A victorious debate
The 1920 Halle congress of the Independent Social Democrats of Germany (USPD) was a turning point for our movement. It was also a moment of triumph for Grigory Zinoviev. This is an excerpt from Ben Lewis’s introduction to a new book, ‘Zinoviev and Martov: head to head in Halle’
Between October 12 and 17 1920, the debates fought out at Halle shaped the entire future of the German workers’ movement. Two opposing motions were placed before the 392 mandated delegates. They dealt with two simple, yet profoundly controversial questions. Firstly, should the USPD affiliate to the Communist International, born in the aftermath of the Russian Revolution? Secondly, should the USPD fuse with the young Communist Party of Germany (Spartacus), or would this mean sacrificing its autonomy to an organisation that had just recently split away from it?
Read the rest at the Weekly Worker
Click here to order the book online (Paperback £14, Ebook £5)
One day I’ll order the book. And I like the new website lay out btw. But you may want to change the picture at the top of the article. It’s Gustave “Someone must become the bloodhound” Noske walking with rebelling sailors. The triumph of Zinoviev doesn’t coincide with Noskes betrayal ;)
Thomas,
Thanks for pointing this out. I still like the picture though! But you are right, of course. Halle was in many ways a victory against the Noskes/Scheidemanns of this world.
Hope you enjoy the book! Look forward to reading your thoughts.
wcg
Ben