rally to us
- Ideological clarity: We know what we want; others compromise and waver
Weaknesses
- Completely isolated: Every other party opposes us; cannot form coalitions
- Red Front banned: Our paramilitary illegal while SA remains legal
- SPD hatred: Social fascism theory prevents United Front against NSDAP
- Moscow control: Must follow Comintern directives even if tactically unwise
- Failed uprisings: 1919, 1921, 1923 attempts discredited us; people fear chaos
- Limited beyond workers: Cannot appeal to middle class or rural voters
- Severing's crackdown: SPD interior minister brutal against us
Playing the KPD
Your Position in the Game
You are revolutionaries operating within a parliamentary system you seek to destroy. You have 54 seats, but no one will form a coalition with you. Your power comes from:
- Disruption: Block legislation, force votes, create chaos
- Propaganda: Expose SPD betrayals, win workers to revolution
- Street action: Even with Red Front banned, organize protests and strikes
- Electoral growth: Every SPD compromise drives workers to us
Strategic Considerations
The United Front Question
This is your biggest decision:
Follow Moscow (Thälmann):
- Treat SPD as main enemy
- No cooperation with "social fascists"
- "After Hitler, our turn" - fascism will discredit capitalism
- Focus on winning SPD voters, not allying with SPD
Defy Moscow (Pragmatists):
- Form United Front with SPD against NSDAP
- Fascism is the greater threat
- Can't have revolution if we're all in concentration camps
- Risk: Expulsion from Comintern, loss of Moscow funding
What will you choose?
Tactical Alliances
Even if you can't form a coalition, you can vote tactically:
- With NSDAP: Both oppose Young Plan, both want to destroy Republic - strange bedfellows?
- With DNVP: Sometimes align on votes against SPD-led government
- With agrarians: Support small farmer relief (but not Junker subsidies)
- Mass walkouts: Refuse to participate in "bourgeois theater"
Victory Objectives
Your specific victory objectives will be on your role sheet, but generally the KPD seeks:
- Increase seats in next election (grow beyond 15%)
- Discredit the SPD (expose their betrayals)
- Lift Red Front ban (restore paramilitary)
- Block SPD policies (make them fail)
- Lower Stability Index (create revolutionary conditions)
- Destabilize the Republic (bring crisis closer)
- If possible: Provoke insurrection
Remember
You do not want to save the Republic. You want to destroy it and build something better. Every crisis is an opportunity. Every compromise by the SPD proves you right.