one has to wonder what would have happened had the proto-socialists defeated the Communist rather than simply aiding their coup only to be purged themselves. Likewise only a short time later they'd play a key role in the rise of the Nazis, only to get the long knife once their support was not only unnecessary but a hinderance. The logical conclusion is that socialism is too close to corrupt power driven ideologies, but also too rigid to mesh with them once they gain power. these days "socialism" is a buzzword for "everyone gets free stuff", but it's roots were just the simple idea that science had progressed to a high enough accuracy that it should lead all policy in place of the political whims of the unwashed masses. pour out one for the early socialists, key players but always a bridesmaid, a cold dead bridesmaid.