How did revolutionary socialists respond to the outbreak of World War II, especially when “anti-fascism” was used to justify cross-class alliances and support for imperialist war? We will look at the debates that emerged between revolutionary socialists on the nature of the war, the impact Stalinism and the Hitler-Stalin pact had on the socialist movement, as well as how revolutionary Marxists navigated questions of national liberation and the resistance movements that arose in the war.

This session is part of a stream exploring the role played by revolutionaries in standing up to war at key moments in history: WWI, WWII, Vietnam and the cold war. Often the anti-war movement is described as broad and pacifist but revolutionaries have always found themselves facing off against not only the ruling class but also would-be progressives, even socialists. Revolutionaries have made vital contributions in these moments but holding the line, providing a sharp critique and, crucially, agitating to turn imperialist wars on their head by replacing them with class war.