CubitOom

This is an excerpt from Politics of Nonviolent Action (Gene Sharp) on how non violent resistance affected Kapp Putsch in Germany (1920).

The monarchist-military Kapp Putsch of 1920 against the new German Weimar Republic was defeated. According to the eminent German historian Erich Eyck, victory for the republic against this attempted coup d’état was won principally by “the general strike of the workers and the refusal of the higher civil servants to collaborate with their rebel masters.” Particular attention will be given here to the refusal of assistance by these civil servants and certain other key groups. A further description is offered in Chapter Two.

At the onset of the Putsch, the legal Ebert government had proclaimed that German citizens remained under obligation to be loyal to and obey it alone. The resulting resistance of the civil servants took a variety of forms. The officers of the Reichsbank refused Kapp’s request for ten million Marks because it lacked an authorized official signature–all the undersecretaries in the ministries had refused to sign. The bank’s cashier rejected Kapp’s own signature as worthless, even though his troops occupied the capital and the legal government had fled.

Unable to obtain the cooperation of qualified men to form the promised cabinet of experts, the Kappists asked public patience with a government of inexperienced men. Some cabinet posts were never filled. Many officials already in government bureaus refused to assist the Kapp regime; those in the government grain bureau, for example, threatened to strike unless Kapp retired.

Even lesser civil servants were not very helpful to those who had seized the pinnacle of power; as a result, hopelessly incompetent men were appointed to lesser but nonetheless important posts, such as directorship of the press bureau; this weakened the Kapp regime. Even the noncooperation of clerks and typists was felt. When Kapp’s daughter, who was to draft the new regime’s manifesto to the nation, arrived at the Reich Chancellery on Saturday, March 13, she found no one to type for her–no one had turned up for work that day–and no typewriter; as a result, Kapp’s manifesto was too late for the Sunday papers. Many offices of the Defense Ministry were also vacant that day. Toward the end even the Security Police turned against Kapp, demanding his resignation.

Combined with a powerful general strike, the impact of such noncooperation was considerable. A specialist in the history of the coup d’état and a historian of the Kapp Putsch, Lieutenant Colonel D.J. Goodspeed, writes: “No government can function long without a certain necessary minimum of popular support and cooperation.”

Related Wikipedia article

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ruhr_uprising

The Ruhr uprising (German: Ruhraufstand) or March uprising (Märzaufstand) was an uprising that occurred in the Ruhr region of Germany from 13 March to 6 April 1920. It was a left-wing workers' revolt triggered by the call for a general strike in response to the Kapp Putsch, then became an armed rebellion when far-left workers used the strike as an opportunity to attempt the establishment of a council republic.[1]

photo: Members of the Red Ruhr Army in Dortmund

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gleichschaltung

The Nazi term Gleichschaltung (German pronunciation: [ˈɡlaɪçʃaltʊŋ]), meaning "synchronization" or "bringing into line", was the process of Nazification by which Adolf Hitler—leader of the Nazi Party in Germany—established a system of totalitarian control and coordination over all aspects of German society "from the economy and trade associations to the media, culture and education".

photo: 1938 Nuremberg Rally postcard, from the NSDAP Central Publishing House. A Nazi Reichsadler, or "Reich's Eagle," towers over Germany and Austria.

This executive order makes sweeping changes to Civil Rights. This is the document that the EO is referencing 28 C.F.R. 42.104

Things that the regime hopes to do:

1. Centralize Power by Eliminating Checks and Balances

   • Meritocracy as a Smokescreen:
     • By framing the order as "restoring meritocracy," the regime could dismantle diversity initiatives that promote independent oversight (e.g., civil rights offices, diversity committees).
     • This weakens institutional resistance to authoritarianism by removing advocates for accountability.
   • Loyalty Over Competence:
     • In practice, "merit" could be redefined to prioritize political loyalty rather than objective qualifications.
     • Federal agencies could be purged of dissenting voices and replaced with loyalists, as seen in historical fascist regimes (e.g., Nazi Germany’s Gleichschaltung—coordination of institutions under party control).

2. Suppress Opposition and Marginalized Groups

   • Roll Back Protections for Minorities:
     • By eliminating race or gender-conscious policies, the regime could systematically exclude minority groups from federal employment and contracting.
     • This aligns with fascist tactics of scapegoating certain demographics (e.g., Jews in Nazi Germany, immigrants in other regimes).
   • Legalizing Discrimination:
     • The changes to 28 CFR § 42.104 could make it harder to challenge discriminatory practices in court, as "affirmative action" remedies are restricted.
     • This creates a legal veneer for exclusionary policies.

3. Control the Bureaucracy and Economy

   • Patronage Networks:
     • A fascist regime thrives on patronage—rewarding loyalists with jobs and contracts.
     • By removing diversity requirements, the government could funnel contracts to politically connected allies (e.g., corporate supporters of the regime).
   • Weaken Labor Protections:
     • Merit-based hiring could be used to break unions or activist groups by labeling them as "non-merit" influences.
     • This mirrors historical fascist suppression of labor movements (e.g., Mussolini’s corporatist state).

4. Propaganda and Ideological Control

   • Manufacture a "Pure" National Identity:
     • Fascist regimes often promote myths of national purity (e.g., Nazi "Aryan supremacy").
     • The executive order could be spun as "ending divisive identity politics" and promoting a homogenized national workforce.
   • Scapegoating "Elites" and "Diversity Advocates":
     • The regime might frame diversity initiatives as corrupt or anti-American, rallying supporters against perceived enemies.
     • This is a classic fascist tactic (e.g., Hitler’s attacks on "cultural Marxists").

5. Legal and Institutional Erosion

   • Undermine the Rule of Law:
     • The changes to 28 CFR § 42.104 weaken legal tools to fight discrimination, making it harder to prove systemic bias in court.
     • By altering regulations like 28 CFR § 42.104, the regime could normalize executive overreach—gradually eroding legal protections.
     • This paves the way for more extreme measures (e.g., suspending elections, militarizing law enforcement).
   • Preventing Future Resistance:
     • A workforce stripped of diversity and dissent is easier to control.
     • This aligns with historical fascist strategies of eliminating opposition within institutions (e.g., Nazi purges of "disloyal" civil servants).

Comparison to Historical Fascist Regimes

• Nazi Germany (1930s):
  • Hitler’s Civil Service Law (1933) banned Jews and political opponents from government jobs, framing it as "restoring professionalism."
  • The Enabling Act (1933) allowed Hitler to bypass the legislature—similar to how executive orders can bypass Congress.
• Mussolini’s Italy (1920s-30s):
  • The fascist syndicates replaced independent unions, ensuring loyalty to the state.
  • The Acerbo Law (1923) rigged elections to guarantee fascist dominance.

https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/04/restoring-equality-of-opportunity-and-meritocracy/

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robber_baron_(industrialist)

photo: 1901 US cartoon from Puck depicting John D. Rockefeller as a business despot

https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2025/04/supreme-court-analysis-trump-black-sites.html

https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-news/elon-musk-tesla-attacks-trump-government-1235305402/

“The real problem is not like the crazy guy that firebombs a Tesla dealership, it’s the people pushing the propaganda that cause that guy to do it,” he continued.

“The president has made it clear, we are going to go after them. The ones providing the money. The ones pushing the lies and propaganda, we’re going after them,” Musk claimed. “I think there’s some real evil out there. We have to overcome it.”

This statement means that U.S. Citizens no longer have Constitutional rights.

Photo source: https://justseeds.org/graphic/ever-wondered-what-you-would-have-done-during-the-rise-of-fascism/

Link to the regime's new order (EO 14249)

https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/03/preserving-and-protecting-the-integrity-of-american-elections/

Quotes from the source

(ii) For purposes of subsection (a) of this section, “documentary proof of United States citizenship” shall include a copy of: (A) a United States passport; (B) an identification document compliant with the requirements of the REAL ID Act of 2005 (Public Law 109-13, Div. B) that indicates the applicant is a citizen of the United States; (C) an official military identification card that indicates the applicant is a citizen of the United States; or (D) a valid Federal or State government-issued photo identification if such identification indicates that the applicant is a United States citizen or if such identification is otherwise accompanied by proof of United States citizenship.

the Secretary of Homeland Security shall, consistent with applicable law, ensure that State and local officials have, without the requirement of the payment of a fee, access to appropriate systems for verifying the citizenship or immigration status of individuals registering to vote or who are already registered;

the Department of Homeland Security, in coordination with the DOGE Administrator, shall review each State’s publicly available voter registration list and available records concerning voter list maintenance activities as required by 52 U.S.C. 20507, alongside Federal immigration databases and State records requested, including through subpoena where necessary and authorized by law, for consistency with Federal requirements.

The Attorney General shall take all necessary action to enforce 2 U.S.C. 7 and 3 U.S.C. 1 against States that violate these provisions by including absentee or mail-in ballots received after Election Day in the final tabulation of votes for the appointment of Presidential electors and the election of members of the United States Senate and House of Representatives.

Possible Outcomes

• Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) will have total oversight and control of elections and its results. DOGE will not be subject to Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Requests.
• Registered democratic party members and millions of other citizens will be deleted from voter registrations. Re-registration will not be with the state, but will be implemented under regime control via DOGE and with frequently changing requirements especially just before elections take place.
• Voters will need to ensure they have a valid US passport which is good for at least 1 year before the next time they plan to vote. Consider that this regime will probably make it difficult to renew passports. Also note that while a passport is in the process of being renewed, it will not be accessible.
• Transgender people will have a hard time figuring out how to vote as they wont be given passports that matches their state identity.
• Voters should consider getting a secondary pre-approved document that plainly states citizenship status. However, expect the list of pre-approved documents to change just before elections take place to remove as many legally eligible voters from the democratic process as possible.
• Expect the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) & Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to be at polling stations to intimidate, delay, and racially profile voters. Expect further challenges to mail in ballots which enforce in person voting the day of. Arrests and deportations may be weaponized at the voting booth as well, make sure to bring all the documents that one would bring to an immigration office to prove legal status.
• Considering that all votes must now be counted on election day, expect to see major delays and interventions deliberately implemented in heavily democratic voting areas.
• If a state fails to meet the tabulation deadline (election day), that state's votes simply wont be counted. The states most likely to experience delays are the states that also have the highest population densities, coincidentally, these are states that are more likely to vote for the democratic party.

Preventing Abuses of the Legal System and the Federal Court (Presidential Memoranda)

I hereby direct the Attorney General to seek sanctions against attorneys and law firms who engage in frivolous, unreasonable, and vexatious litigation against the United States or in matters before executive departments and agencies of the United States.

I further direct the Attorney General and the Secretary of Homeland Security to prioritize enforcement of their respective regulations governing attorney conduct and discipline.

I further direct the Attorney General to take all appropriate action to refer for disciplinary action any attorney whose conduct in Federal court or before any component of the Federal Government appears to violate professional conduct rules, including rules governing meritorious claims and contentions, and particularly in cases that implicate national security, homeland security, public safety, or election integrity.

I further direct that, when the Attorney General determines that conduct by an attorney or law firm in litigation against the Federal Government warrants seeking sanctions or other disciplinary action, the Attorney General shall, in consultation with any relevant senior executive official, recommend to the President, through the Assistant to the President for Domestic Policy, additional steps that may be taken, including reassessment of security clearances held by the attorney or termination of any Federal contract for which the relevant attorney or law firm has been hired to perform services.

I further direct the Attorney General, in consultation with any relevant senior executive official, to review conduct by attorneys or their law firms in litigation against the Federal Government over the last 8 years. If the Attorney General identifies misconduct that may warrant additional action, such as filing frivolous litigation or engaging in fraudulent practices, the Attorney General is directed to recommend to the President, through the Assistant to the President for Domestic Policy, additional steps that may be taken, including reassessment of security clearances held by the attorney, termination of any contract for which the relevant attorney or law firm has been hired to perform services, or any other appropriate actions.