Karl Reeve describes the scene as the Roter Frontkämpferbund, the Red Front Fighters, gather in their thousands to commemorate and pledge defense of the Russian Revolution.

‘Red Front Fighters of Berlin Celebrate Russian Revolution’ by Karl Reeve from The Daily Worker. Vol. 2 No. 66. November 20, 1925.

BERLIN. The Red Front Fighters at Berlin, at a huge mass demonstration in the Neue Welt Hall, the largest auditorium In Berlin, unfurled a banner to be presented to the Moscow workers, while 10,000 men and women toilers cheered and from 12,000 to 15.000 more tried vainly to jam their way into the hall. The tremendous demonstration for Soviet Russia was conclusive proof that the workers of Berlin will oppose with all their powers the Locarno alliance against the first workers’ state. The demonstration was called to send a greeting to Soviet Russia on the eighth anniversary of its revolution.

The first flag used by the Red Front Fighters of Berlin was also displayed for presentation to the “Deutsches Proletariat,” the fourth division of the Soviet Red army.

The most spectacular moment of the demonstration came when Ernest Thaelmann, first chairman of the Red Front Fighters, and the candidate of the Communist Party for president in the German elections last April, led delegations of the Red Marines of Hamburg and of the Halle Red Front Fighters down the center aisle and up on the stage, escorted by a company of Berlin Red Front Fighters, bearing fifty-four large red banners.

Workers Jam Hall.

So dense was the overflow crowd outside that it was an hour before the Red Front Fighter’ fife and drum corps of over one hundred pieces, could get into the hall. Hundreds were forced to stand. As many women as men were present, and many of both sexes wore the uniforms of the Red Front Fighters.

Comrade Leow, second chairman of the Red Front Fighters read the message of greeting to the Moscow workers, which will accompany the beautiful Red banner to the Soviet capital. The banner, which bore in gold the emblem of the Red Front Fighters, a raised clenched fist, was then unfurled for the first time.

Send Greetings to Moscow.

The greeting to the Moscow workers said in part:

“To the working class of Moscow:

“On the eighth anniversary of your successful revolution the Red Front Fighters of Germany send you this banner from the organization, which in times of stress has encouraged and in times of gladness has brightened the ranks of the German proletariat. The banner is a symbol of the revolutionary class solidarity which binds the German workers to the Russian proletariat. Greetings and hope from the millions of German workers accompany our flag.

Against Locarno Pact.

“Against the Locarno pact, we place the demand for an independent Communist Germany, organized together with the first workers’ state. Over the borders we extend our hands to you.

“The class conscious working class will conquer capitalism and embrace the banner of freedom.

“Long live the work of Lenin.

“Long live the First Proletarian State of the World.

“Long live the International Red Class-front in the Fight Against Capitalism.

(Signed) “Thaelmann, Leow.”

Thaelmann, who recently recovered from an illness, was greeted with tremendous cheers. “The German social democracy has, in an alliance with the bourgeoisie,” said Thaelmann, “helped to complete the security pact with the allies, in order by that means to encircle Soviet Russia and prepare a war against the Soviet state. As the Berlin elections showed, the Berlin revolutionary workers are prepared to resist this war with all their forces.

Alliance With Russia.

“We will permit no alliance with the capitalist robbers of the west. We will have an alliance with Soviet Russia.”

Comrade Kasper, a fiery speaker who acted as the official representative of the German Communist Party, drew forth a demonstration when he said, “Should the German bourgeoisie make an attempt against Soviet Russia, then the German proletariat will rise against them.” This statement was given added force by the cheers of the Red Front Fighters, of which there is a well-trained nucleus of more than 15,000 in Berlin alone, and. which is supported by hundreds of thousands of factory workers.

Kaspar emphasized the deep political significance of the presentation of the banner. He declared that the Locarno pact was an alliance of the German bourgeoisie against Soviet Russia.

Smash Imperialist Drive.

“France and England have the right at any time to march their troops thru Germany,” Kaspar declared. “They have the right, with their weapons in their hands, to march against Soviet Russia. The red front of the revolutionary proletariat will smash this united front of imperialism. Not alone is the sympathy of the workers with Soviet Russia needed, but the fight against the international capitalist class must be organized.”

Comrade Richter, of Halle, one of the original organizers of the Red Front Fighters, brought the greetings of the Halle workers.

Comrade Johannes R. Becher, one of the well-known German authors who served a term in prison for his revolutionary writings, recited one of his poems, “Ode to the Red Flag.” The spokesman for the red marines of Hamburg was given an ovation. The Hamburg red marines stood on the platform in their uniforms during the meeting, as did the flag bearers in their red front uniforms,

Greetings From Red Army.

Comrade Maerkisch, the chairman of the meeting, then introduced Comrade Leow, who read the greetings to the German workers’ division of the red army. When Comrade Leow said, “All those in sympathy with Soviet Russia raise their hands,” all of the thousands in the hall responded, and a tremendous triple cheer, “Rot’ Front, Rot’ Front, Rot’ Front!” went up.

The communication to the 4th division of the Soviet army stated: “Fellow Fighters and Comrades:–The Red Front Fighters of Berlin and Brandenburg send you, on the eighth anniversary of your successful revolution, the first banner used by the Red Front Fighters of Germany. The class conscious workers of Berlin feel themselves one with the soldiers. workers and peasants of the first proletarian state. Your fight is our fight. To you who bear the name of our class, we send our banner as a fighting greeting from the Berlin Red Front Fighters.

“(Signed) Thaelmann, Leow.”

The Daily Worker began in 1924 and was published in New York City by the Communist Party US and its predecessor organizations. Among the most long-lasting and important left publications in US history, it had a circulation of 35,000 at its peak. The Daily Worker came from The Ohio Socialist, published by the Left Wing-dominated Socialist Party of Ohio in Cleveland from 1917 to November 1919, when it became became The Toiler, paper of the Communist Labor Party. In December 1921 the above-ground Workers Party of America merged the Toiler with the paper Workers Council to found The Worker, which became The Daily Worker beginning January 13, 1924. National and City (New York and environs) editions exist.

PDF of full issue: https://www.marxists.org/history/usa/pubs/dailyworker/1925/1925-ny/v02b-n266-NYE-nov-20-1925-DW-LOC.pdf