Changes

Several days prior to the German elections of November 1932, the transportation strike was coordinated by leaders of the NSDAP and KPD. The paramilitary wings of both parties, the ''[[Sturmabteilung]]'' and ''rotfronters'' respectively, "paralyzed public transportation for five days, dug up tram tracks, picketed, beat up those who came to work, and used force to stop the cars that the authorities managed to put to work."<ref name=suvorov/> The rioters reportedly fought police side-by-side.<ref name=clrjames/> [[Joseph Goebbels]], who eventually became Hitler's propaganda minister, gloated in his diary that "not a single streetcar or subway train is operating in Berlin."<ref name=brysac>Brysac, Shareen Blair (2000). [https://www.google.com/books/edition/Resisting_Hitler/5nEXxloJxQYC?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=nazi+communist+transport+strike&pg=PT109&printsec=frontcover Resisting Hitler: Mildred Harnack and the Red Orchestra]. ''Google Books''. Retrieved December 12, 2022.</ref>

Several days prior to the German elections of November 1932, the transportation strike was coordinated by leaders of the NSDAP and KPD. The paramilitary wings of both parties, the ''[[Sturmabteilung]]'' and ''rotfronters'' respectively, "paralyzed public transportation for five days, dug up tram tracks, picketed, beat up those who came to work, and used force to stop the cars that the authorities managed to put to work."<ref name=suvorov/> The rioters reportedly fought police side-by-side.<ref name=clrjames/> [[Joseph Goebbels]], who eventually became Hitler's propaganda minister, gloated in his diary that "not a single streetcar or subway train is operating in Berlin."<ref name=brysac>Brysac, Shareen Blair (2000). [https://www.google.com/books/edition/Resisting_Hitler/5nEXxloJxQYC?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=nazi+communist+transport+strike&pg=PT109&printsec=frontcover Resisting Hitler: Mildred Harnack and the Red Orchestra]. ''Google Books''. Retrieved December 12, 2022.</ref>

During the time period, Berlin was typically supportive of the SPD due to its pro-labor stance; however, the Social Democrats refused to support the radical strike,<ref>Moncure, Billy (September 28, 2018). [https://www.warhistoryonline.com/instant-articles/communists-allied-with-nazis.html How Communists in Germany Allied with Nazis to Destroy Democracy]. ''War History Online''. Retrieved December 12, 2022.</ref> and lost crucial support in the November 1932 elections; the Nazis (as well as Social Democrats) lost seats which were picked up by the Communists.<ref name=brysac/><ref name=seton-watson>Seton-Watson, Hugh (1953). [https://www.google.com/books/edition/The_Pattern_of_Communist_Revolution/-DJVEAAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=nazi+communist+transport+strike&pg=PT113&printsec=frontcover The Pattern of Communist Revolution: An Historical Analysis]. ''Google Books''. Retrieved December 12, 2022.</ref> The Nazis, due to their open collaboration with the Communists, subsequently became viewed as Marxists<ref name=kershaw/> and otherwise "Bolsheviks."<ref>Bullock, Alan (1962). [https://archive.org/details/hitlerstudyintyr0000bull Hitler: A Study in Tyranny], pp. 229–32. ''Internet Archive''. Retrieved December 12, 2022.</ref>

During the time period, Berlin was typically supportive of the SPD due to its pro-labor stance; however, the Social Democrats refused to support the radical strike,<ref>Moncure, Billy (September 28, 2018). [https://www.warhistoryonline.com/instant-articles/communists-allied-with-nazis.html How Communists in Germany Allied with Nazis to Destroy Democracy]. ''War History Online''. Retrieved December 12, 2022.</ref> and lost crucial support in the November 1932 elections; the Nazis (as well as Social Democrats) lost seats which were picked up by the Communists.<ref name=brysac/><ref name=seton-watson>Seton-Watson, Hugh (1953). [https://www.google.com/books/edition/The_Pattern_of_Communist_Revolution/-DJVEAAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=nazi+communist+transport+strike&pg=PT113&printsec=frontcover The Pattern of Communist Revolution: An Historical Analysis]. ''Google Books''. Retrieved December 12, 2022.</ref> The Nazis, due to their open collaboration with the Communists, subsequently became viewed as Marxists<ref name=kershaw/> and otherwise "Bolsheviks."<ref>Bullock, Alan (1962). [https://archive.org/details/hitlerstudyintyr0000bull Hitler: A Study in Tyranny], pp. 229–32. ''Internet Archive''. Retrieved December 12, 2022.</ref><ref>McKenzie, John Richard Philip (1971). [https://www.google.com/books/edition/Weimar_Germany_1918_1933/6RFoAAAAMAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&bsq=nazis+transport+strike+bolsheviks+bourgeoisie&dq=nazis+transport+strike+bolsheviks+bourgeoisie&printsec=frontcover Weimar Germany, 1918-1933], p. 238. ''Google Books''. Retrieved December 12, 2022.</ref>

Although the Communist Party at this point could have formed a coalition with Social Democrats to defeat the Nazi Party, they refused to do so.<ref name=seton-watson/> The SPD lost its coalition control of the Weimar government, and subsequent political violence and intimidation by the Nazis led to Hitler's power ascension in 1933. Afterwards, when the KPD as a party was being suppressed once Hitler seized power, "many of [the Communists] went over to the Nazis."<ref name=lee,p.58/>

Although the Communist Party at this point could have formed a coalition with Social Democrats to defeat the Nazi Party, they refused to do so.<ref name=seton-watson/> The SPD lost its coalition control of the Weimar government, and subsequent political violence and intimidation by the Nazis led to Hitler's power ascension in 1933. Afterwards, when the KPD as a party was being suppressed once Hitler seized power, "many of [the Communists] went over to the Nazis."<ref name=lee,p.58/>