What was the purpose of Thomas Mann’s 1930 speech An Appeal to Reason?

In his 1930 address in Berlin, titled Ein Appell an die Vernunft ("An Appeal to Reason"), Thomas Mann sought to confront the rising threat of political extremism in Germany. The primary purpose of the speech was to advocate for the formation of a common front between the cultured bourgeoisie and the Socialist working class to oppose the "inhuman fanaticism" of the National Socialists.1

This address reflected Mann's evolving commitment to democratic principles and his growing concern regarding the fragility of humaneness, tolerance, and reason during a period of intense political crisis. By calling for this alliance, Mann aimed to defend the values of humanism and freedom against the encroaching influence of Nazi ideology.1