exploited for our class fight. There are shades of difference between Ebert, Seeckt and Ludendorff. But, apart, from those differences in the camp of the enemy, the German Communists must not forget that the main thing is to bring the working class to understand what is the essence of the whole affair, namely, that in the fight between capital and labour the leaders of the Social Democratic Party of Germany are irrevocably united with the White generals.
It is not only just now that the German Social Democrats have passed over to the side of capitalism. At bottom, they have always been the class enemies of the proletariat. But it is only now, after they have passed from capitalist democracy to capitalist dictatorship that this has become grossly evident to the masses.
It is this fact which induces us to introduce some modification into the tactics of the United Front as applied to Germany.
No negotiations with the mercenaries of the White dictatorship! This is what every communist in Germany must plainly realise and proclaim loudly and emphatically to the whole German proletariat.
But even more dangerous than the right wing of the Social Democratic Party leaders are the left wing leaders, this last illusion of the deceived workers, these last fig leaves covering the counter-revolutionary policy of Severing, Noske, and Ebert.
The Communist Party of Germany rejects all negotiations not only with the Central Committee of the German Social Democratic Party, but also with the "left" leaders as long as these heroes do not summon up enough manhood to break openly with the counter-revolutionary gang sitting in the Central Committee of the German Social Democratic Party.
The tactic of the United Front to be employed in Germany is now: "Unity from below."
In the first theses of the Executive of the Communist International of December, 1921, we find:
"As a counter-poise to the diplomatic game of the Menshevik leaders, the Russian Bolsheviks put forward the slogan: 'Unity from below!' i.e., the unity of the working classes themselves in the practical fight for the revolutionary demands of the workers against Capitalism. Practice has proved that this was the only correct reply. As a result of this tactic, which was modified according to the circumstances of time and place, a huge section of the best Menshevik workers was gradually won over for Communism!"
The Communist Party of Germany must learn how to realise the slogan of the United Front from below.
A ferment such as had never before existed is going on among the workers who still belong to the German Social Democratic Party. They see the bankruptcy of their leaders and are seeking new paths. There is therefore no reason why we should reject
( 73 )
