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Abstract

When the coalition government led by Chancellor Wilhelm Marx of the Catholic Center Party was unable to reach an agreement on a proposed new school law, the Reichstag was dissolved on March 31, 1928, and new elections were held on May 20, 1928. The Social Democratic Party (SPD) and the Communist Party (KPD) gained the most seats in the new Reichstag, while the Nazi Party (NSDAP) only won twelve seats. Hermann Müller (SPD) was appointed Chancellor and formed a grand coalition government. This article titled “Kampf dem internationalen Marxismus” [Fight International Marxism!] published in the Nazi party newspaper Völkischer Beobachter on May 20, 1928, comments on the results of the election, denouncing the influence of Social Democracy in the Weimar Republic. The article’s unnamed author makes the baseless claim that the electoral success of the SPD and the KPD was a conspiracy with foreign powers, specifically with France and the United States. Portraying National Socialists as the underdog fighting “the entire political world,” the article employs typical Nazi rhetoric, vowing to continue the fight with “fanatical idealism” and “granite-hard faith.”

“Fight International Marxism!” (May 20, 1928)

Source

Fight international Marxism!

This is the slogan after May 20th – Growth of the S.P.D. - The N.S.D.A.P. the only völkisch movement – The National Socialists the third strongest party in Munich – Epp elected, Stresemann failed

Fighting against the whole world

The result of the election campaign of May 20 is the strong growth of Social Democracy throughout the Reich, although nowhere as strong as in Bavaria, especially in Munich, under the glorious government of the Bavarian People’s Party, which has ruled unchallenged since 1924. Adolf Hitler commented on this in the speech reproduced elsewhere. The growth of the S.P.D. represents a huge danger and shows the terrible breakdown in the character of our people. The “major parties,” which once could have held Marxism at bay in terms of numbers, have failed. All the greater is the duty of the National Socialist minority, which can at least claim an inner strength.

What is the situation? National Socialism stands against the entire political world of today, and this world stands in joint hatred against it. No matter how much the “bourgeoisie” and “proletarians” may disagree, they are united in their rejection of the new German idea of the state, which no longer recognizes their outmoded “ideas.” And they are served by governments, a huge press of all shades, pulpits and confessionals, they have the money of the world bankers and trust kings at their disposal, they are helped by threats from the French and Wall Street, the terror of large organizations. National Socialism has nothing at its disposal but fanatical idealism and a single daily newspaper. It truly takes a granite-hard faith to fight against the ring of opponents. And yet! We are proud to note that it was us – especially in Bavaria – against whom the battle was waged. The Social Democrats, the Bavarian People’s Party and the German People’s Party used huge posters to try to cover up their crimes which the N.S.D.A.P. revealed to the people through 19 leaflets and 10 different text posters in a manner that was as simple as it was powerful. To the people who learn nothing, absolutely nothing, about the true state of affairs from “their” press.

We are not resting now, like the parliamentary parties, but are going after the deceivers of the people. The election is over, the fight begins!

Source of original German text: “Kampf dem internationalen Marxismus,“ Völkischer Beobachter, May 20, 1928.

Translation: GHI staff