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The Spartacist Uprising in Post-World War I Germany

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The Spartacist Uprising of January 1919, led by Karl Liebknecht and Rosa Luxemburg, was a failed communist revolution in post-World War I Germany. Sparked by the dismissal of police chief Emil Eichhorn, it led to violent clashes with the Freikorps and the execution of its leaders, shaping the Weimar Republic's early years.

The Origins of the Spartacist Uprising

The Spartacist Uprising, a significant event in post-World War I Germany, was an attempted communist revolution that took place in January 1919. The uprising was led by the Spartacist League, a group advocating for a socialist Germany and inspired by the Russian Revolution of 1917. Co-founders Karl Liebknecht and Rosa Luxemburg, both prominent socialist leaders, named the league after the Thracian gladiator Spartacus, who led a major slave uprising against the Roman Republic. Liebknecht, the only member of the Reichstag to vote against war credits in 1914, and Luxemburg, a Polish-Jewish intellectual and activist, were both imprisoned for their opposition to the war and their revolutionary activities.
Early 20th-century black and white photo showing a group of solemn protesters with raised fists on a cobblestone street, barricades in the background.

The Rise of the Communist Party of Germany

Following their release from prison at the end of the war in 1918, Luxemburg and Liebknecht continued their political efforts by establishing the 'Rote Fahne' (Red Flag) newspaper, which became the mouthpiece for their cause. This period also saw the formation of the Communist Party of Germany (KPD), which absorbed the Spartacist League and other leftist factions. The KPD's membership quickly swelled, reflecting the widespread discontent and revolutionary fervor among the German working class. The party's growth was further bolstered by support from the Bolshevik government in Russia, which saw Germany as a potential ally in spreading communism across Europe.

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Date and location of the Spartacist Uprising

January 1919, Germany

01

Inspiration for the Spartacist League's name

Named after Spartacus, leader of a slave revolt against Rome

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Karl Liebknecht's unique Reichstag vote in 1914

Only member to vote against war credits

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