Antifaschistische Aktion, commonly known under its abbreviation Antifa, was a militant "anti-fascist" organisation in Weimar Republic started by members of the Communist Party of Germany (KPD). Under the leadership of the committed Stalinist Ernst Thälmann, the KPD viewed fascism primarily as the final stage of capitalism rather than as a specific movement or group and therefore applied the term to all other parties.
The then-center Socialist Democrat Party (SPD) and affiliated groups had established the "Iron Front" that sought to defend liberal democracy and the constitution of the Weimar Republic. Antifa was formed partly as a counter-move to the SPD's establishment of the Iron Front, which the KPD regarded as a "social fascist terror organisation".
Modern US Antifa uses the two flag logo and the hammer & sickle, among other symbols that should give mainstream American pause.
Link: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antifaschistische_Aktion
Any description of the origins of Antifa is woefully incomplete (I would argue intentionally so) without a description of what they were opposing. All other political parties, groups, etc eventually rolled over to the Nazis. The various Antifa groups (including the one you mention) bitterly and violently fought them to the end. This is what inspired what became the antifa movement of today. Also from your link (I wonder why this wasn't pasted and underlined in your post?): "The modern Antifa groups have no direct organisational connection to the historical Antifaschistische Aktion."
For the record, I'm not saying anything in America is like Nazi Germany and therefore I typically disagree with "antifa" tactics.
Link: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antifa_(Germany)
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At the link I gave: "In the usage of the Soviet Union, the Comintern and its affiliated parties, including the KPD, the epithet fascist was used from the 1920s to describe capitalist society in general and virtually any anti-Soviet or anti-Stalinist activity or opinion. ... In KPD and Soviet usage, fascism was primarily viewed as the final stage of capitalism rather than a specific group or movement such as the Italian Fascists or the German Nazis and based on this theory the term was applied very broadly."
That makes sense, given what they truly oppose in the US. Many Americans are thinking "facism" is a mean people movement, like Mussolini's thugs, or the KKK. But, they (Antifa) are thinking of fascism as "American Capitalism as it exists now." Obviously they oppose the latter, and they are willing to be mean people to get there.
It looks to me that America's Antifa is just like some Americans created General Tso Chicken and then call it Chinese food. But it is actually just another KFC in Chinese name only. We don't have Bourgeoisie and Fascism here. We only capitalists and right wing in U.S. for them to target. That's why they attack capitalism and the right.
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