Socialist Workers' Party of Germany

The Socialist Workers' Party of Germany, in German Sozialistische Arbeiterpartei Deutschlands, SAP / SAPD, has been the name of two political parties in Germany.

The fore-runner of today's SDP

The first, which lasted from 1875 - 1890, was a left-wing German political party created in Gotha when Ferdinand Lassalle's ADAV merged with the SDAP formed by August Bebel and Wilhelm Liebknecht.

Related Topics:
1875 - 1890 - German - Gotha - Ferdinand Lassalle - ADAV - SDAP - August Bebel - Wilhelm Liebknecht

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The party congress at which the unification of the Marxist "Eisenachers" of the SDAP and the more moderate Lassallians came about took place from June 22 - 27 1875. The Gotha programme was finalised at the same time. Three years later, the law banning socialism passed by Bismarck pushed the party underground. While its deputies were still allowed seats in parliament, there was a ban on meetings, organisations and news publishing.

Related Topics:
Marxist - Eisenach - June 22 - 27 - Gotha programme - Socialism - Bismarck

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In 1877, the SAPD won 500,000 votes in the Reichstag elections. In 1890, still before the anti-socialism law was abolished, the party won 1.4 miillion votes, making it the strongest in Germany.

Related Topics:
1877 - Reichstag - 1890

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The anti-socialist laws were a result of Bismarck's fear of the socialists; he believed they were responsible for two assassination attempts. They were renewed every three years until he left politics in autumn 1890; immediately, the SAPD renamed itself Social Democratic Party of Germany; this is the name it has kept until today.

Related Topics:
1890 - Social Democratic Party of Germany

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