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Why did Bismarck’s anti-socialist policies fail to stop the growth of the Social Democratic Party?

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Otto von Bismarck’s anti-socialist policies failed to stop the growth of the Social Democratic Party (SPD) because his two-pronged strategy of repression and social reform proved ineffective against the party's resilience and appeal.12

Ineffectiveness of Repression: Although the Anti-Socialist Law (1878–1890) banned party meetings and publications, it could not legally prevent the SPD from participating in elections or holding seats in the Reichstag. Socialist literature continued to be smuggled into Germany from Switzerland, and the party’s leadership, notably Wilhelm Liebknecht and August Bebel, successfully maintained the party's cohesion through a strategy of education rather than conspiracy.12345
Failure of Social Legislation: Bismarck’s attempt to "woo" workers away from radicalism through social security measures—such as accident insurance, sickness insurance, and old-age pensions—did not diminish support for the SPD. Instead, the party’s electoral support grew consistently with each election, culminating in a significant victory in 1890, the same year the anti-socialist laws were allowed to lapse.1234