Spartakusbund

The Spartakusbund, or Spartacus League, was a Marxist revolutionary organization founded in Germany during World War I. Initially a faction within the Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD), the Spartakusbund emerged due to fundamental disagreements over the party's support for the war effort. Led by figures like Karl Liebknecht, Rosa Luxemburg, and Clara Zetkin, the group strongly opposed the SPD's " Burgfrieden" (political truce) and advocated for an immediate end to the war and a socialist revolution.

The Spartakusbund published propaganda and organized strikes, calling for the overthrow of the capitalist system and the establishment of a workers' and soldiers' council republic. Their activities were clandestine for much of the war due to government censorship and repression, with key leaders imprisoned for their anti-war stance. Following Germany's defeat in 1918 and the collapse of the monarchy, the Spartakusbund became a more public force.

In January 1919, the Spartakusbund, alongside other revolutionary groups, initiated the Spartacist Uprising in Berlin. This uprising aimed to seize power and establish a Soviet-style republic. However, the revolt was brutally suppressed by the Freikorps, paramilitary units composed of demobilized soldiers, with the support of the SPD government. Both Karl Liebknecht and Rosa Luxemburg were captured and murdered by the Freikorps. Despite its ultimate failure, the Spartakusbund's actions represented a significant attempt at a communist revolution in Germany and left a lasting impact on the country's political landscape. After the suppression of the uprising, the Spartakusbund transformed into the Communist Party of Germany (KPD).