their aim, however, was to have a share, if possible, in the new conditions. But their sole weapons were still as before, words, and words only.
The only organizations which at that time had strength and courage to oppose Marxism and the masses which it excited were first of all the Free Corps, later on the organizations for self-defence, and Einwoh¬ nerwehr , and finally the bonds of tradition.
The success of Marxism in days gone by was due to the inter-play of political determination and ruth¬ less force. What robbed Nationalist Germany of any practical hope of shaping German development was the lack of determined co-operation of ruthless force with political inspiration.
Whatever aspirations the “Nationalist” Parties might possess, they were quite powerless to attain them by fighting—certainly not in the streets.
The defence associations had all the force ; they were masters of the streets, but they were without political ideas or aims for which their power might have been used with profit to Nationalist Germany.
The Jew it was who was brilliantly successful in disseminating the conception of the “unpolitical char¬ acter” of the defence associations by means of his Press, just as in politics he always cunningly empha¬ sized the “purely intellectual” character of the struggle. To build up a new tradition the revolutionary forces had no chance. In fact the authority of tradition no longer existed. The break-up of the old Empire, the destruc¬ tion of the symbols of its former grandeur rudely tore down tradition, the result being a heavy blow to the State’s authority.
Even the second pillar of the State’s authority, power, was no longer present. In order to succeed at all with the Revolution, they were forced to upset the organized force and power of the State, i.e., the Army ; nay, they were even obliged to use the tattered frag¬ ments of the Army as a fighting force for the Revolution.