Labour historians remain fascinated by the struggle against communism in Australian trade unions during the Cold War's early years, typically examining major unions at the national level. This article, by contrast, uses detailed archival research to explore the anti-communists' bitter, decade-and-a-half-long attempt to displace secretary Harry Krantz and his supporters in the South Australian branch of the Federated Clerks' Union (FCU). While the aims of the right-wing activists were dubious, the incumbents' methods were even more questionable. By 1952 the FCU in South Australia had distinguished itself by being the only major state branch to survive the anti-communist crusade. This article demonstrates reasons for the Left's success. They were certainly aided by the Australian Labor Party (ALP) dissolving the anti-communist industrial groups in the state in 1951. But strategy, tactics and personal factors played a significant role. Krantz's ability and political nous were not matched by the anti-communists, and he had won impressive gains for union members. A final factor was Krantz and his allies' ruthlessness and forensic knowledge - and exploitation - of union rules.
