[umanwizard]

Die Linke is in fact the successor to the Communist Party, although their ideology has shifted over time.

KPD (Kommunistische Partei Deutschlands) — in East Germany, merged with SPD (Sozialdemokratische Partei Deutschlands) in 1946 to form SED. In West Germany, banned after 1956.

SED (Sozialistische Einheitspartei Deutschlands) - ruled East Germany until the democratic transition in 1989. Rebranded as PDS in 1990.

PDS (Partei des Demokratischen Sozialismus) - Merged with the minor party WASG in 2007 to form Die Linke.

[Draken93]

Yes they are the successor. But does that matter? The CDU was founded mainly by previous members of the Zentrum party. That was the party that voted with the NSDAP for the "Ermächtigungsgesetz" that gave Hitler the power over germany.

But the party changed over time and today it doesnt matter anymore. Same goes for die Linke in my opinion. The only thing that should count, are the targets of a party.