The Spanish Civil War - pg. 192

The Comintern's switch to the Popular Front, or 'Trojan
Horse', strategy in 1934 now appeared to have triumphed.
By flattering liberals and social democrats, while appealing
to their government instincts, the communists had reached
a position where they could destroy their enemies one at
a time (the 'salami tactic' as it was later called). The centrist
politicians' key role in helping to reoad 'the pistol of the state'
for the communists' use did no more than reserve then the last
place in the firing line.