Red Army Faction/Revolutionary Cells Poised to Overthrow Government of West Germany!

whitecrow

Banned
I was wondering, what POD or series of PODs would be needed for groups like Red Army Faction and/or “Revolutionary Cells” Group to become powerful, popular and influential enough to be in position to launch left-wing revolution in West Germany?

NOTE: if the revolutionary organization(s) are potentially powerful enough to start a revolt but are brought down before they start it or do launch a wide-scale revolution that threatens the government but the rebellion is crushed it would still fulfill the outlined challenge.
 
The Morganthau Plan is executed in some form, and Germany is reduced to a pastoral state. The West German government fails to gain legitimacy and its democratic institutions fail to win legitimacy among the public. It is widely believed the corrupt and self-serving West German government is dominated by the US military or a CIA-backed junta. Meanwhile, Stalin decides to build East Germany as an industrial showcase of the Soviet Bloc. East Germany includes the lands east of the Oder-Neisse. He can also afford to allow East Germany to be relatively open compared to other Soviet Bloc states, a legacy which continues as long as the east is more prosperous.

With such a disparity in outcomes and with widespread disillusionment in the West German institutions, an indigenous neo-Spartakus movement arises, replicating Mao's strategy of capturing the countryside to disrupt the cities. The KGB and Stasi are too happy to back this movement, but are also wary of it succeeding and turning Germany into another Yugoslavia-like communist, non-Soviet-aligned nation which challenges the existence of the GDR.
 
No German economic recovery post war or a more uneven and unequel one which benefits only a small visible few
A longer more onerious military occupation by the allied forces
A more pro active and economicly stronger east Germany used as a massive Potemkin village which shows communism in a more positive light
A first past the post political voting system is instituted post war, which is gerrymandered to bolster a right wing anti communist government
Any combination of the above, or just one, or none
 
The real problem is the fact that neither the US or Great Britain and France would accept West Germany falling to the reds.There is also the fact that the russians would be wary of supporting such groups since evidence of support could trigger a major showdown with the West.
 
Presumably 'Mai 68' would also have to be successful or at least very effective leading to keep Fraance from intervening on behalf of Kapital due to Fraance being revolutionary themselves.....
 

Wolfpaw

Banned
Wouldn't that butterfly away the Red Army Faction?
Not at all. It would probably galvanize it; Communists are all about Industrialization. An agrarianized Germany is going to do wonders for people who are willing to rebuild factories and railroads at gunpoint.
 

oberdada

Gone Fishin'
Not possible!

Morgenthau (beeing executed is almost ASB)will have so many butterflies, even if something like the FRG is formed, it will be an entire different country.

THe RAF had very little support Grass didn't call it it "The war of 6 against 60 million" for nothing.
 
A horrible thought has just occured to me All of these pods presuppose a dystopian west germany.The revolution need not come from the left ,suppose some one starts shouting 'Germany Awake' again ..shudders
Back to the thread again
Is it in the interest of the USSR to have a communist West Germany? After Cuba there was a greater degree of acceptance of the various spheres of interest hence the non interference by the western powers in the Prague spring and resulting rebellion. It was recognised that this country remaining in the Warsaw pact was a vital part of Soviet stratergy and therefore should not be interfered with as the resulting Soviet counter response could lead to war
West Germany was regarded in a similar way by NATO. There will posibly not be too much enthusiasm by Moscow to interfere so close to home. Better by far to play some where else in the world that is not a direct threat
 

whitecrow

Banned
Not at all. It would probably galvanize it; Communists are all about Industrialization. An agrarianized Germany is going to do wonders for people who are willing to rebuild factories and railroads at gunpoint.

But Red Army Faction was formed in 1970s. Wouldn't Morthengau Plan in mid-late 1940s butterfly the RAF and other OTL movements away?

(Granted, it is HARD to accomplish the challenge without butterflying away the RAF as we know it and your idea still fulfills the challenge in general so congrats).
 
A horrible thought has just occured to me All of these pods presuppose a dystopian west germany.The revolution need not come from the left ,suppose some one starts shouting 'Germany Awake' again ..shudders
Back to the thread again
Is it in the interest of the USSR to have a communist West Germany? After Cuba there was a greater degree of acceptance of the various spheres of interest hence the non interference by the western powers in the Prague spring and resulting rebellion. It was recognised that this country remaining in the Warsaw pact was a vital part of Soviet stratergy and therefore should not be interfered with as the resulting Soviet counter response could lead to war
West Germany was regarded in a similar way by NATO. There will posibly not be too much enthusiasm by Moscow to interfere so close to home. Better by far to play some where else in the world that is not a direct threat

There is also some indications that the Soviets (particularly Stalin) were given enough of a scare in WWII that they didn't want ANY united Germany even a Communist one. The Russians were beaten by Germany in WWI and Germany hurt the country very badly in WWII. They were terrified of the idea of a reunited Germany.
 
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