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 splinter group, 1931-45

The second SAPD was a left-wing splinter group which split off from the SPD in autumn 1931. In 1932 some Communist Party dissenters joined the group, but its numbers remained small.

Related Topics:
SPD - 1931 - 1932

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From 1933, the group's members worked illegally against National Socialism. When the Nazi dictatorship was over, the majority of the group's members rejoined the SPD.

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In his autobiography, Willy Brandt wrote: In autumn 1931, Nazis and German nationalists, the SA and the men in steel helmets joined together to form the "Harzburg Front". ... It was just at this time that the left wing of the social democrats split off, as a result of measures connected to organisation and discipline by the party leaders. A few Reichstag assemblymen, a number of active party groups - above all in Saxony - and not least a large proportion of young Socialists followed the people who were calling for the founding of a Socialist Workers' Party.

Related Topics:
Willy Brandt - SA

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In his home town of Lübeck, Willy Brandt joined the SAPD, against the advice of his mentor Julius Leber.

Related Topics:
Lübeck - Julius Leber

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In 1934 the youth of SAPD took part in the foundation of the International Bureau of Revolutionary Youth Organizations. The congress, which was held in the Netherlands, was broken up by Dutch police. Several SAPD delegates were handed over to German authorities. The congress when re-convened in Lille. Brandt was elected to the Secretariat of the organization, and worked in Sweden for the Bureau.

Related Topics:
1934 - International Bureau of Revolutionary Youth Organizations - Netherlands - Lille - Sweden

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