Leon Trotsky: Answers to Questions from New York

November 13, 1933

[Writing of Leon Trotsky, Vol. 13. Supplement (1929-1933), New York 1979, p. 318-320]

What is necessary for a successful struggle against Hitlerism? First of all it has to be understood that this is a serious and difficult problem which cannot be solved simply by a commercial boycott. The question will be settled inside Germany. The internal contradictions of the Hitler regime are immense, but they can lead to two different outcomes: war or revolution.

In case of a war, which Hitler is stubbornly and systematically preparing, the fate of the regime will be linked to that of the war. But it is now clear to any thinking person that a new war could destroy not only fascism, but European civilization. And this would be too high a price!

Only the revolutionary overthrow of the Nazi regime can avert war, and it is in this sense that I say the question of Hitler will be decided within Germany. Unlike the light-minded bureaucrats of the Comintern, I do not expect an imminent revolution in Germany. The catastrophe that has befallen the German proletariat is too far-reaching. Not only their organizations but their political hopes have been shattered. After such terrible defeats the masses of the people need a considerable length of time to gather their forces anew.

At the same time, the creation of a new proletarian party will begin. You ask, is it not possible that the Social Democracy and Communist Party might hold on to their historic roles in the movement? No, they cannot. The working class will excuse many mistakes on the part of its leaders, but it cannot and will not excuse the monstrous crimes of the Social Democracy or the shameful bankruptcy of the so-called Communist Party. All of history attests to the fact that a revolutionary party which has proven itself wanting in a great historic test will pass from the scene, or at least forfeit any leading role. The German proletariat will muster its ranks under a new banner. It will build a new party and take part in the construction of a new International.

I do not at all mean by this that all the previous work of the Social Democracy and Communist Party is simply to be expunged from history. Millions upon millions of Social Democratic and Communist workers are now painfully reflecting on all that has happened and, guided by their previous knowledge, are devising for themselves a new way of thinking. This invisible, underground activity goes on in the plants, in the prisons, and in the concentration camps. It is not at all by chance that three million votes answered Hitler yesterday with a No! And this under a political terror unprecedented in world history. These numbers will grow. Revolutionary fighters will gain strength and become tempered. Germany is heading, not as quickly as we would like but with iron necessity, toward its greatest revolution.

How, you ask, can the American workers help the struggle of the German proletariat against fascism? The greatest help can and should be to fight fascism in America itself. Germans constitute a significant part of the U.S. population. Hitler would like to convert them into a yeast for American fascism. The working masses of America should follow this process with the greatest attention. Every American worker should say to himself: We won’t let the fascists raise their heads! And saying it is not enough — it has to be acted on. Every seat of fascist infection should be surrounded by a ring of defensive combat organizations. Every attempt by the fascists to take over the streets, destroy a newspaper, or break up a meeting should be mercilessly nipped in the bud.

National Socialism is inseparably linked to anti-Semitism and its pogroms. For the Jewish part of the population in the United States the question of the growth of fascism in America is thus of vital importance. To rely on the American “constitution” as a guarantee in itself against fascism would be pure childishness. The example of Italy, and especially Germany, should certainly teach something to mature people! Only a mass struggle against fascism is capable of checking its growth. In this sense the Jewish working population of America can hope for an effective defense only from a mighty growth of the workers’ movement in the United States.