communism, German

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Revolutionary socialism that emerged in Germany between 1918 and 1933. Inspired by the Russian Bolshevik revolution of 1917, it sought to replace the democratic system of the Weimar Republic with a Soviet-style dictatorship of the proletariat. Although communist uprisings in 1919 and 1920 were crushed, the German Communist Party (KPD) emerged as the fifth largest party in the December 1924 Reichstag elections, with 9% of the popular vote compared to the Nazis' 6.5%. However, support declined over the following years. Although interest in communism re-emerged in the economic recession after 1929, the allegiance of the masses was shifting towards Adolf Hitler and the Nazi party. In 1933, Hitler, now chancellor, banned the KPD. Under the subsequent Nazi state many communists were rounded up and sent to concentration camps.

Red and white are the colours of Bohemia, dating back to the 13th century. Blue represents Moravia. Unlike that of the Slovak Republic, the Czech flag is not based on the pan-Slav colours. Effective date: 1 January 1993. >>