BolshevismBourgeoisieCapitalismCommunismDemocracyEngelsGerman RevolutionLeninSocialismSovietWorking Class

THE REVOLUTIONARY AGE Saturday, January 25, 1919 The Background of the German Revolution des the old pamphlet de ENIN was right Russia separate peace did not By Louis Fraina could break through for action and the conquest of end the war or give German Imperialism the IV power! The language of this counter revolutionary victory. The war flared up more intense and The First Stage of the Revolution declaration was used in Russia against the Bolsheviki violent than ever, and more intense became mass ag.
by moderate Socialism: it is characteristic and uniony and starvation, more intense became the economic power of the German bourgeoisie. At this hour of potential world revolution, they are busy with petty bargaining at versal. This hesitation, this utter lack of audacity and and political crisis, more intense became the awak tempting to secure a few ministerial seats they stand ready revolutionary initiative, this horror of proletarian ening of the masses and the revolutionary struggle to save the situation for the inperialistic bourgeoisie, force for peace.
the people to wait longer for the war end, to prolong the mass action characterterized the Social Democratic slaughter of the peoples. They want to patch up things, to Party before the war, characterized its In May, 1918, German Imperialism staked all on one majority durdesperate offensive, and lost. Instead of peace, the blur the class character of capitalist rule and Prussian reacing the war, and characterizes its policy during the Revolution, when the German proletariat is accomunparalleled butchery brought more misery to the What were the conditions under which the government plishing great things, and Frederick Engels prophecy German proletariat. The revolutionary unrest de Socialists consented to do lackey service? The solemn re of thirty years ago might come true that out the veloped more acutely. Great industrial strikes broke pudiation by the German government of annexations and indemnities! Yes, at this moment when the English and next general European war would emerge Socialism.
loose, in spite of the union bureaucrats appeal to the French field guns are making efforts not to allow the German Their theory becomes life, and they contemptuously strikers to be calm particularly in the Essen re Government to secure annexations and indemnities! There is reject life itself.
gions. The Kaiser made a speech to the Krupp work, But the masses were in motion, the class struggle ers, warning them of the horrible results of revolu when universal suffrage, because of the shameless role of the Reichstag during the war. has become an empty husk. And had flared up implacably, the agitation of the Spartalution in Russia. The soldiers were uneasy, and muthese lackeys of the hourgeoisie did not even dare demand cus Socialists and many of the Independents acceltiny spread. On August 5, German soldiers at Reval, the repcal of martial law, did not even demand that the erated the march of events. On November 4, the corrupted by Bolshevik propaganda, disarmed them Reichstag should sit continuously. Thus they express their government of Prince Max and Scheidemann issued selves to show they were tired of war. The telephone readiness, in return for a few contemptihle ministerial porta proclamation, boasting of the deeds of the army, of wires were cut, and at meetings held the day folios, to act in the comedy of a reformed Germany in order to defend the rule of the canitalists against the action of universal suffrage, of democracy in Germany with speakers denounced war. The cry was: Enough of neople. This is all that reforms mean the Kaiser still in power. But on November 7, and bloodshed! We do not want to fight any longer! Our task consists precisely in this, that we must destroy 9, the first anniversary of the proletarian revolution Two hundred soldiers were arrested. At Felline, in this agreement against the proletariat and the future of Soin Russia, the German Revolution became acLivonis, at the end of July, trouble started in the garrison, which thereupon received orders to place itself reaction and the rule of Capitalism! The problem now is to complished fact. The German fleet was seized by mutinous sailors; sailors at Kiel acted in favor of the in readiness for the western front an order never permanent peace this is necessary: the destruction of mili revolution, organized Councils of Workmen, Soldiers executed. Detachments sent to enforce the order tarism, the rule of the people, and a republic. The German and Sailors; and when a Government Socialist deljoined the rebels and, singing revolutionary songs, they all marched to the railway station, divesting themunder the flag of Socialism Long live the Revolution of the cgation arrived at Kiel to give orders, the delegation itself was given orders to bring back to Berlin. The selves of military insignia. Upon their arrival at We must not look forward to the victory of Anglo French revolution marched into action at Hamburg, where Meisekull depot, they met detachments coming from Imperialism: military might should dictate terms of peace artillery was used in street battles. Everywhere the Perman and Weissenstein on their way to the westmatter which guns are victorious, whether German or Engproletariat turned to its own revolutionary activity, ern front. After a meeting, the new soldiers divested lish, the working class everywhere would have to pay. In strikes developing into demonstrations, and demonthemselves of military insignia and dispersed with ternational reaction and militarism, if they are victorious, will strations into revolutionary mass action, Councils of cries: Enough of war! Peace and bread! Revo fasten upon the working class chains ten times heavier than Workmen and Soldiers being organized as the instrulutionary Socialists in Bremen issued a The proletariat of all countries must end the slaughter by ments of the Revolution.
claring that not only the Scheidemann majority Someans of revolt. The revolutionary proletariat alone can dicThe government was ignored, the existing Socialiste cialism, but also the Independent Socialists of the tate terms of peace in the interests of freedom and Socialism. and union organizations were ignored: the proletariat Haase type, were simply adepts in radical phrases The hour to act has conie. The English and the French turned to mass action and the characteristic instruwhile avoiding deeds; the international Socialists and workers may follow the German workers. Onwart. German workers and soldiers, male and female! Forward to the battle ments of the proletarian revolution, the Councils of Communists insisted upon revolutionary action.
for freedom, for an immediate peace and Socialism! OnWorkmen and Soldiers. In spite of all and everyAll this, spread all over Germany, arousing the con ward to the brotherhood of all peoples under the flag of free thing, the German proletariat, by means of charactersciousness of the masses to their misery and the ne labor! Down with the class rule of the hourgenisie! All istic Bolshevik methods, accomplished the first stage cessity for revolution.
power to the proletariat! Long live the international RevoThe German offensive collapsed, and the Allies aslution of the proletariat.
of the German Revolution.
From Kiel sumed the offensive; the war became still more hope talist government did not abate the revolutionary tions broke loose, soldier deserters being particularly The entrance of Scheidemann Co. into the capiHamburg the revolutionary movement spread rapidly. In Berlin, enormous demonstraless. Th came the break in Bulgaria, where, accrisis: it developed more acutely. Everywhere the cording to all reports, Bolshevism was rampant; then active. The Council of Workmen and Soldiers in came the break in Austria, where again Bolshevism proletariat turned to revoiutionary mass action. The the industrial district of Chemnitz on November 9, at was rampant. The evolutionary masses in Bu yaria government Socialist farce of a reformed Giers A. issued the following proclamation in The tionary peace to save the dynasty. but the dynasty is Liebknecht was demanded, and granted by the Fright Volkstimme. On with the struggle for freedom, bread and peace. WorkA new government asked for and secured an armistice. Germany was isolated.
ers and Soldiers in the industrial district of Chemnitz prove itself good. great demonstration was ar The undersigned Council of the workers and soldiers of ranged for Liebknecht in Berlin, huge masses welcom Chemnitz has this night taken into its hands the military and But still Germany might have waged war for months and years to come, according to experts, if Revolution acclaimed the Socialist Republic and sent their fraing him and his revolutionary utterances, while they political power, as has already been done in the strategic, de cisive districts of Germany had not broken the power of the government and of ternal greetings to the Russian Soviets.
The Council of Workmen and Soldiers guarantees the mainthe imperialistic machine. During October, the revotenance of order and public safety.
lutionary crisis in Germany emerged definitely into Upon the development of the revolutionary crisis The stopping of work may take place only at the order of action. The Socialists of the Spartacus Group, reprein Germany, the Soviet Government issued a proclathe Workmen and Soldiers Council.
senting revolutionary Socialism, Bolshevism, issued in making their revolution, and an army to co operate, all official business must be continued until orders to the con Everyone, therefore, go to his place of work until further mation to the Gerinan proletariat offering them help directions are received. The means of communication and the following appeal: Workers, awake! The dreams of world domination of French Imperialism and for the world revolution.
if necessary, in a revolutionary war against Anglo trary from the Workmen and Soldiers Council. He who leaves his post without permission will without German Imperialism have vanished consideration be called to account, also each official who at.
corse in seas of blood, they wanted to establish that domi Lenin took the initiative, and said to the Soviet Extempts sabotage or who through negligence in service harms nation. Vain are their efforts! The sword cannot forever ecutive Committee: The revolutionary crisis in Ger the public welfare.
revolution The military power of command is in the hands of the shameless traffic with the destiny of the peoples of the East many shows either a revolution begun or has brought its fruits: it forced the peoples of the West to inevitable in the near future. Placing Scheidemann Council of Workmen and Soldiers. All orders from other unite for defense. Co. in the government will simply hasten the revosources are to be ignored. The Council will take the necesEverything is falling on the field of battledefeat after lutionary explosion. We had decided to have an sary measures for the provisioning of the people, and that no stonnage in the distribution of food shall occur.
of the Central Powers, that was to serve as the means to need an army of three million.
army of one million men by spring, but we shall now Therefore, each be unafraid. To day, at 12 noon, in the Central Theatre, in the Kaumannischen Vereinshaus and in world domination by Germany, has failed completely. Hardly the Neuen Stadt Theater, meetings of workers and soldiers had the robbers ended their quarrels over the spoil. Ger The spirit of revolutionary action during October wilt he held at which the situation will be discusserl.
many and Austria for Poland, Austria, Turkey and Bulgaria was spreading rapidly all through Germany. among the for Rumania, Germany and Austria and Bulgaria for the proletariat and in the army. But the Social Demo The provisional Workers and Soldiers Council will be elected and will be given authority to direct all necessary Dobrudja then Bulgaria leaves the coalition, and concludes a actinn.
separate peace with France and England. The Gernian peocratic Party, the majority Socialism of Scheidemann, Ebert Co. did all in its power to prevent a revolu The taking over of affairs will follow through a definite they want peace. But already German soldiers are being tion in accord with its counter revolutionary policy place in the course of the coming week. These have the right Workers Council after its election. This election will take driven from the western front in order to force Bulgaria to and traditions. On October 17 the Executive Com to vote, all citizens of hoth sexes, who have reached their 18th continue the war. The German proletariat, which has nothing mittee of the Social Democratic Party issued a decto eat, whose wives and children suffer and languish this year het line of the Workers and Soldiers Councils of Gerproletariat must now take the Bulgarian proletariat by the laration against revolution: All this agitation by conmany is the establishment of the German Socialist Republic throat and force it to fight!
fused, irresponsible persons, using Bolshevik revolu Long live the fraternal union of soldiers and workers. Thus the ruling clique in Germany tries to retain power. tionary phrases, who are trying to rouse the workers Long live revolutionary discipline!
the field of battle, bankrupt in external and internal policy.
strikes and demonstrations against the Government Long live the World Revolution!
The hairs of the masters are standing up in fright at the conthat would have no sense nor object at present, makes Long live the people emancipation, Socialism!
sequences of their criminal military adventures. shiver it more difficult to bring about peace and democratize The Council of Workmen and Soldiers in the industrial runs through their body at the very thought of the awaken Germany. As the authorized representatives of district of Chemnitz: Fritz Heckert. Max Muller, Corporal ing of the tortured and deceived proletariat, at the thought the Social Democratic Party have always declared, we Max Stein Executive Council in power.
The Revolution conquered; the Kaiser fled to HolThe old government, apprehensive of events, feeling mocracy and our economic life into Socialism by land: a new democratic government was organized the surge of proletarian awakening, snatched at the prestige bolster up its power: and inmeans of a peaceful change. We are on the road to Imperial Chancellor Prince Max appointing the Sovited Scheidemann and two other majority Socialists peace and democracy. All agitation for an attempted cialist Ehert as chancellor. But the first stage of the into the Cabinet again to deceive the masses.
rezolt runs counter to this road and serves the cause Revolution was simply the rst, and not the last: the Scheidemann Co. accepted with alacrity this counof the counter rezolution. My italics. And this, accomplishment of the first stage of the Revolution ter revolutionary task. The Spartacus appeal conjust at the moment when the proletariat was on the indicater the fundamental problems, but did not solve verge of bursting forth in that elemental revolution them. The first victory was comparatively easy: hut tinuies. At this very moment the government Socialists, the ary action that shattered the autocracy, and made a the second, the real victory, the definite accomplishSeheidemanns, offer their services to sustain the tottering breach in the old order through which the proletariat Continued on page seven