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Revision as of 22:51, 21 April 2009 edit86.146.228.185 (talk) He was only a Communist for a few of the many years he was involved in politics.← Previous edit Revision as of 15:10, 9 August 2009 edit undo220.235.49.152 (talk) Citation provided showing Lenin's dislike of Paul LeviNext edit →
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During ] Levi was conscripted. Discharged in 1916, he settled in Switzerland, associating with ] and ], becoming a part of the ].<ref>] (1971) "The German Revolution 1917-1923'".</ref> He was recalled to the army, again discharged and became one of the leaders of the ] in 1918, which soon became the ](KPD). He opposed the initiatives of ] in January 1919. After the failure of the ] of 1918/1919, and the killing of the KPD’s main leaders ], ] and ], Levi took over as the central leader of the Communist Party, waging struggles against the party's ]. He led the party away from the policy of immediate revolution, in an effort to win over SPD and ](USPD) workers. These efforts were rewarded when a substantial section of the USPD joined the KPD, making it a mass party for the first time. During ] Levi was conscripted. Discharged in 1916, he settled in Switzerland, associating with ] and ], becoming a part of the ].<ref>] (1971) "The German Revolution 1917-1923'".</ref> He was recalled to the army, again discharged and became one of the leaders of the ] in 1918, which soon became the ](KPD). He opposed the initiatives of ] in January 1919. After the failure of the ] of 1918/1919, and the killing of the KPD’s main leaders ], ] and ], Levi took over as the central leader of the Communist Party, waging struggles against the party's ]. He led the party away from the policy of immediate revolution, in an effort to win over SPD and ](USPD) workers. These efforts were rewarded when a substantial section of the USPD joined the KPD, making it a mass party for the first time.


Levi headed the German delegation to the ] of the ] in ] in 1920, but it is said that Lenin did not like him.{{Fact|date=February 2007}} Levi headed the German delegation to the ] of the ] in ] in 1920, but it is said that Lenin did not like him.<ref> ] (1968) "Impressions of Lenin pp. 111-112" </ref>.


Following disputes within the KPD around splits within the ](PSI), which were fuelled in part by the role of the ], Levi resigned from the leadership of the Communist Party in early 1921. <ref> ] (1985) "The Comintern" </ref><ref>] (1971) "The German Revolution 1917-1923'".</ref> Ernst Daumig, ], Otto Brass and Adolf Hofman also resigned from the Zentral (Central Committee). Shortly after, under the influence of ], the party launched the March uprisings of 1921. Following the uprisings Levi was expelled from the Communist Party for publicly criticizing party policies.<ref>] (1922) "Paul Levi and Some 'Lefts'". ''The First Five Years of the Communist International''. Retrieved from ], ]</ref>. Lenin and Trotsky substantially agreed with his criticisms, but not the way in which he had made them. <ref>] (1971) "The German Revolution 1917-1923'".</ref><ref> ] (1921) "A Letter to the German Communists". </ref> Lenin sent him a private letter through his friend ], where he asked Levi to accept the expulsion for "break of discipline" and then adopt a friendly approach towards the KPD and cooperate with them in the class struggle in a loyal manner. If so, Lenin would then push for his reinstatement in the party. <ref>] (1971) "The German Revolution 1917-1923'"</ref>. Levi did not accept this proposal and continued to criticize the party sharply and condemn its leaders.<ref>Mike Jones (1985) "The Decline, Disorientation and Decomposition of a Leadership". 'Revolutionary History, Vol 2 No 3, Autumn 1989'.</ref>. Following disputes within the KPD around splits within the ](PSI), which were fuelled in part by the role of the ], Levi resigned from the leadership of the Communist Party in early 1921. <ref> ] (1985) "The Comintern" </ref><ref>] (1971) "The German Revolution 1917-1923'".</ref> Ernst Daumig, ], Otto Brass and Adolf Hofman also resigned from the Zentral (Central Committee). Shortly after, under the influence of ], the party launched the March uprisings of 1921. Following the uprisings Levi was expelled from the Communist Party for publicly criticizing party policies.<ref>] (1922) "Paul Levi and Some 'Lefts'". ''The First Five Years of the Communist International''. Retrieved from ], ]</ref>. Lenin and Trotsky substantially agreed with his criticisms, but not the way in which he had made them. <ref>] (1971) "The German Revolution 1917-1923'".</ref><ref> ] (1921) "A Letter to the German Communists". </ref> Lenin sent him a private letter through his friend ], where he asked Levi to accept the expulsion for "break of discipline" and then adopt a friendly approach towards the KPD and cooperate with them in the class struggle in a loyal manner. If so, Lenin would then push for his reinstatement in the party. <ref>] (1971) "The German Revolution 1917-1923'"</ref>. Levi did not accept this proposal and continued to criticize the party sharply and condemn its leaders.<ref>Mike Jones (1985) "The Decline, Disorientation and Decomposition of a Leadership". 'Revolutionary History, Vol 2 No 3, Autumn 1989'.</ref>.

Revision as of 15:10, 9 August 2009

Paul Levi (11 March 1883 – 9 February 1930) was a leftwing German politician.

Levi, born in Hechingen into a Jewish middle-class family, joined the Social Democratic Party of Germany(SPD) in 1906. There he became part of the party’s left wing together with Rosa Luxemburg and Karl Liebknecht. Levi was also Luxemburg's lawyer in political cases.

During World War I Levi was conscripted. Discharged in 1916, he settled in Switzerland, associating with Karl Radek and Vladimir Lenin, becoming a part of the Zimmerwald Left. He was recalled to the army, again discharged and became one of the leaders of the Spartacist League in 1918, which soon became the Communist Party of Germany(KPD). He opposed the initiatives of Karl Liebknecht in January 1919. After the failure of the German Revolution of 1918/1919, and the killing of the KPD’s main leaders Rosa Luxemburg, Karl Liebknecht and Leo Jogiches, Levi took over as the central leader of the Communist Party, waging struggles against the party's ultra-left. He led the party away from the policy of immediate revolution, in an effort to win over SPD and Independent Social Democratic Party of Germany(USPD) workers. These efforts were rewarded when a substantial section of the USPD joined the KPD, making it a mass party for the first time.

Levi headed the German delegation to the second congress of the Comintern in Moscow in 1920, but it is said that Lenin did not like him..

Following disputes within the KPD around splits within the Italian Socialist Party(PSI), which were fuelled in part by the role of the Comintern, Levi resigned from the leadership of the Communist Party in early 1921. Ernst Daumig, Clara Zetkin, Otto Brass and Adolf Hofman also resigned from the Zentral (Central Committee). Shortly after, under the influence of Bela Kun, the party launched the March uprisings of 1921. Following the uprisings Levi was expelled from the Communist Party for publicly criticizing party policies.. Lenin and Trotsky substantially agreed with his criticisms, but not the way in which he had made them. Lenin sent him a private letter through his friend Clara Zetkin, where he asked Levi to accept the expulsion for "break of discipline" and then adopt a friendly approach towards the KPD and cooperate with them in the class struggle in a loyal manner. If so, Lenin would then push for his reinstatement in the party. . Levi did not accept this proposal and continued to criticize the party sharply and condemn its leaders..

After being expelled from the Communist Party, Levi formed the Communist Working Collective (KAG). In 1922 he joined the Independent Social Democratic Party of Germany(USPD). Later, he rejoined the Social Democratic Party.

Levi died in Berlin in 1930. He succumbed to injuries he suffered when he fell out of his window. The circumstances of his fall have not been clarified.

References

  1. Pierre Broué (1971) "The German Revolution 1917-1923'".
  2. Angelica Balabanoff (1968) "Impressions of Lenin pp. 111-112"
  3. Duncan Hallas (1985) "The Comintern"
  4. Pierre Broué (1971) "The German Revolution 1917-1923'".
  5. Leon Trotsky (1922) "Paul Levi and Some 'Lefts'". The First Five Years of the Communist International. Retrieved from May 20, 2007
  6. Pierre Broué (1971) "The German Revolution 1917-1923'".
  7. Vladimir Lenin (1921) "A Letter to the German Communists".
  8. Pierre Broué (1971) "The German Revolution 1917-1923'"
  9. Mike Jones (1985) "The Decline, Disorientation and Decomposition of a Leadership". 'Revolutionary History, Vol 2 No 3, Autumn 1989'.

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