SPD: An Alternate History [IC | SIGNUPS ONLY]

[Khardsland]

SPD: An Alternate History

"Freedom and life can be taken from us, but not our honour."
- Otto Wels

OOC Thread

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April 1925

The first round of the Presidential elections concluded with no one crossing the 50% threshold. The conservative Paul von Hindenburg has reluctantly placed his bid for leadership. The parties of the Weimar Coalition have backed Wilhelm Marx to beat the ascendant War Hero. The SPD has multiple campaign strategies for Marx to stand a chance at victory. The question is: which is the best one?

Operation: Reformist Defeatism

Political Campaigns
Max 3 dice

[X] For Democracy: 1 die
[X] Charity Drives: 2 dice

---

Operations
Max 3 dice

[X] Ebert's Foe: 1 die
[X] De-legitimizing Stresemann: 2 die

---

Beyond the Weimar Coalition
Max 2 dice

[X] The Dark Jacket: 2 dice

Carlo Mierendorff
Labor

Operation: Propaganda Bulwark

Political Campaigns
Max 3 dice

[X] Sozialpolitik: 2 dice
[X] charity drives: 1 die

---

Operations
Max 3 dice

[X] War of the Posters: 2 dice

---

Beyond the Weimar Coalition
Max 2 dice

[X] The Dark Jacket: 2 dice

Jakob Hofmeister
Labor

Operation: Worker's Democracy

Political Campaigns
Max 3 dice

[X] Sozialpolitik: 2 dice
[X] For Democracy: 1 die

---

Operations
Max 3 dice

[X] War of the Posters: 1 die
[X] Ebert's Foe: 2 dice

---

Beyond the Weimar Coalition
Max 2 dice

[X] The Dark Jacket: 1 die
[X] The Bavarian Bulwark: 1 die

Tobias Fillak
Labour

Operation: Champions of the People



Political Campaigns
Max 3 dice

[X] Sozialpolitik: 2 dice
[X] Harm Reduction: 1 die

---

Operations
Max 3 dice

[X] War of the Posters: 2 dice
[X] Ebert's Foe: 1 die

---

Beyond the Weimar Coalition
Max 2 dice

[X] :The Dark Jacket 2 dice

Alexander Grumman
Labour

Operation: Scarlet lilies

Political Campaigns
Max 3 dice

[X] Sozialpolitik: 1 die
[X] For Democracy: 1 die
[X] Charity Drives: 1 die

---

Operations
Max 3 dice

[X] War of the Posters: 2 dice
[X] Ebert's Foe: 1 die

---

The Bavarian Bulwark
Max 2 dice

[X] The Bavarian Bulwark: 2 dice

Alexander Fruger
Centrist

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REICHSTAG COMPOSITION

SPD: 26%
KPD: 9%
Z + BVP: 16%
DVP: 9%
DDP: 6%
DNVP: 20%
NSDAP: 3%
Others: 11%

POLLS

SPD: 27%
KPD: 9%
Z + BVP: 16%
DVP: 9%
DDP: 5%
DNVP: 18%
NSDAP: 3%
Others: 13%


Next Elections: December 1928
President: Simons (acting)
Chancellor: Luther (I)

---

Welcome! This is the IC thread for SPD: An Alternate History. In this roleplay thread, players act as members of the Social Democratic Party of Germany from 1928 onwards (if this proves to be a big success, I might continue this well into the 21st century). Step into the shoes of a politician supporting the oldest political party in Germany and shape the future of the Weimar Republic. After the disastrous Great War, the young concept of liberal democracy is unable to cope with rising revanchism, political militarization, systemic corruption, and a reactionary military. Can you succeed where the real party failed?

Special thanks to the wonderful people behind Social Democracy: An Alternate History, the New Campaign Trail and Spartacus Rising 1919 for inspiring this roleplay.

RULES:

1. Every day, I present a crisis and organize a 24-hour poll on the SPD's reaction
2. The OOC thread is for doubts and historical speculation while the IC thread is for actual gameplay and lobbying
3. Every player must register as a (historical or imagined) SPD party member and act like said member would
4. Reality is the biggest threat to daydreaming; the SPD can only be so radical before it collapses
5. Post your SPD membership card in the OOC only
6. Post your Personal Political View in the IC when a crisis is going on

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Centrists: Center Marxists. Supporters of the doctrines of Karl Kautsky, they believed that capitalism would collapse due to its internal contradictions and that there was no need for revolution. They support defending the liberal democratic state until a transition to socialism can become viable. They oppose any economic recovery plans, as they wish to not derail the collapse of capitalism.

Left: Radical communists. Many were members of the former USPD while others were KPD dissidents. They wish for a nationalized economy governed together with the workers. Cooperation with the KPD through an Einheitsfront and extraparliamentary actions are supported by this faction.

Reformists: Pragmatic participants in government. The most experienced leaders of the SPD are from this faction. They believe in ensuring political stability through compromise with the liberal and conservative parties. They seek to defend the status quo from the reactionaries and communists. They support expanding the welfare state without deficit spending.

Labour: Trade unionists. Many members of the SPD are also aligned with the ADGB, a federation of free trade unions. They seek to empower workers through the legitimization of trade unions and support deficit spending in the name of economic reform.

Code: Select all

[b]PERSONAL POLITICAL VIEW[/b]

(REMOVE ALL TEXT INSIDE BRACKETS)

(Your personal view on how the party should vote on the given crisis; should align with your faction's view)

Party member name
Party member faction

PERSONAL POLITICAL VIEW

I believe the SPD should focus primarily on expanding its media empire to the middle-class by establishing a politicized radio channel. We can combine socialist messages with music and consumer advertising, providing an intimate link with our would-be voters.

Arthur Crispien
Left

[Khardsland]

PROLOGUE: SCHWARZ ROT GOLD

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January 1925

Germany! My beloved country, having survived a perilous world war and a tyrannical Kaiser. The monarchy's days are over and a new democratic constitution has been written. The treaty of Versailles has held us guilty for the Great War and punished us with heavy reparations. The hyperinflation crisis is over and the economy is expanding steadily. The nationalist and communist rebellions have been ruthlessly crushed and it is bound to affect policy decisions for the coming years.

The Franco-Belgian armies continue to occupy the Ruhr Valley as punishment for Germany's inability to pay war reparations. Although a formal accord had been signed last year to return the local administration and economy to the Germans, their armies continue to hold out in the industrial region. Sympathy for the Weimar cause has risen internationally while the nationalists are using the current right-wing government's inability to retake the Valley as proof of the supposed failure of our republic.

As the German population wakes up to a new year, so do the Social Democrats. Members of the SPD gathered in Berlin for its first party conference for 1925. Now, the party delegates must decide what the SPD's first action for the new year shall be. Our media network under Vorwärts is strong but could be improved. Its chief editor, Friedrich Stampfer, believes that investing in politicised radio stations could help us connect with the middle classes more intimately, spreading messages of social democracy alongside music and consumer advertisements. Meanwhile, some factions in our party support disruptive activism, believing the party should do more to address the Ruhr crisis. Alternatively, we can organise rallies throughout the Free State of Prussia to exert more pressure on Minister-President Wilhelm Marx to introduce social democratic policies. If all else fails, we can always hold a generic rally stressing the need for party unity and emphasising the common struggle for socialism.

[Khardsland]

PERSONAL POLITICAL VIEW

I believe the SPD should focus primarily on expanding its media empire to the middle-class by establishing a politicized radio channel. We can combine socialist messages with music and consumer advertising, providing an intimate link with our would-be voters. The liberal and centrist parties are seeing a drop in their middle class votes. If we can prevent these disillusioned voters from defecting to the nationalists, we can protect our republic for the years to come.

Arthur Crispien
Left

[Cybernetic Socialist Republics]

PERSONAL POLITICAL VIEW

The passions of the German people have been aroused by the Franco-Belgian occupation of the Ruhr Valley. As we speak, workers, both on their own initiative & in alignment with local authorities, have engaged in of acts of sabotage & passive resistance. The SPD must stand with the working class, not only in the Ruhr, but across all Germany, whom the burden of 'reparations' this occupation is meant to force would fall upon. The Working Class of Germany mustn't pay the cost of a war started by the ruling classes of Europe, it is those ruling classes that owe the German & European working classes, not us them! We must Protest against the Ruhr occupation, for those concerned about so-called 'moderate' opinion, it certainly wouldn't hurt to be seen as standing up for German national dignity.

Carlo Mierendorff
Labor

[The Jamesian Republic]

PERSONAL POLITICAL VIEW
In my opinion let’s use any potential radio station to advocate for solutions for all the crises that face Germany today. Let us make a political ecosystem for all Social Democrats. Let’s have our voices heard as one grand coalition. Let us advocate for the return of the Ruhr Valley to German authority. Let’s us broadcast our rallies in Prussia to the people. Our message can only go so far with just rallies. Most importantly let us advocate for a strong working class, and strong unions to rebuild our economy and rebuild Germany into a better nation for all people.
Heinrich Cullmann
Labor

[Basenja]

PERSONAL POLITICAL VIEW

The current Weimar coalition in Prussia has not fully implemented the welfare policies we expected. The blame lies solely on Minister-President Wilhelm Marx. If it is reform that we seek, we ought to exert our power to the limits allowed to us in the democratic framework. By putting up a grand display of power, we can remind the centrists and liberals that the workers of Germany deserve our attention. If they won't expand the welfare system, we shall have to serve as the proletariat's lawyers.

Otto Hegel
Reformist

[Honghai]

PERSONAL POLITICAL VIEW

What would be best for the Proletariat, would be if we centred ourselves upon the airwaves; fighting back against the bougie via their own means. Radio is a new and open means of approaching the workingman and less-fortunate women and for any political victory of "bread" to be achieved, one must do so through radio programme.


Sydnei Vinnegarten
Left

[Khardsland]

"Achtung, achtung! Hier spricht Friedrich Stampfer des Vorwärts Funks! Genossen, wir präsentieren den Weg zum Sozialismus! Die Sozialdemokratische Partei Deutschlands kommuniziert nun drahtlos über Telefon!"

Stampfer's voice was one of raw passion and charisma. There are already murmurs within the party of promoting the Voräwarts chief editor to the central party executive following the nation-wide broadcast. Our new radio station allows us to connect to people in a more intimate setting than before, spreading the message of socialism along with music and other popular content. Unfortunately, such technologies are still considered experimental and most proletarians cannot afford family radios right now. Instead, we are reaching the middle classes, a fact of which our labor comrades are painfully aware. At least we are preventing members of the middle class disillusioned by Zentrum and the DDP from defecting to the nationalists.

[Khardsland]

February 1925

Adolf Hitler, immigrant politician and mastermind behind the Beer Hall Putsch, has been released from prison earlier than his five-year sentence for high treason. He first wrestled away the leadership of the National Socialist Freedom Party (NSFP) from Albrecht von Graefe and Erich Ludendorff, prompting the duo to resign in protest. Hitler then dissolved the party and re-established the National Socialist German Workers' Party (NSDAP). Although the NSDAP had been banned from the Reichstag following the Putsch, that ban expired last month. Sources indicate that Hitler plans to publish a voluminous book later this year, which could possibly become a bestseller.

While the NSFP/NSDAP is considered a major threat by some in our party, that subgroup does not constitute a majority. After all, this 'party' lacks popular following with more bark than bite. Suppose we do decide to attack the party. In that case, we will have to choose between actively digging for dirt on the Austrian private or comparing our successful record with his party's pathetic performance. Then again, we could accidentally shoot ourselves in the foot by doing so, painting Hitler as a victim of SPD bullying rather than a serious threat to the republic.

[Honghai]

PERSONAL POLITICAL VIEW

I believe, that for the good of The People, we should look further into the NSDAP; there should be thorough investigation and consideration - consideration that our beloved homeland need not be swarmed with treasonous and reactionary riffraff such as Hitler or similar large figures. And if we do not look further into them, we could be condemning the less-fortunate to more hardship. Haven't we enough pain for once?

Consider what'd be the state of Europa had we all sat back in-unison and allowed traitorous gangsters to run amuck!


Sydnei Vinnegarten
Left

[Cybernetic Socialist Republics]

PERSONAL POLITICAL VIEW

Investigate the NSDAP for its potential criminal record. Any crimes that were committed are worth finding out & prosecuting. If it leads to bringing attention to the NSDAP & allowing them to feed off the revanchism the German people feel over issues like the occupation of the Ruhr, its the fault of the SPD for not taking the correct stand on that issue.

Carlo Mierendorff
Labor

[Khardsland]

Political espionage is considered a fact of life in the unstable Weimar Republic. The rise of factionalism and political violence gave birth to a culture of party distrust. While the current right-wing coalition government might utilise the German police to infiltrate minor political parties like the NSDAP, the SPD can not. It appears that the erstwhile NSFP leadership did everything it could to distance itself from the legacy of Hitler and his Putsch. No incriminating documents are found; they most likely were all destroyed.

The spying was short of being a complete waste as our contacts discovered a man named Max Amann, who is allegedly planning to publish Hitler's book. By stalking the publisher, we gained snippets into what this so-called 'Mein Kampf' contains, allowing us to launch a counter-propaganda campaign if said book ever gets published. Unfortunately, this information was not enough to make the SPD bigshots look the other way over the loss of 350,000 Reichsmarks. A party committee has been set up to crack down on 'internal corruption'.

[The Jamesian Republic]

Fixed.

[Khardsland]

PERSONAL POLITICAL VIEW
It is my opinion that we must investigate Hitler and his NSDAP members. If we have learned anything from the Beer Hall Putsch he is too dangerous to be trusted. Which means he is certainly too dangerous to lead Germany. Now more than ever all SPD members must put aside differences and work to defend Germany from this growing tumor of authoritarianism.
Heinrich Cullmann
Labour

Hey there, slight issue, the crisis vote is already over. I'm writing the next crisis right now.

[The Jamesian Republic]

PERSONAL POLITICAL VIEW
It is my opinion that we must investigate Hitler and his NSDAP members. If we have learned anything from the Beer Hall Putsch he is too dangerous to be trusted. Which means he is certainly too dangerous to lead Germany. Now more than ever all SPD members must put aside differences and work to defend Germany from this growing tumor of authoritarianism.
Heinrich Cullmann
Labour

Hey there, slight issue, the crisis vote is already over. I'm writing the next crisis right now.

It is fixed now.

[Khardsland]

March 1925

President Friedrich Ebert, a loyal member of the SPD and perhaps the most controversial Weimar politician, passed away last month. He was best known for suppressing the Spartacus Uprising and the Kapp Putsch with his iron fist. His support for reform over revolution led the communists to call him a traitor. Meanwhile, conservatives mourned the loss of a man who saved Germany from communist excesses, despite his outspoken atheism.

Hans Luther was originally chosen as acting President but has since resigned. The Reichstag is now contemplating a new list of candidates for acting President until the presidential elections can be held in March 1925. Walter Simons appears to be the compromise candidate for the right-wing government, having briefly served as the Foreign Affairs minister and is the current Reichsgericht president. However, our party members have opposed his previous criticism of judges being members of the SPD or the Republikanischen Richterbund. If the SPD ignores his remarks and supports him anyways, many party members have threatened to resign in protest.

Many in our party propose that we put forward a candidate of our own. Otto Braun, despite being a reluctant ruler, is an authoritative individual and the current Minister-President of Prussia after a ministry shuffle. He would receive the full support of our party but could never possibly acquire the approval of Zentrum and the DDP, who are concerned about the dangerous precedent set forth appointing such a powerful man to an even more powerful position, even if transitionally.

If our goal is simply to prevent Walter Simons from being appointed President, we can reach out to Wilhelm Marx and convince him to announce his candidacy. We could leverage the progressive wing within Zentrum and convince the party leadership to support him over Simons. The SPD's votes could be secured by appealing to harm reduction and pointing out Simons' inflammatory statements against the party.

Who do we support as acting President?

(This crisis will last for 2 days because I want to experiment and see if it leads to increased voter participation)

[Honghai]

March 1925

President Friedrich Ebert, a loyal member of the SPD and perhaps the most controversial Weimar politician, passed away last month. He was best known for suppressing the Spartacus Uprising and the Kapp Putsch with his iron fist. His support for reform over revolution led the communists to call him a traitor. Meanwhile, conservatives mourned the loss of a man who saved Germany from communist excesses, despite his outspoken atheism.

Hans Luther was originally chosen as acting President but has since resigned. The Reichstag is now contemplating a new list of candidates for acting President until the presidential elections can be held in March 1925. Walter Simons appears to be the compromise candidate for the right-wing government, having briefly served as the Foreign Affairs minister and is the current Reichsgericht president. However, our party members have opposed his previous criticism of judges being members of the SPD or the Republikanischen Richterbund. If the SPD ignores his remarks and supports him anyways, many party members have threatened to resign in protest.

Many in our party propose that we put forward a candidate of our own. Otto Braun, despite being a reluctant ruler, is an authoritative individual and the current Minister-President of Prussia after a ministry shuffle. He would receive the full support of our party but could never possibly acquire the approval of Zentrum and the DDP, who are concerned about the dangerous precedent set forth appointing such a powerful man to an even more powerful position, even if transitionally.

If our goal is simply to prevent Walter Simons from being appointed President, we can reach out to Wilhelm Marx and convince him to announce his candidacy. We could leverage the progressive wing within Zentrum and convince the party leadership to support him over Simons. The SPD's votes could be secured by appealing to harm reduction and pointing out Simons' inflammatory statements against the party.

Who do we support as acting President?

(This crisis will last for 2 days because I want to experiment and see if it leads to increased voter participation)

Sydnei, despite being ideologically "Left," was willing to throw her support behind Marx - as fielding Braun as hopeful in her view seemed very divisive but also like an impossibility. The most radical ideologues of the SPD much like herself would've naturally backed Braun yet, it seemed like a choice that'd endanger the Vaterland. She acknowledged that maybe, she herself, would become unpopular - a Leftist supporting someone who would "spark fire," so to say, for the progressivists. But yes - for the greater good of both the SPD and her country, she would back Marx in-vote.

[Khardsland]

PERSONAL POLITICAL VIEW

Otto Braun is a rising star within our party. If we can convince the liberals and centrists to hear about our plans for 'bipartisanship', perhaps Braun can stand a chance at winning.

Arthur Crispien
Left

[The Jamesian Republic]

PERSONAL POLITICAL VIEW
I will support the candidacy of Otto Braun. I hope the other factions of the SPD will follow suite. I also do hope Mr. Braun supports the rights of labor and their role in our economy.

Heinrich Cullmann
Labour

[Basenja]

PERSONAL POLITICAL VIEW

It is in Germany's best interests that Otto Braun is chosen as acting President. From one reformist to another, he is clearly the better choice. Surely Zentrum and the DDP can be convinced to support a rational choice is Braun.

Otto Hegel
Reformist

[Khardsland]

Reminder: When you post your personal political opinion, you are also supposed to vote on the crisis poll.

[Cybernetic Socialist Republics]

PERSONAL POLITICAL VIEW

Our Republic's electoral system allows for two rounds of voting in the absence of a majority & William Simons is highly unlikely to win a majority in the first round. There is no cost to us putting forth an SPD man like Otto Braun forward as our candidate, consequently. If he fails to win perform better than Marx, then we ought to support Marx in the second round to stop the right. If Braun performs better, thag Marx, the centrists & liberals ought to support an SPD candidate. If they refuse to do so, we stick with Braun & let what must happen, happen.

Carlo Mierendorff
Labor

[Malorossi]

PERSONAL POLITICAL VIEW

It is high time to understand the SPD party, Hitler is a potential danger, because he is supported by the impoverished bourgeoisie of Germany and he plays on the feeling of injustice of the Versailles peace among the German people. He unites hooligan youth who love to fight, some of whom were brought up in the spirit of the beer hall putsch. Therefore, Hitler can go to a new beer hall putsch at any moment. And what about us? We must, in alliance with the communists, fight against the expansion of the SA network, neutralize and disarm them, and on the political plane finally stop being afraid to say that "we Germans do not agree with the conditions of the Versailles Treaty, we are for a strong democratic Germany, the Germany of the people and not the bourgeoisie."
"We are not communists, we are Germans, and we are against the French or Soviet or anyone else's boot on our land, we are for the happiness of the people"

Alexander Fruger
centrism

[Malorossi]

PERSONAL POLITICAL VIEW

Otto Braun is the voice of the majority... We must not look at the dissatisfied among the party allies, we must rely only on the people. And the people will follow him. The people of Germany deserve a good leader within their party. I stand for Otto Braun, without compromise.

We must negotiate with the Anti-bourgeois forces, still in my opinion, the NSDAP is highly underestimated, they can at any moment go for a coup, and we need to resist this. The Communists are now a good choice with their increasing popularity in the working environment and their groups of "red front-line soldiers". But we must understand that a strong leader must enter into an alliance with the Communists, and this is Otto Braun.

Alexander Fruger
centrism

[Khardsland]

"Mit 298 Unterschriften von 491 Abstimmenden ist der Reichstag klar auf ein Ergebniss gekommen..."

Paul Löbe's voice caused the entire assembly to await in anticipation. The silence was deafening. Walter Simons had been elected as acting President with a wide majority! Otto Braun was unable to secure the support of anyone outside the SPD, and his nomination was swept away. Electing a reactionary to such a high office, even if transitionally, does not give a good look to German democracy. Oh well, the real President will be chosen in the elections later this month...