“The burgeoning upsurge in the socialist movement among you may well lead to a decisive conflict, in which you will secure the initial victories; the revolutionary traditions of the country and the capital, the character of your army—reorganized since 1870 on a far more mass-based footing—all make such an outcome quite possible. But to ensure victory, to shatter the foundations of capitalist society, you will need the active support of a socialist party that is stronger, more numerous, more battle‑tested, and more conscious than the one at your disposal. Then what we have foreseen and predicted for many long years will come to pass: the French will sound the charge, open fire, while the Germans will determine the outcome of the battle.”