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As one who lives in the heart of the post first world war communist republic in Bavaria which actually existed although for only a short time, I think we should examine not geographical locations from which communism has sprung but we should better examine the human heart to discover the impulses which lead to the utopian vision.

One could say that England was geographical homeland of communism, as Marx and Engels lived there when they wrote their manifestoes. Equally, one can argue that France is the true birthplace of communism as we saw in the revolution with all of its excesses being since played out endlessly around the world.

But I think the impulse is part of human nature. The Germans I live among are not much different than the suburban Americans I grew up with decades ago. They are products of their culture which is shaped to a great extent by their media and I have posted several times over the years the leftward bias of the German press. Even college professors with whom I debate here in Germany have a myopic view of America which is, I believe, largely the product of limited data input.

In the absence of a full factual picture, even the whitest of human hearts is vulnerable to the siren of the utopian dream. Whittaker Chambers's classic book "Witness" describes and idealist's disillusionment with the world addressed with the promise of communism as a great motivator causing him to join the party. It is human nature to rationalize evil if we can believe that it is in the cause of a greater good. Germans are no different than French revolutionaries or American Communist Party members-or most Americans who do not educate themselves. The temptation is eternal:

If you bite of the Apple you will gain knowledge and you will not surely die.

Outstanding post!

"It is human nature to rationalize evil if we can believe that it is in the cause of a greater good."

This is done, and with alarming frequency we see that those who bring incredible ills upon culture and society justify their actions in the steadfast belief that they will ultimately achieve good.

It also follows that those who are truly diabolical will not hesitate to do what appears to be good, to achieve a greater long term evil goal. (The modern welfare state comes to mind, supported by multitudes who didn't want children to starve, and leading to one of the premier battle cries of the modern Liberal "...for the children!")

In an age of moral relativism, those bereft of an absolute standard of right and wrong are particularly susceptible.

I like your post, but it doesn't mention that fact that a lot of history has transpired since the Utopian dream of Marx and Engels became the dystopia of Lenin, Stalin, and Putin. Putinistas ignore that Putin is a product of that dystopia. His dream is not a conservative Christian society, but a oligarchy run by former KGB thugs like himself. Christianity exist as a rationale. Russia exists as a means.