Changes

The '''Berlin transport strike''' was a massive transportation strike in 1932 engineered by the [[Nazi Party]] (NSDAP) (with [[Adolf Hitler]]'s approval<ref name=kershaw>Kershaw, Ian (1998). [https://www.google.com/books/edition/Hitler_1889_1936_Hubris/TpVrCwAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=hitler+transport+strike&pg=PT257&printsec=frontcover Hitler: 1889-1936 Hubris]. ''Google Books''. Retrieved December 12, 2022.</ref>) and Communist Party (KPD),<ref>Rabinbach, Anson; Gilman, Sander (2013). [https://www.google.com/books/edition/The_Third_Reich_Sourcebook/XhDakMp55i0C?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=nazi+communist+transport+strike&pg=PA841&printsec=frontcover The Third Reich Sourcebook], p. 841. ''Google Books''. Retrieved December 12, 2022.</ref><ref name=clrjames>James, C. L. R. (1937). [https://www.google.com/books/edition/World_Revolution_1917_1936/NXMtDwAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=nazi+communist+transport+strike&pg=PT344&printsec=frontcover World Revolution, 1917–1936: The Rise and Fall of the Communist International]. ''Google Books''. Retrieved December 12, 2022.</ref> more specifically the National Socialist Factory Cell Organization (NSBO) and Revolutionary Union Opposition (RGO) respectively.<ref>Feuchtwanger, Edgar J. (1993). [https://www.google.com/books/edition/From_Weimar_to_Hitler/c4awCwAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=nazi+communist+transport+strike&pg=PA297&printsec=frontcover From Weimar to Hitler: Germany, 1918-33], p. 297. ''Google Books''. Retrieved December 12, 2022.</ref> Although rank-and-file members of both extremist parties' paramilitary units were prone to assaulting one another in streets, the upper hierarchies jointly organized a syncretic labor front which culminated in the transport strike.<ref name=lee,p.58>Edwards, Lee (November 1999). [https://www.google.com/books/edition/The_Collapse_of_Communism/AglXAgAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=nazi+communist+transport+strike&pg=PA58&printsec=frontcover The Collapse of Communism], p. 58. ''Google Books''. Retrieved December 12, 2022.</ref>

The '''Berlin transport strike''' was a massive transportation strike in 1932 engineered by the [[Nazi Party]] (NSDAP) (with [[Adolf Hitler]]'s approval<ref name=kershaw>Kershaw, Ian (1998). [https://www.google.com/books/edition/Hitler_1889_1936_Hubris/TpVrCwAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=hitler+transport+strike&pg=PT257&printsec=frontcover Hitler: 1889-1936 Hubris]. ''Google Books''. Retrieved December 12, 2022.</ref>) and Communist Party (KPD),<ref>Rabinbach, Anson; Gilman, Sander (2013). [https://www.google.com/books/edition/The_Third_Reich_Sourcebook/XhDakMp55i0C?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=nazi+communist+transport+strike&pg=PA841&printsec=frontcover The Third Reich Sourcebook], p. 841. ''Google Books''. Retrieved December 12, 2022.</ref><ref name=clrjames>James, C. L. R. (1937). [https://www.google.com/books/edition/World_Revolution_1917_1936/NXMtDwAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=nazi+communist+transport+strike&pg=PT344&printsec=frontcover World Revolution, 1917–1936: The Rise and Fall of the Communist International]. ''Google Books''. Retrieved December 12, 2022.</ref> more specifically the National Socialist Factory Cell Organization (NSBO) and Revolutionary Union Opposition (RGO) respectively.<ref>Feuchtwanger, Edgar J. (1993). [https://www.google.com/books/edition/From_Weimar_to_Hitler/c4awCwAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=nazi+communist+transport+strike&pg=PA297&printsec=frontcover From Weimar to Hitler: Germany, 1918-33], p. 297. ''Google Books''. Retrieved December 12, 2022.</ref> Although rank-and-file members of both extremist parties' paramilitary units were prone to assaulting one another in streets, the upper hierarchies jointly organized a syncretic labor front which culminated in the transport strike.<ref name=lee,p.58>Edwards, Lee (November 1999). [https://www.google.com/books/edition/The_Collapse_of_Communism/AglXAgAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=nazi+communist+transport+strike&pg=PA58&printsec=frontcover The Collapse of Communism], p. 58. ''Google Books''. Retrieved December 12, 2022.</ref>

During 1932, no political party in Germany held majority control, with the Nazis holding a plurality, while Social Democrats (SPD) came second and the Communists third.<ref name=suvorov>[[Viktor Suvorov|Suvorov, Viktor]] (2013). [https://www.google.com/books/edition/The_Chief_Culprit/EYA4AAAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=nazi+communist+transport+strike&pg=PT15&printsec=frontcover The Chief Culprit: Stalin's Grand Design to Start World War II]. ''Google Books''. Retrieved December 12, 2022.</ref> The Communists faced the option of either forming an alliance with the SPD, their long-hated allies who they branded as "Social Fascists," to overthrow the Nazi Party, or riskily form a syncretic front with the NSDAP, whom they viewed as more [[revolution]]ary. This viewpoint was concurred by the KPD leader Ernst Thälmann, who viewed the SPD as not being "true democrats."<ref>[Resisting Hitler]. ''Google Books''. Retrieved December 12, 2022.</ref> On the orders of Soviet Union dictator [[Joseph Stalin]],<ref>Conquest, Robert (1968). [https://www.google.com/books/edition/The_Great_Terror/ubXQSk2qfXMC?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=nazi+communist+transport+strike&pg=PA195&printsec=frontcover The Great Terror: A Reassessment], p. 195. ''Google Books''. Retrieved December 12, 2022.</ref> the German Communists favored the second approach and joined hands with the Nazis.<ref name=suvorov/> Even prior to the implementation of the transportation strike, Communists formed grassroots cooperation with Nazis, largely out of mutual antipathy towards the more moderate SPD, and discussed strikes against wage cuts.<ref>Fischer, Conan. (1991). [https://www.google.com/books/edition/The_German_Communists_and_the_Rise_of_Na/DXqJDAAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=nazi+communist+transport+strike&pg=PA177&printsec=frontcover The German Communists and the Rise of Nazism]. ''Google Books''. Retrieved December 12, 2022.</ref>

During 1932, no political party in Germany held majority control, with the Nazis holding a plurality, while Social Democrats (SPD) came second and the Communists third.<ref name=suvorov>[[Viktor Suvorov|Suvorov, Viktor]] (2013). [https://www.google.com/books/edition/The_Chief_Culprit/EYA4AAAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=nazi+communist+transport+strike&pg=PT15&printsec=frontcover The Chief Culprit: Stalin's Grand Design to Start World War II]. ''Google Books''. Retrieved December 12, 2022.</ref> The Communists faced the option of either forming an alliance with the SPD, their long-hated allies who they branded as "Social Fascists," to overthrow the Nazi Party, or riskily form a syncretic front with the NSDAP, whom they viewed as more [[revolution]]ary. This viewpoint was concurred by the KPD leader Ernst Thälmann, who viewed the SPD as not being "true democrats."<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> On the orders of Soviet Union dictator [[Joseph Stalin]],<ref>Conquest, Robert (1968). [https://www.google.com/books/edition/The_Great_Terror/ubXQSk2qfXMC?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=nazi+communist+transport+strike&pg=PA195&printsec=frontcover The Great Terror: A Reassessment], p. 195. ''Google Books''. Retrieved December 12, 2022.</ref> the German Communists favored the second approach and joined hands with the Nazis.<ref name=suvorov/> Even prior to the implementation of the transportation strike, Communists formed grassroots cooperation with Nazis, largely out of mutual antipathy towards the more moderate SPD, and discussed strikes against wage cuts.<ref>Fischer, Conan. (1991). [https://www.google.com/books/edition/The_German_Communists_and_the_Rise_of_Na/DXqJDAAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=nazi+communist+transport+strike&pg=PA177&printsec=frontcover The German Communists and the Rise of Nazism]. ''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>

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/>

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>

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>