The epoch of 1789–1871 left profound traces and revolutionary memories. Before the overthrow of feudalism, absolutism, and foreign national oppression, there could be no question of the development of the proletarian struggle for socialism. In speaking of the legitimacy of a "defensive" war in relation to wars of such an epoch, socialists always had in view precisely these aims, which amounted to revolution against the Middle Ages and serfdom. Socialists always understood by a "defensive" war a war that was "just" in this sense (W. Liebknecht once expressed it precisely thus){217}. Only in this sense did socialists recognize, and do they recognize now, the legitimacy, progressiveness, and justice of the "defense of the fatherland" or a "defensive" war. For example, if tomorrow Morocco declared war on France, India on England, Persia or China on Russia, and so forth, these would be "just," "defensive" wars, regardless of who attacked first, and every socialist would sympathize with the victory of the oppressed, dependent, unequal states against the oppressive, slaveholding, predatory "great" powers.

But imagine a slaveholder possessing 100 slaves waging war with a slaveholder possessing 200 slaves over a more "just" redistribution of slaves. It is clear that applying to such a case the concept of a "defensive" war or "defense of the fatherland" would be historical falsification and practically simply fraud perpetrated upon the common people, the petty bourgeoisie, the dark masses by clever slaveholders. It is precisely in this way that present-day, imperialist bourgeoisie deceives nations through "national" ideology and the concept of defense of the fatherland in the current war between slaveholders for the strengthening and intensification of slavery.