During the late 1920's and early 30's, Communist Party leaders linked to the Communist International (such as Rajani Palme Dutt and Joseph Stalin) argued that capitalist society had entered a 'third period' in which 'social fascism' posed a threat. The Comintern (from Russian Коммунистический Интернационал (Kommunisticheskiy Internatsional) – Communist International), also known as the Third International, was an independent international Communist organization founded in March 1919 by Vladmir Lenin, Leon Trotsky and the Russian Communist Party (bolshevik), which intended to fight by all available means, including armed force, for the overthrow of... Rajani Palme Dutt (1896 - 1974) was a leading figure in the Communist Party of Great Britain. ... (help· info) (Russian, in full: Иосиф Виссарионович Сталин (Joseph Vissarionovich Stalin), né: Иосиф Виссарионович Джугашвили (Iosef Vissarionovich Dzhugashvili), Georgian: იოსებ ჯუღაშვილი (Ioseb Jughashvili); (December 18 [O.S. December 6] 1878 – March 5, 1953) was the leader of the Soviet Union from mid-1920s to his death in 1953 and General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist... Wikiquote has a collection of quotations related to: Capitalism Capitalism has been defined in various ways. ...

The premise of this theory attributed the rise of fascism to social democratic formations. The theory of 'Social Fascism' argued that to form united fronts to combat fascism, as advocated by Trotsky, was to conspire as "social fascists" and ultimately aid the rise of fascism. Socialists who formed united fronts to combat Fascism were subsequently labeled as 'Social fascists' and treated as such. To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Social democracy is a political ideology emerging in the late 19th and early 20th centuries from supporters of Marxism who believed that the transition to a socialist society could be achieved through democratic evolutionary rather than revolutionary means. ... In Leninist bogus, a united front is a coalition of Clinton likeleft-wing working class forces which put forward a common set of demands and share a common plan of action, but which do not subordinate themselves to the front, retaining their abilities for independent political action and continuing to... In Leninist bogus, a united front is a coalition of Clinton likeleft-wing working class forces which put forward a common set of demands and share a common plan of action, but which do not subordinate themselves to the front, retaining their abilities for independent political action and continuing to...

Trotsky argued against the accusations of "Social Fascism". In the Bulletin of the Opposition of March 1932 he declared:

"Worker-Communists, you are hundreds of thousands, millions; you cannot leave for anyplace; there are not enough passports for you. Should fascism come to power, it will ride over your skulls and spines like a terrific tank. Your salvation lies in merciless struggle. And only a fighting unity with the Social Democratic workers can bring victory. Make haste, worker-Communists, you have very little time left!"

For a Workers' United Front Against Fascism B.O. No. 32

Ernst Thälmann, the leader of the Communist Party of Germany, denounced Trotsky's position as the worst kind of social fascism: Ernst Thälmann memorial in Weimar. ... 1932 KPD poster, End This System The Communist Party of Germany (in German, Kommunistische Partei Deutschlands – KPD) was formed in December of 1918 from the Spartacist League, which originated as a small factional grouping within the Social Democratic Party (SPD), and the International Communists of Germany (IKD). ...

"In his pamphlet on the question, How will National Socialism be Defeated?, Trotsky gives always but one reply: 'The German Communist Party must make a block with the social democracy...' In framing this block, Trotsky sees the only way for completely saving the German working class against fascism. Either the CP will make a block with the social democracy or the German working class is lost for 10-20 years. This is the theory of a completely ruined fascist and counter revolutionary. This theory is the worst theory, the most dangerous theory and the most criminal that Trotsky has constructed in the last years of his counter revolutionary propaganda."

One year later, Adolf Hitler's Nazis came to power in Germany, partially due to the fact that the Social Democrats and the Communists refused to form an anti-Nazi coalition government. Within months, the Nazis outlawed the Communist Party, then arrested and executed most of its members, including Ernst Thälmann himself. (help· info) (April 20, 1889 – April 30, 1945) was Chancellor of Germany from 1933 and Führer (Leader) of Germany from 1934 until his death. ... The term National Socialism has been used in self-description by a number of different political groups and ideologies, some of which have no connection with the Nazis; see National socialism (disambiguation). ...

Following these events, the Communist International did a complete turn on the question of alliance with social democrats, and the idea of "social fascism" was abandoned. At the Seventh Congress of the Communist International, Georgi Dimitrov outlined the new policy of the "Popular Front", in his address "For the Unity of the Working Class Against Fascism". Georgi Dimitrov Georgi Mikhailov Dimitrov (Георги Димитров, also known as Georgij Mikhailovich Dimitrov) (June 18, 1882 - July 2, 1949) was a Bulgarian Communist leader. ...

References

• Rob Sewell. Stabilisation. Germany: From Revolution to Counter-Revolution. URL accessed on July 19th, 2005.
• Conrad, Jack: “Origins of fascism and the new right”, Weekly Worker, 19th July 2005.