A History of the Rotfront Movement
The Paramilitary Arm of the Weimar Republic's Communists
May 3, 2009
Germany after the First World War. The country's first try at democracy has resulted in a mirage of rivaling parties fighting for power in parliament. But as their foot soldiers carry the battle to the street, violence floods the Weimar Republic. The big players on the political battlefield all create paramilitary bodies that engage in brutal clashes with their opponents. The social democratic Reichsbanner is largest in numbers, according to researchers as David Mintert in "Sturmtrupp der Republik" counting 3 million members, and the monarchist Stahlhelm is well funded and enjoys support by high ranking figures in the military and government. But the fascist Sturmabteilung and communist Rotfront show the most presence, engaging in bloody street wars of often times lethal outcome.
Ambitions of Revolution
The German Communist Party (KPD) played an important role in the end and aftermath of World War I, organizing strikes and mutinies that did their part to bring upon the capitulation of the German army and starting several attempts to turn the country now torn by civil strife into a soviet republic after the model of the October revolution. Although non succeeded, the party leadership did not want to give up on the possibility of initializing a forceful upheaval of the current government.
An Antifascist Frontline
In addition, communist demonstrations and meetings were coming under growing pressure by the Nazi's Sturmabteilung, whose thugs would storm into events or ambush single activists. To protect their own members, but also to disrupt rival agitation as well as to strengthen theirs, a military style organization would be of great advantage. In July 1924, the Roter Frontkämpferbund, or Rotfront, was created.
Rise And Fall of the Rotfront
Intended to be a pool for experienced soldiers who had fought in the Great War, its founding meeting was instead dominated by youths looking for action and excitement. Still, over the next years the Rotfront would quickly grow to a national wide movement consisting of over 100,000 members, as Kurt Finker cites in his "Geschichte des Roten Frontkaempferbundes".
Ironically, their greatest perceived enemy were the social democrats and not the extreme right, which would later rise to power and persecute both of the rivaling parties. At the traditional 1. May demonstration of 1929, though, violence between protesters and police escalated and the ensuing battle caused over 30 deaths. The government reacted promptly by outlawing the Rotfront, apparently having all the necessary laws ready and only waiting for the proper occasion to introduce them.
Third Reich And After
After this, the organization continued its work underground to a certain extent but could not prevent its own decline. After Adolf Hitler's electoral victory in 1933, the Nazis were quick to destroy what still remained, stamping out a dangerous source of resistance and clearing the path to the Third Reich.
Many Rotfront members later joined the International Brigades in Spain's civil war in 1936 but again suffered defeat at the hands of the fascists. Today, the Roter Frontkämpferbund is a symbol of the wild and violent Weimar Republic and the early struggle against the Nazi menace but also for the failure of almost all political parties, including the communists, to recognize the threat Adolf Hitler's NSDAP presented and to unite against them, resulting in the course of history as we know it.
