Communist Party of Germany

:This article deals with the original KPD. For information on later groups using the same name, see Communist Party of Germany (disambiguation).

Early period

Technically, its first incarnation was as the Internationale, based on a journal of that name which was swiftly suppressed by the authorities. The faction became known as the Spartacus League after a series of letters written by Luxemburg, its preeminent theoretician, which she signed "Spartacus".

Related Topics:
Internationale - Spartacus League - Spartacus

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

When the tide of popularity turned against the First World War, sections of the SPD turned leftwards and broke away to form the Independent Social Democratic Party of Germany (USPD). The Spartacus League joined the new party as an autonomous faction. However, a debate was underway as to whether a new Communist party should be formed in Germany that would ally itself with the Bolsheviks in Russia. As well as the Spartacus League, the International Communists of Germany (IKD), who had their theoretical point of origin in the pre-war Left Radical tendency, were to take part in the foundation of the Communist Party.

Related Topics:
Independent Social Democratic Party - Germany - Communist party - Bolshevik - Russia - International Communists of Germany

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The party was first led by Rosa Luxemburg and Karl Liebknecht, though large portions of the membership opposed their views. Some even formed a splinter organization, the Communist Workers' Party of Germany (KAPD). The failed Spartacist Uprising in Berlin was carried out one month after the KPD's formation, in January of 1919, against the specific instructions of Luxemburg and Liebknecht. The far-right Freikorps militias joined with the remnants of the German army and the Social Democrats to suppress the revolt. Liebknecht and Luxemburg were captured, tortured, killed, and dumped into a canal.

Related Topics:
Communist Workers' Party of Germany - Spartacist Uprising - Berlin - 1919 - Far-right - Freikorps

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Following the split with KAPD, the KPD was left in the hands of Paul Levi, who sought to win over social democratic workers. These efforts were rewarded when a substantial section of the Independent Social Democratic Party joined the KPD, making it a mass party for the first time.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Other prominent members included Leo Jogiches, Clara Zetkin, Paul Levi, Paul Frolich, Willi Münzenberg, Franz Mehring and Ernst Meyer.

Related Topics:
Leo Jogiches - Clara Zetkin - Paul Levi - Paul Frolich - Willi Münzenberg - Franz Mehring - Ernst Meyer

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~