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The Second Revolution: The Council Movement in Berlin 1919â20
Series: - Historical Materialism Book Series, Volume: 284
Author:
Translator:
The Berlin council movement of 1919â20 proves that there was a left alternative beyond Social Democracy and Stalinism in the German Revolution. The movement combined an impressive mass mobilisation with extensive socialist and democratic aspirations that pointed far beyond the Weimar order. Berlin was not just the centre of the November Revolution of 1918, but also the most important arena of the Second Revolution that followed. For the first time, the movement is analysed here in all its diversity and on the basis of a broad range of sources. Beside the workers' and factory councils, it also includes councils of students, women, the unemployed and intellectuals. Central events such as the 1919 general strike and the struggle against the Kapp Putsch of 1920 are also examined.
Axel Weipert, Dr. phil., born 1980, editorial member of the periodical Arbeit-Bewegung-Geschichte. In 2013 his monograph Das Rote Berlin. A History of the Berlin Labour Movement 1830â1934 was published (2nd edition 2019). He is the editor of several volumes dedicated to labour history; 2020 saw the publication of a volume that he co-edited: Eine zweite Revolution? Das Frühjahr 1919 in Deutschland und Europa.
Foreword to the English Edition
About the Author
Abbreviations
Introduction
âThe Subject, Its Historical Context and Its Significance
âThe Present State of Research
âMethodology and Sources
1 The March 1919 General Strike in Berlin
âThe Course of Events â a Brief Outline
âStrikes in the Other Regions
âObjectives of the Leadership and Measures Taken
âCross-Regional Coordination
âPressure from Below: The Rank and File of the Movement
âOfficial Strike Demands
âScope and Capacity for Mobilisation
âOrganisation of the Strike Movement
âCitizensâ Council and General Strike
âThe Role of the Media
âStreet Fighting during the Strike
âThe Response of the Governments
âInterim Conclusion
2 The Demonstration outside the Reichstag on 13Â January 1920
âThe Opposition Is Forming
âThe Course of Events at the Demonstration
âConsequences
âContradictory Interpretations
âThe Role of the Security Police and Military
âInterim Conclusion
3 The Kapp-Lüttwitz Putsch and the Council Movement
âStarting Shot from the Right: The Putsch
âBacklash from the Left: The General Strike in Germany and Berlin
âWorkersâ Organisations: For and against the Councils
âA Second Spring for the Councils? Reconstruction and Activities
âInterim Conclusion
4 The Revolutionary Central Office of Factory Councils
âFoundation and Organisational Structure
âProgramme
âRivalry with the Trade Unions
âInterim Conclusion
5 Pupil Councils
âA Special Case: Gustav Wynekenâs Attempt at Reform
âThe Starting Point: Vocational Schools and the Youth Workersâ Movement
âStructure of the Pupil Councils
âThe School Strike in the Summer of 1919
âRelationship to the âActualâ Council Movement
âInterim Conclusion
6 Unemployed Councils
âUnemployment in Berlin
âOrganisational Development of the Unemployed Councils
âObjectives and Activities
âRelations with the Other Sections of the Workersâ Movement
âInterim Conclusion
7 The âPolitical Council of Intellectual Workersâ
8 Women and the Council Movement
âContemporary Reflections on the Integration of Women into the Councils
âWomen in Council Practice
âInterim Conclusion
9 The Council Policies of the Left Parties and Trade Unions
âOrigins and Contents of Article 165 of the Weimar Constitution and of the Factory Councils Act
âFree Trade Unions: General German Trade Union Federation, DMV and AfA
âSPD
âKPD
âUSPD
âInterim Conclusion
10 Summary and Conclusion
âAims and Concepts
âOrganisational Structures
âModes of Action
âRelationship to the State
âCouncil Movement and Revolution
Bibliography
Index
About the Author
Abbreviations
Introduction
âThe Subject, Its Historical Context and Its Significance
âThe Present State of Research
âMethodology and Sources
1 The March 1919 General Strike in Berlin
âThe Course of Events â a Brief Outline
âStrikes in the Other Regions
âObjectives of the Leadership and Measures Taken
âCross-Regional Coordination
âPressure from Below: The Rank and File of the Movement
âOfficial Strike Demands
âScope and Capacity for Mobilisation
âOrganisation of the Strike Movement
âCitizensâ Council and General Strike
âThe Role of the Media
âStreet Fighting during the Strike
âThe Response of the Governments
âInterim Conclusion
2 The Demonstration outside the Reichstag on 13Â January 1920
âThe Opposition Is Forming
âThe Course of Events at the Demonstration
âConsequences
âContradictory Interpretations
âThe Role of the Security Police and Military
âInterim Conclusion
3 The Kapp-Lüttwitz Putsch and the Council Movement
âStarting Shot from the Right: The Putsch
âBacklash from the Left: The General Strike in Germany and Berlin
âWorkersâ Organisations: For and against the Councils
âA Second Spring for the Councils? Reconstruction and Activities
âInterim Conclusion
4 The Revolutionary Central Office of Factory Councils
âFoundation and Organisational Structure
âProgramme
âRivalry with the Trade Unions
âInterim Conclusion
5 Pupil Councils
âA Special Case: Gustav Wynekenâs Attempt at Reform
âThe Starting Point: Vocational Schools and the Youth Workersâ Movement
âStructure of the Pupil Councils
âThe School Strike in the Summer of 1919
âRelationship to the âActualâ Council Movement
âInterim Conclusion
6 Unemployed Councils
âUnemployment in Berlin
âOrganisational Development of the Unemployed Councils
âObjectives and Activities
âRelations with the Other Sections of the Workersâ Movement
âInterim Conclusion
7 The âPolitical Council of Intellectual Workersâ
8 Women and the Council Movement
âContemporary Reflections on the Integration of Women into the Councils
âWomen in Council Practice
âInterim Conclusion
9 The Council Policies of the Left Parties and Trade Unions
âOrigins and Contents of Article 165 of the Weimar Constitution and of the Factory Councils Act
âFree Trade Unions: General German Trade Union Federation, DMV and AfA
âSPD
âKPD
âUSPD
âInterim Conclusion
10 Summary and Conclusion
âAims and Concepts
âOrganisational Structures
âModes of Action
âRelationship to the State
âCouncil Movement and Revolution
Bibliography
Index
Researchers, students, wider public with historical interests. Subject areas: German history, German studies, labour history, political science.