Union of German Socialist Organisations in Great Britain
Encyclopedia
The Union of German Socialist Organisations in Great Britain (German: Union deutscher sozialistischer Organisation in Großbritannien) was the amalgamation of German socialist and social democratic oriented organizations of exile
d Germans during World War II
.
, the exile organization of the Social Democratic Party
, the Socialist Workers' Party
, the Internationaler Sozialistischer Kampfbund
and the Resistance group, Neu Beginnen
. In addition, there was a representative of trade unions.
Political statements were drawn up, jointly, when possible, and each member party had the right to veto. The goal was to fight against the Hitler
regime together, while maintaining the independence of the individual organizations. The parties did not merge into one because of the very different positions held by the different exile groups. They preferred deferring that decision till later, so it could be made by all the socialists in Germany. The Union was not to serve as a contact for other organizations, unions, the authorities or the Labour Party
, but this was partly because of distance some felt toward the cooperative organization. In addition, there were many internal conflicts. Nonetheless, the effort was made to get past the years of conflict during the Weimar era
and the central points of the postwar development from the social democratic position were laid out. These included first of all, to overcome the divisions of the Weimar Republic and the individual organizations began to modify some of their previous positions.
The chairman of the executive committee was Hans Vogel
, chairman of Sopade. In addition to various political topics, two program committees developed concepts. Erich Ollenhauer
(Sopade) and Wilhelm Heidorn (ISK) led the political committee. Erwin Schoettle (Sopade, Neu Beginnen) and other members led an organization committee. Each built an important basis for the new organization of the SPD in the western occupation zones. Other significant members of the Union were Willi Eichler
(ISK), Gerhard Gleißberg (Sopade), Richard Löwenthal
(Neu Beginnen), Waldemar von Knoeringen (Sopade, Neu Beginnen) and the trade union
ist Hans Gottfurcht.
An ideology began to emerge, suppressing Marxism
in favor of pluralism; and rejecting the concept of a Workers' Party
, in favor of a Volkspartei, a "People's Party", attractive to all classes of society. In addition, working in cooperation with the Communist Party of Germany
was decisively rejected.
After the end of World War II
, a large number of the members returned to Germany and the Union lost its impetus. The Union continued its work for a while, led by Wilhelm Sander
. The exiled Sopade, Neu Beginnen, SAP and ISK dissolved on December 2, 1945 and on December 15, 1945, formed a new organization, the Vereinigung deutscher Sozialdemokraten in Großbritannien" (The Society of German Social Democrats in Great Britain"). On December 8, 1945, the London proxy of the SPD was established and three weeks later, on December 29, 1945, there was the first election of the Vereinigung.
Exile
Exile means to be away from one's home , while either being explicitly refused permission to return and/or being threatened with imprisonment or death upon return...
d Germans during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
Background and political positions
The Union was founded on March 6, 1941 after an earlier attempt at a cooperative organization of exiled German socialists representing the various exiled parties failed. The member organizations of the Union were the SopadeSopade
Sopade was the name of the exile organization of the Social Democratic Party of Germany . It operated in Prague from 1933 to 1938, from 1938 to 1940 in Paris and until 1945 in London....
, the exile organization of the Social Democratic Party
Social Democratic Party of Germany
The Social Democratic Party of Germany is a social-democratic political party in Germany...
, the Socialist Workers' Party
Socialist Workers' Party of Germany
The Socialist Workers' Party of Germany was a political party in Germany. It was formed by a left-wing party with around 20,000 members which split off from the SPD in the autumn of 1931. In 1931 the remnants of USPD merged into the party, and in 1932 some Communist Party dissenters joined the...
, the Internationaler Sozialistischer Kampfbund
Internationaler Sozialistischer Kampfbund
The Internationaler Sozialistischer Kampfbund was a socialist split-off from the SPD during the Weimar Republic and was active in the German Resistance against Nazism.- History :...
and the Resistance group, Neu Beginnen
Neu Beginnen
Neu Beginnen was a fringe opposition group on the socialist wing of SPD, which was greatly influenced by the ideas of Lenin. It was formed in 1929. After the Machtübernahme in 1933, the members of the small group discussed what the future of Germany should be after the National Socialist movement...
. In addition, there was a representative of trade unions.
Political statements were drawn up, jointly, when possible, and each member party had the right to veto. The goal was to fight against the Hitler
Adolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler was an Austrian-born German politician and the leader of the National Socialist German Workers Party , commonly referred to as the Nazi Party). He was Chancellor of Germany from 1933 to 1945, and head of state from 1934 to 1945...
regime together, while maintaining the independence of the individual organizations. The parties did not merge into one because of the very different positions held by the different exile groups. They preferred deferring that decision till later, so it could be made by all the socialists in Germany. The Union was not to serve as a contact for other organizations, unions, the authorities or the Labour Party
Labour Party (UK)
The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after...
, but this was partly because of distance some felt toward the cooperative organization. In addition, there were many internal conflicts. Nonetheless, the effort was made to get past the years of conflict during the Weimar era
Weimar Republic
The Weimar Republic is the name given by historians to the parliamentary republic established in 1919 in Germany to replace the imperial form of government...
and the central points of the postwar development from the social democratic position were laid out. These included first of all, to overcome the divisions of the Weimar Republic and the individual organizations began to modify some of their previous positions.
The chairman of the executive committee was Hans Vogel
Hans Vogel
Hans Vogel was a German politician and chairman of the Social Democratic Party of Germany along with Arthur Crispien and Otto Wels from 1931 to 1933...
, chairman of Sopade. In addition to various political topics, two program committees developed concepts. Erich Ollenhauer
Erich Ollenhauer
Erich Ollenhauer was the leader of the Social Democratic Party of Germany 1952-1963.- Early political career and exile :...
(Sopade) and Wilhelm Heidorn (ISK) led the political committee. Erwin Schoettle (Sopade, Neu Beginnen) and other members led an organization committee. Each built an important basis for the new organization of the SPD in the western occupation zones. Other significant members of the Union were Willi Eichler
Willi Eichler
Willi Eichler was a German journalist and politician with the Social Democratic Party of Germany .-Before 1945:Eichler was born in Berlin, the son of a postal worker. He attended Volksschule and then became a clerk...
(ISK), Gerhard Gleißberg (Sopade), Richard Löwenthal
Richard Löwenthal
Richard Löwenthal was a Jewish German journalist and professor who wrote mostly on the problems of democracy, communism, and world politics.- Life :...
(Neu Beginnen), Waldemar von Knoeringen (Sopade, Neu Beginnen) and the trade union
Trade union
A trade union, trades union or labor union is an organization of workers that have banded together to achieve common goals such as better working conditions. The trade union, through its leadership, bargains with the employer on behalf of union members and negotiates labour contracts with...
ist Hans Gottfurcht.
An ideology began to emerge, suppressing Marxism
Marxism
Marxism is an economic and sociopolitical worldview and method of socioeconomic inquiry that centers upon a materialist interpretation of history, a dialectical view of social change, and an analysis and critique of the development of capitalism. Marxism was pioneered in the early to mid 19th...
in favor of pluralism; and rejecting the concept of a Workers' Party
Workers' Party
Workers' Party is a name used by a number of political parties throughout the world. While the name has been used by both left-wing and right-wing organizations, it is currently used by left-wing followers of Communism, Maoism, Marxism, Marxism-Leninism, Social Democracy, Socialism and...
, in favor of a Volkspartei, a "People's Party", attractive to all classes of society. In addition, working in cooperation with the Communist Party of Germany
Communist Party of Germany
The Communist Party of Germany was a major political party in Germany between 1918 and 1933, and a minor party in West Germany in the postwar period until it was banned in 1956...
was decisively rejected.
After the end of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, a large number of the members returned to Germany and the Union lost its impetus. The Union continued its work for a while, led by Wilhelm Sander
Wilhelm Sander
Wilhelm Sander was a master architect and contractor working for Sander & Kock known for his work in German South-West Africa, today's Namibia....
. The exiled Sopade, Neu Beginnen, SAP and ISK dissolved on December 2, 1945 and on December 15, 1945, formed a new organization, the Vereinigung deutscher Sozialdemokraten in Großbritannien" (The Society of German Social Democrats in Great Britain"). On December 8, 1945, the London proxy of the SPD was established and three weeks later, on December 29, 1945, there was the first election of the Vereinigung.