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Revolution as Realpolitik
Ernst Meyer (1887â1930) â Biography of a KPD Chairman
Series: - Historical Materialism Book Series, Volume: 371
Author:
Ernst Meyer was one of the most important figures of the German Communist Party in the Weimar Republic. He was a founding member of the Spartacus League, a member of the KPD Centre after the First World War and party chairman in 1921â22. A passionate defender of the necessity of inner-party democracy against the "ultra-left" leadership around Ruth Fischer and later the Thälmann Central Committee, as well as a supporter of revolutionary realpolitik, Meyer played a significant role in the development of the communist united front strategy and, as a critic of Stalin, later argued against the disastrous thesis of "social fascism".
Despite this, Meyer has largely been forgotten. Florian Wilde now traces for the first time the political and private life and work of this disciple of Rosa Luxemburg, highlighting the strategic debates within the KPD and the alternatives to its Stalinisation, inherent in the development of the party.
Despite this, Meyer has largely been forgotten. Florian Wilde now traces for the first time the political and private life and work of this disciple of Rosa Luxemburg, highlighting the strategic debates within the KPD and the alternatives to its Stalinisation, inherent in the development of the party.
Florian Wilde, Ph.D. (2013), is a historian and Research Fellow for Trade Union Politics at the Rosa-Luxemburg-Stiftung. He is co-editor of Politische Streiks im Europa der Krise (2012) and editor of the German editions of books by U.S. trade union organizer Jane McAlevey (2019, 2021, 2023).
Foreword
Preface
List of Figures
Translatorsâ Note
1 Introduction
2 Radicalisation in the Pre-War SPD (1908â14)
â1âChildhood, Youth, Student Days and Joining the SPD
â2âThe SPD in the Pre-War Years and the Emergence of the Radical Left Wing
â3âIn Steglitz with the Radicals
â4âThe Pub as Nucleus
â5âEditor at Vorwärts
â6âConvicted of Lèse-majesté
3 With Spartacus Against the War (1914â18)
â1â4 August 1914: Horror, Despair and Resistance
â2âThe International Group between Cooperation and Demarcation
â3âThe International against the War: At the Zimmerwald Conference in 1915
â4âThe Founding of the Spartacus Group
â5âThe International against the War, Part II: The Kienthal Conference of 1916
â6âTermination from Vorwärts and the Dues Boycott Campaign
â7âIn Prison
â8âThe Founding of the USPD
â9âPreliminary Retreat from the Spartacus Leadership in 1917
â10âThe October Revolution and Debates on Bolshevik Politics
â11âOn the Path towards Revolution: Leader of the Spartacus Group in 1918
â12âImportant Actor of the November Revolution
4 In the KPD Leadership (1919â20)
â1âAt the Founding Party Congress
â2âThe Ill-Fated Uprising
â3âMurdered Friends and a Decapitated Party Leadership
â4âNine Months in Preventative Detention
â5âThe Heidelberg Party Congress and the KPD Split
â6âResisting the Kapp Putsch
5 Exponent of the Left Wing (1920â1)
â1ââRevolutionary Offensiveâ over âAnti-Putschist Cretinismâ
â2âAt the Second World Congress of the Comintern
â3âFinally a Mass Party: Unification with the USPD
â4âEditor-in-Chief of the Rote Fahne des Ostens
â5âChairman of the KPD Group in the Prussian Landtag (1921â4)
â6âBack to the Zentrale and into the Uprising: The March Action of 1921
â7âParty Crisis and a Departure from the Theory of the Offensive
â8âThe Turn towards the United Front Policy
6 Party Chairman and Protagonist of the United Front (1921â2)
â1âParting Ways with the Left Wing: At the Jena Party Congress
â2âDriven by Work: The Tasks of a Party Chairman
â3âDivorce and New Love
â4âThe United Front as Revolutionary Realpolitik
â5âThe Necessity of Inner-Party Democracy
â6âOn Equal Footing with Moscow? Meyer, the KPD and the Comintern
â7âSuccessful Consolidation of the Party
â8âMeyerâs Ousting
7 Hoping for Revolution, Experiencing Defeat (1923)
â1ââFor Once, Out of the German Party Rowâ: For the KPD in France
â2âDirector of the Super-District Southwest
â3âMeyer in âGerman Octoberâ
â4âAfter the Retreat: The Crisis of the Party
8 At the Centre of the Opposition to the Ultra-Left Course (1924â5)
â1âErnst, Rosa and their Children
â2âThe Left-Wing Takeover of the Party
â3ââInsane Party Debates, Nasty Personal Differencesâ: Opponents of the FischerâMaslow Leadership
â4âTotal Isolation: At the Tenth Party Congress of the KPD
9 The Struggle for a Return to the United Front (1925â6)
â1ââStruck Like an Unexpected Bombâ: The Cominternâs Intervention
â2âIn Factional Struggles
â3âOn the Upswing
â4âThe United Front during the Referendum on the Expropriation of the Princes
â5ââIf Mohammed Wonât Come to the Mountainâ: The Rocky Road to a Consolidated Leadership
â6ââA Drama that Broke Ernstâs Spiritâ: Meyerâs Moscow Declaration
â7âThe Splitting of the Meyer Group
â8ââI Almost Regret My Diligenceâ: Between Self-Doubt and Integrity
10 Leading the Party with Thälmann
â1ââNot an Acutely Revolutionary Situationâ: Meyerâs Assessment of the Political Climate
â2âThe Essen Congress: Meyer Returns to the Helm
â3âStruggling for the United Front: Heated Debate over the SPDâs Left Wing
â4âDebates on Inner-Party Democracy and a Programme of Action
â5âStruggle against the Threat of War, âTen Years of the Soviet Unionâ Campaign, and Historiographical Disputes
â6âTaking Stock of Meyerâs Work in the Party Leadership in 1927
â7âTo the Sanitorium with Illness and Burnout
11 Meyerâs Final Stand: Fighting Stalinism with His Last Ounce of Strength (1928â30)
â1âStalin and the Cominternâs Ultra-Left Turn
â2âBetween the Fronts in December 1928
â3âBack to the Wall against Stalinisation
â4âMeyerâs Final Struggle
â5âIllness, Death, Funeral
â6âThe Fate of those Left Behind: Resistance and Exile
12 Epilogue
Bibliography
Index
Preface
List of Figures
Translatorsâ Note
1 Introduction
2 Radicalisation in the Pre-War SPD (1908â14)
â1âChildhood, Youth, Student Days and Joining the SPD
â2âThe SPD in the Pre-War Years and the Emergence of the Radical Left Wing
â3âIn Steglitz with the Radicals
â4âThe Pub as Nucleus
â5âEditor at Vorwärts
â6âConvicted of Lèse-majesté
3 With Spartacus Against the War (1914â18)
â1â4 August 1914: Horror, Despair and Resistance
â2âThe International Group between Cooperation and Demarcation
â3âThe International against the War: At the Zimmerwald Conference in 1915
â4âThe Founding of the Spartacus Group
â5âThe International against the War, Part II: The Kienthal Conference of 1916
â6âTermination from Vorwärts and the Dues Boycott Campaign
â7âIn Prison
â8âThe Founding of the USPD
â9âPreliminary Retreat from the Spartacus Leadership in 1917
â10âThe October Revolution and Debates on Bolshevik Politics
â11âOn the Path towards Revolution: Leader of the Spartacus Group in 1918
â12âImportant Actor of the November Revolution
4 In the KPD Leadership (1919â20)
â1âAt the Founding Party Congress
â2âThe Ill-Fated Uprising
â3âMurdered Friends and a Decapitated Party Leadership
â4âNine Months in Preventative Detention
â5âThe Heidelberg Party Congress and the KPD Split
â6âResisting the Kapp Putsch
5 Exponent of the Left Wing (1920â1)
â1ââRevolutionary Offensiveâ over âAnti-Putschist Cretinismâ
â2âAt the Second World Congress of the Comintern
â3âFinally a Mass Party: Unification with the USPD
â4âEditor-in-Chief of the Rote Fahne des Ostens
â5âChairman of the KPD Group in the Prussian Landtag (1921â4)
â6âBack to the Zentrale and into the Uprising: The March Action of 1921
â7âParty Crisis and a Departure from the Theory of the Offensive
â8âThe Turn towards the United Front Policy
6 Party Chairman and Protagonist of the United Front (1921â2)
â1âParting Ways with the Left Wing: At the Jena Party Congress
â2âDriven by Work: The Tasks of a Party Chairman
â3âDivorce and New Love
â4âThe United Front as Revolutionary Realpolitik
â5âThe Necessity of Inner-Party Democracy
â6âOn Equal Footing with Moscow? Meyer, the KPD and the Comintern
â7âSuccessful Consolidation of the Party
â8âMeyerâs Ousting
7 Hoping for Revolution, Experiencing Defeat (1923)
â1ââFor Once, Out of the German Party Rowâ: For the KPD in France
â2âDirector of the Super-District Southwest
â3âMeyer in âGerman Octoberâ
â4âAfter the Retreat: The Crisis of the Party
8 At the Centre of the Opposition to the Ultra-Left Course (1924â5)
â1âErnst, Rosa and their Children
â2âThe Left-Wing Takeover of the Party
â3ââInsane Party Debates, Nasty Personal Differencesâ: Opponents of the FischerâMaslow Leadership
â4âTotal Isolation: At the Tenth Party Congress of the KPD
9 The Struggle for a Return to the United Front (1925â6)
â1ââStruck Like an Unexpected Bombâ: The Cominternâs Intervention
â2âIn Factional Struggles
â3âOn the Upswing
â4âThe United Front during the Referendum on the Expropriation of the Princes
â5ââIf Mohammed Wonât Come to the Mountainâ: The Rocky Road to a Consolidated Leadership
â6ââA Drama that Broke Ernstâs Spiritâ: Meyerâs Moscow Declaration
â7âThe Splitting of the Meyer Group
â8ââI Almost Regret My Diligenceâ: Between Self-Doubt and Integrity
10 Leading the Party with Thälmann
â1ââNot an Acutely Revolutionary Situationâ: Meyerâs Assessment of the Political Climate
â2âThe Essen Congress: Meyer Returns to the Helm
â3âStruggling for the United Front: Heated Debate over the SPDâs Left Wing
â4âDebates on Inner-Party Democracy and a Programme of Action
â5âStruggle against the Threat of War, âTen Years of the Soviet Unionâ Campaign, and Historiographical Disputes
â6âTaking Stock of Meyerâs Work in the Party Leadership in 1927
â7âTo the Sanitorium with Illness and Burnout
11 Meyerâs Final Stand: Fighting Stalinism with His Last Ounce of Strength (1928â30)
â1âStalin and the Cominternâs Ultra-Left Turn
â2âBetween the Fronts in December 1928
â3âBack to the Wall against Stalinisation
â4âMeyerâs Final Struggle
â5âIllness, Death, Funeral
â6âThe Fate of those Left Behind: Resistance and Exile
12 Epilogue
Bibliography
Index
This book is especially relevant to post-graduate students, research libraries, scholars of Weimar Germany, the history of communism in Germany, the history of German fascism and the united front strategy.