Creating German Communism, 1890-1990 Guide

After WWII, the Socialist Unity Party (SED) was formed in East Germany. Weitz argues that the intransigent, militaristic, and gendered political culture forged in the Weimar streets directly influenced the rigid governance of the GDR. Core Themes in German Communism

Industrial growth provided the Social Democratic Party (SPD) with a massive working-class base. Internal debates over whether to pursue gradual reform or violent revolution eventually led to the 1918 revolution and the founding of the Communist Party of Germany (KPD) by figures like Rosa Luxemburg. Creating German Communism, 1890-1990

German communism was shaped by a unique "political culture" that emerged from the harsh environments of Imperial and Weimar Germany. Key stages in this creation include: After WWII, the Socialist Unity Party (SED) was

Under Nazi rule, the KPD was suppressed, with members fragmented into resistance groups, prison camps, or exile in the Soviet Union. Internal debates over whether to pursue gradual reform