In my current work, I’m exploring political battles in Germany during the Weimar time (1918-1933).

It ended with the takeover of the National Socialists, the Nazis, and their brutal regime of one-party rule. Under one-party rule, just about anyone could be “outed” as anything — by the power of rumor, religious faith, or fascist fake science.

Lacking any moral sense of fairness and the rule of law, a leader — or any of his loyal appointees — can make anyone guilty. A strong regime opponent who failed to have any Jewish background could always be labeled something else — a communist, a unionist, a socialist or a social democrat, gay or lesbian, a former dissident…. A liberal. (If you were an artist, it was enough to be called an expressionist or “modernist.”)

Eventually, the right-wing, one-party state could categorize all members of such social groups as criminals, as enemies of the state. As such, and in view of the desperate Depression-era times, they were denied the right to hold jobs (arbeitsverbot) reserved only for “true Germans” (or true party members) as defined by loyal Nazis, however arbitrarily.

All this stands in stark contrast to the “New Deal” of US President Franklin Roosevelt, which used government money to build the national infrastructure — bridges and roads projects that employed and empowered the poor, black and white, left and right, as well as national programs to maintain health and general welfare in the society. Stability that Germans of that time did not enjoy.

Then, as now, American Republicans were strongly opposed to FDR’s programs. Today, in fact, the leading Republican candidate for US president is calling leading Democrats “thugs and communists,” a clear echo of Berlin’s right wing, almost 100 years ago.

Back then, during the Weimar time in Germany, it came to a virtual civil war. Middle-of-the-road Germans cowered from the increasingly violent street fights occurring beneath their balconies — where right-wing militants (including those in the police and military) often arrested, beat down and shot left-wing activists and demonstrators.

The great “crime” of many on the left: Calling for stronger democratic processes, workplace protections, and the rule of law. How hard it was for these voices to be heard over the political hysterics of the fearful right-wing mob, the proto-Nazis, conditioned by a growing body of lies that stirred doubtful hearts — like good theater. Or television.

Would things have been different if more members of the anxious middle- and upper-classes had known more about the victims of the proto-Nazis, about people of the left who were being persecuted? How many people in those early years were arrested, beaten and killed for the offense of not behaving like “true” Germans — for raising their voices, for having the wrong ethnic background, the wrong accent, the wrong first language, or for wearing the wrong clothes?

Would it have made a difference to “everyday” Germans if they had known how many of these demonstrators — the people I’m learning about — would flee their country as political exiles? Or how many would stay and fight, only to be shipped off to slave-labor factory camps, or to Ausschwitz?

My reason for writing: There should be no mistake about what the Republican front-runner represents — knowingly or otherwise. It should also be clear that the demonstrators now crashing his speeches — even those who are simply ejected for wearing the wrong button, scarf or T-Shirt — also are grounded in something bigger and more significant than the current US election.