Paul Levi and the Origins of the United-Front Policy in the Communist International
In: Historical MaterialismSearch for other papers by Daniel Gaido in
Current site
Google Scholar
During its first four congresses, held annually under Lenin (1919–22), the Communist International went through two distinct phases: while the first two congresses focused on programmatic and organisational aspects of the break with Social-Democratic parties (such as the ‘Theses on Bourgeois Democracy and the Dictatorship of the Proletariat’, adopted by the first congress, and the 21 ‘Conditions of Admission to the Communist International’, adopted by the second), the third congress, meeting after the putsch known as the ‘March Action’ of 1921 in Germany, adopted the slogan ‘To the masses!’, while the fourth codified this new line in the ‘Theses on the Unity of the Proletarian Front’. The arguments put forward by the first two congresses were originally drafted by leaders of the Russian Communist Party, but the initiative for the adoption of the united-front policy came from the German Communist Party under the leadership of Paul Levi. This article explores the historical circumstances that turned the German Communists into the pioneers of the united-front tactic. In the documentary appendix we add English versions of two documents drafted by Levi: the ‘Letter to the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Germany’ on the Kapp Putsch, dated 16 March 1920, and the kpd’s ‘Open Letter’ of 8 January 1921, which gave rise to the united-front tactic.
Purchase
Buy instant access (PDF download and unlimited online access):
Institutional Login
Log in with Open Athens, Shibboleth, or your institutional credentials
Personal login
Log in with your brill.com account
-
Alan Adler (ed), Theses, Resolutions and Manifestos of the First Four Congresses of the Third International , (Ink Links , London 1980 ).
-
Bernhard H. Bayerlein & Gleb J. Albert (eds), Deutschland, Russland, Komintern. II. Dokumente (1918–1943). Nach der Archivrevolution: Neuerschlossene Quellen zu der Geschichte der KPD und den deutsch-russischen Beziehungen , (Walter de Gruyter , Berlin 2014 ).
-
Bock Hans Manfred , Syndikalismus und Linkskommunismus von 1918–1923: zur Geschichte und Soziologie der Freien Arbeiter-Union Deutschlands (Syndikalisten), der Allgemeinen Arbeiter-Union Deutschlands und der Kommunistischen Arbeiter-Partei Deutschlands , (Anton Hain , Meisenheim am Glan 1969 ).
-
Boukharine Nikolai Ivanovich , '‘De la tactique offensive’ ' (1921 ) Bulletin communiste , April : 219 -220 .
-
Broué Pierre , Histoire de l’Internationale Communiste, 1919–1943 , (Fayard , Paris 1997 ).
-
Broué Pierre Archer John , 'The German Revolution 1917–1923 ', in Ian Birchall & Brian Pearce (eds), Historical Materialism , (Brill , Leiden 2005 ).
-
Bukharin Nikolai Ivanovich , '‘O natupitel’noj taktike’ ' (1920 ) 15 Kommunistitcheskii Internasional : 3073 -3075 .
-
Cammett John McKay , Antonio Gramsci and the Origins of Italian Communism , (Stanford University Press , Stanford 1967 ).
-
Cannon James P. , The First Ten Years of American Communism: Report of a Participant , (Lyle Stuart , New York 1962 ).
-
Comintern , Der Zweite Kongress der Kommunistischen Internationale. Protokoll der Verhandlungen vom 19. Juli in Petrograd und vom 23. Juli bis 7. August 1920 in Moskau , (Verlag der Kommunistischen Internationale , Hamburg 1921 ).
-
Archer R.A. , Comintern , Second Congress of the Communist International: Minutes of the Proceedings , (New Park Publications , London 1977 ).
-
Cyr Frédérique Rebelle devant les extrêmes: Paul Levi, une biographie politique 2011 unpublished PhD thesis, Université de Montréal
-
Milorad M. Drachkovitch & Branko M Lazić (eds), The Comintern: Historical Highlights, Essays, Recollections, Documents , (Frederick A. Praeger , New York 1966 ).
-
Helmut Gruber (ed), International Communism in the Era of Lenin: A Documentary History , (Fawcett Publications , Greenwich, CN 1967 ).
-
Koch-Baumgarten Sigrid , Aufstand der Avantgarde. Die Märzaktion der KPD 1921 , (Campus Verlag , Frankfurt am Main 1986 ).
-
kpd [Kommunistische Partei Deutschlands] , Bericht über den 2. Parteitag der Kommunistischen Partei Deutschlands (Spartakusbund) vom 20. bis 24. Oktober 1919 , (Berlin 1919 ) herausgegeben von der Kommunistischen Partei Deutschlands (Spartakusbund) .
-
Lenin Vladimir Ilyich , '‘A Letter to the German Communists’ (14 August 1921) ', in Collected Works , (Progress Publishers , Moscow 1965 [1921] ).
-
Lenin Vladimir Ilyich , 'Left-Wing Communism: an Infantile Disorder (April–May 1920) ', in Collected Works , (Progress Publishers , Moscow 1976a [1920] ).
-
Lenin Vladimir Ilyich , '‘Letter to Clara Zetkin and Paul Levi’ (16 April 1921) ', in Collected Works , (Progress Publishers , Moscow 1976b [1921] ).
-
Lenin Vladimir Ilyich , '‘Remarks on the Draft Theses on Tactics for the Third Congress of the Communist International: Letter to G.Y. Zinoviev’ (10 June 1921) ', in Collected Works , (Progress Publishers , Moscow 1977 [1921] ).
-
Levi Paul , '‘Brief an das Zentralkomitee der Kommunistischen Partei Deutschlands’ (16 March 1920) ' (1920a ) 2 (12 ) Die Kommunistische Internationale. Organ des Executivkomitees der Kommunistischen Internationale : 147 -150 .
-
Levi Paul , '‘Die politische Lage in Deutschland’ (September 1920) ' (1920b ) 2 (14 ) Die Kommunistische Internationale. Organ des Executivkomitees der Kommunistischen Internationale : 114 -125 .
-
Levi Paul , '‘Report of Comrade Levi to the Executive Committee of the Third International on the Italian Party Congress, Berlin, 20 January 1921’ ' (1966 [1921] ) 1966 .
-
Levi Paul , 'In the Steps of Rosa Luxemburg: Selected Writings of Paul Levi ', in David Fernbach (ed), Historical Materialism , (Brill , Leiden 2011 ) edited and introduced .
-
Lewis Ben & Lih Lars T. , Martov and Zinoviev: Head to Head in Halle , (November Publications , London 2011 ).
-
Nettl John Peter , Rosa Luxemburg , (Oxford University Press , London 1969 ).
-
Radek Karl , Zur Taktik des Kommunismus: Ein Schreiben an den Oktober-Parteitag der K.P.D. , (Kommunistische Partei Deutschlands (Spartakusbund) , Berlin 1919 ).
-
Radek Karl , '‘Die KPD während der Kapptage: Eine kritische Untersuchung’ ' (1920 ) 2 (12 ) Die Kommunistische Internationale. Organ des Executivkomitees der Kommunistischen Internationale : 162 -167 .
-
Radek Karl , In den Reihen der deutschen Revolution, 1909–1919: Gesammelte Aufsätze und Abhandlungen , (Kurt Wolff Verlag , Munich 1921 ).
-
Radek Karl , '‘The Italian Question’ (translation of ‘Soll die Vereinigte Kommunistische Partei Deutschlands eine Massenpartei der revolutionären Aktion oder eine zentristische Partei des Wartens sein?’) ' (1967 [1921] ) 1967 .
-
John Riddell (ed), Toward the United Front: Proceedings of the Fourth Congress of the Communist International, 1922, Historical Materialism , (Brill , Leiden 2011 ).
-
John Riddell (ed), To the Masses: Proceedings of the Third Congress of the Communist International, 1921, Historical Materialism , (Brill , Leiden 2015 ).
-
Rosmer Alfred Birchall Ian , Moscow under Lenin , (Monthly Review Press , New York 1972 ).
-
Spartakus , '‘Der Kapp-Lüttwitz-Putsch (Brief aus Deutschland) (Berlin, April 1920)’ ' (1920 ) 2 (10 ) Die Kommunistische Internationale. Organ des Executivkomitees der Kommunistischen Internationale : 147 -171 .
-
Trotsky Leon , What Next? Vital Questions for the German Proletariat , (Pioneer Publishers , New York 1932 ).
-
Hermann Weber (ed), Völker hört die Signale: Der deutsche Kommunismus 1916–1966 , (Deutscher Taschenbuch Verlag , Munich 1967 ).
-
Hermann Weber (ed), Der Gründungsparteitag der KPD: Protokoll und Materialien , (Europäische Verlagsanstalt , Frankfurt 1969 ).
-
Hermann Weber (ed), Der deutsche Kommunismus: Dokumente 1915–1945 , (Kiepenheuer & Witsch , Cologne 1973 ).
-
Zetkin Klara , '‘Die Lage in Deutschland’ ' (1920 ) 2 (12 ) Die Kommunistische Internationale. Organ des Executivkomitees der Kommunistischen Internationale : 155 -161 .
-
1
Levi 2011, pp. 67–9.
-
2
Notably, Broué 2005.
-
3
Rosmer 1972, p. 80.
-
6
Levi 2011, pp. 70–8.
-
7
English version in Levi 2011, pp. 67–9.
-
9
Levi 2011, p. 59.
-
10
Levi 2011, p. 60.
-
11
Levi 2011, pp. 67–9.
-
12
Broué 2005, pp. 854–5, emphasis mine.
-
13
Quoted in Bock 1969, p. 255.
-
14
Gruber (ed.) 1967, p. 395.
-
15
Radek 1919, p. 9.
-
16
Lenin 1977, p. 319.
-
18
Broué 2005, p. 365.
-
19
Spartakus 1920, p. 157.
-
20
Levi 1920a, pp. 147–8.
-
21
Levi 1920a, p. 148.
-
23
Levi 1920a, p. 149.
-
24
Levi 1920a, p. 150.
-
25
Riddell (ed.) 2011.
-
26
Reprinted in Spartakus 1920, p. 161.
-
28
Broué 2005, p. 371.
-
31
Spartakus 1920, p. 164.
-
32
Spartakus 1920, p. 165.
-
34
Spartakus 1920, pp. 166–7, emphasis in the original.
-
35
Spartakus 1920, p. 167.
-
37
Lenin 1976a, p. 110.
-
38
Gruber (ed.) 1967, p. 397.
-
39
Comintern 1977, p. 65.
-
40
Comintern 1977, p. 66.
-
41
Comintern 1977, p. 278.
-
42
Comintern 1977, pp. 283–4.
-
43
Comintern 1977, p. 277.
-
44
Levi 1920b.
-
45
See the documents in Lewis and Lih 2011.
-
46
Broué 2005, pp. 468–9.
-
47
Lenin 1976b, emphasis in the original.
-
48
Lenin 1965, p. 319, emphasis in the original.
-
50
Cammett 1967, p. 144.
-
51
Cammett 1967, p. 258, n. 8.
-
52
Levi 1966, p. 272.
-
53
Levi 1966, p. 273.
-
54
Levi 1966, pp. 281–2.
-
55
Quoted in Cyr 2012, p. 148.
-
56
Levi 1966, p. 278.
-
57
Levi 1966, p. 281.
-
60
See the documents in Gruber (ed.) 1967, pp. 346–50.
-
61
Radek 1967, pp. 310, 312, emphasis in the original.
-
62
Levi 2011, p. 103.
-
63
Levi 2011, p. 106.
-
64
Levi 2011, p. 108.
-
65
Levi 2011, p. 109.
-
66
Levi 2011, p. 108.
-
67
Lenin 1976b.
-
69
Gruber (ed.) 1967, p. 403.
-
70
Bayerlein and Albert (eds.) 2014, pp. 141–2: Dok. 35: ‘Die Frucht eines zweijährigen Kampfes wird zerstört’: Paul Levis Brief an Lenin zur Kritik der ‘Märzaktion’, [Berlin], 27.3.1921. Béla Kun confirmed that these interviews took place in a letter sent to Lenin from Vienna on 6 May 1921, adding that ‘the old lady’ Cara Zetkin ‘suffered from “dementia seniles” and is the living proof that Lofargne [Lafargue] with his wife acted in a completely correct way’ by committing suicide in old age (Bayerlein and Albert (eds.) 2014, p. 155: Dok. 43: ‘Persönlicher Brief des “Spaniers” (d.i. Béla Kun) an Lenin über die gescheiterte Märzaktion in Deutschland’, [Wien], 6.5.1921).
-
71
Broué 2005, pp. 494, 532.
-
72
Bayerlein and Albert (eds.) 2014, p. 156, note, citing Koch-Baumgarten 1986, pp. 315–444.
-
73
Levi 2011, pp. 119–65.
-
74
Levi 2011, pp. 166–205.
-
75
Levi 2011, pp. 119–20.
-
76
Levi 2011, p. 146.
-
77
Levi 2011, p. 148.
-
79
Levi 2011, p. 157, Levi’s emphasis.
-
80
Levi 2011, p. 138, Levi’s emphasis.
-
81
Levi 2011, p. 18.
-
82
Levi 2011, p. 163, Levi’s emphasis.
-
83
Levi 2011, p. 164.
-
84
Levi 2011, pp. 182–3.
-
85
Levi 2011, p. 183.
-
87
Levi 2011, p. 184.
-
88
Levi 2011, p. 203.
-
89
Levi 2011, p. 204.
-
90
Lenin 1976b.
-
91
Riddell (ed.) 2015, pp. 1094, 1090.
-
92
Riddell (ed.) 2015, p. 1092.
-
93
Riddell (ed.) 2015, p. 1094.
-
94
Riddell (ed.) 2015, pp. 1094–5.
-
95
Riddell (ed.) 2015, p. 1095.
-
96
Riddell (ed.) 2015, p. 1096.
-
97
Riddell (ed.) 2015, p. 941.
-
98
Riddell (ed.) 2015, p. 951.
-
99
Levi 1920a, p. 147.
-
100
Lenin 1965, emphasis in the original.
-
101
Levi 2011, p. 213.
-
102
Trotsky 1932, p. 103.
-
106
Broué 1997, pp. 293–349.
-
107
Riddell (ed.) 2011, pp. 1164–73.
-
108
Riddell (ed.) 2011, pp. 1187–8.
| All Time | Past Year | Past 30 Days | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Abstract Views | 815 | 99 | 13 |
| Full Text Views | 293 | 3 | 0 |
| PDF Views & Downloads | 112 | 6 | 0 |
Paul Levi and the Origins of the United-Front Policy in the Communist International
In: Historical MaterialismSearch for other papers by Daniel Gaido in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
During its first four congresses, held annually under Lenin (1919–22), the Communist International went through two distinct phases: while the first two congresses focused on programmatic and organisational aspects of the break with Social-Democratic parties (such as the ‘Theses on Bourgeois Democracy and the Dictatorship of the Proletariat’, adopted by the first congress, and the 21 ‘Conditions of Admission to the Communist International’, adopted by the second), the third congress, meeting after the putsch known as the ‘March Action’ of 1921 in Germany, adopted the slogan ‘To the masses!’, while the fourth codified this new line in the ‘Theses on the Unity of the Proletarian Front’. The arguments put forward by the first two congresses were originally drafted by leaders of the Russian Communist Party, but the initiative for the adoption of the united-front policy came from the German Communist Party under the leadership of Paul Levi. This article explores the historical circumstances that turned the German Communists into the pioneers of the united-front tactic. In the documentary appendix we add English versions of two documents drafted by Levi: the ‘Letter to the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Germany’ on the Kapp Putsch, dated 16 March 1920, and the kpd’s ‘Open Letter’ of 8 January 1921, which gave rise to the united-front tactic.
| All Time | Past Year | Past 30 Days | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Abstract Views | 815 | 99 | 13 |
| Full Text Views | 293 | 3 | 0 |
| PDF Views & Downloads | 112 | 6 | 0 |