Karl Liebknecht was one of the founders and leaders of the Communist Party of Germany. From high tribunes and among ordinary people, he always steadfastly spoke out with his anti-war and anti-government position. Above all, Liebknecht put forward the ideas of social justice and peace between nations.
From the biography of Karl Liebknecht
The future prominent politician in Germany was born in the German city of Leipzig on August 13, 1871. His father was the famous Wilhelm Liebknecht, who at one time, together with August Bebel, created the Social Democratic Party of Germany. Liebknecht's mother left the family of a famous German lawyer.
Karl's father was very friendly with Marx and Engels. He named his son in honor of the leader of the communist movement. William often took Karl to meetings of workers. A boy from a young age became interested in Marxism.
Karl Liebknecht received a brilliant education. He studied law at the universities of Leipzig and Berlin. Over time, Karl began to appear in court on the side of the working class, defending the position of workers as a lawyer.
Karl Liebknecht was twice married. His first wife, Julia Paradise, died in surgery. From this marriage, Karl left two sons and a daughter. The second wife of Liebknecht was Russian Sofya Ryss. She was an art critic, taught at the University of Heidelberg.
Karl Liebknecht: the path of the revolutionary
In 1900, Liebknecht joined the ranks of the Social Democratic Party of his country. A few years later he successfully upheld the rights of his party comrades in court. They were charged with illegal transportation of literature prohibited by law to the country. He shamed the government of the country, which in every way oppressed the unwanted.
Liebknecht actively opposed compromising and reformist tactics, which the right wing of German social democracy adhered to. He devoted a lot of time to campaigning and sensitizing youth and anti-war propaganda. In 1904, Liebknecht delivered an incendiary speech at the Congress of Social Democrats in Bremen. He called militarism the foundation of the world capitalist system. The politician suggested creating a program of propaganda against the war.
Liebknecht with great enthusiasm accepted the revolution of 1905-1907 in Russia. He convinced his comrades-in-arms that a political strike should become the most popular method of working-class struggle in the struggle for their basic interests.
The revolutionary fire in Russia divided German Social Democracy into two irreconcilable camps. The left wing of the party was represented by Karl Liebknecht and Rosa Luxemburg. The vigorous activity of the proletarian leader irritated the authorities. Ultimately, he was accused of high treason and imprisoned for a year and a half in a fortress. While still in custody, Karl becomes a deputy of the Prussian chamber, and four years later he is elected as a deputy of the Reichstag.
In December 1914, Liebknecht at the meeting of the Reichstag voted against military loans. He was the only one among the deputies who did not approve the policy of his government. The authorities acted simply: the rapidly gaining popularity politician was drafted into the army and sent to the trenches. But here he did not stop the anti-war agitation and the struggle for peace.
