Eugen Levine
Encyclopedia
Eugen Leviné was a Communist
, revolutionary and leader of the short lived Bavarian Soviet Republic
.
. In 1905, he returned to Russia to participate in the failed revolution
against the Tsar
. For his actions, he was exiled to Siberia
. He would eventually escape to Germany and began studying at Heidelberg University and in 1915, married Rose Levine, daughter of a rabbi in the Polish town of Grodek
. They had at least one child (a son, whom they named Eugen). For a short time, he served in the Imperial German Army during World War I
.
and helped create of a socialist republic in Bavaria. However, this republic lasted a few months, replaced quickly by a soviet republic
after the assassination of Kurt Eisner
, who was then leader of the Independent Social Democratic Party of Germany
(USPD).
The ruling government of the new republic did not last very long, due to poor leadership under German playwright Ernst Toller
: six days. Eugen Leviné rose to power as the Communists assumed control of the government.
Leviné attempted to pass many reforms, such as giving the more luxurious apartments to the homeless and giving workers control and ownership of factories. He also planned reforms for the education system and to abolish paper money
, neither of which he ever completed.
Under orders from Leviné, the Red Guards began rounding up people they considered to be hostile to the new regime, as hostages against imminent outside attack. As German president Friedrich Ebert
ordered to subdue the Soviet Republic and reinstate the Bavarian government under Johannes Hoffmann
, the Red Guards executed eight hostages on 29 April 1919.
The German Army
, assisted by Freikorps
, with a force of roughly 39,000 men, invaded and quickly conquered Munich on May 3 1919. In retaliation for execution of the hostages, the Freikorps captured and executed some 700 men and women. Leviné himself was arrested, found guilty as part of those executions, and was shot by firing squad in Stadelheim Prison
.
cited Leviné as one of three men who inspired him. (The other two were Felix Dzerzhinsky, head of the Soviet Cheka
, and Sazonov, a member of the SR
's Terrorist Brigade.) Chambers wrote,
Communism
Communism is a social, political and economic ideology that aims at the establishment of a classless, moneyless, revolutionary and stateless socialist society structured upon common ownership of the means of production...
, revolutionary and leader of the short lived Bavarian Soviet Republic
Bavarian Soviet Republic
The Bavarian Soviet Republic, also known as the Munich Soviet Republic was, as part of the German Revolution of 1918–1919, the short-lived attempt to establish a socialist state in form of a council republic in the Free State of Bavaria. It sought independence from the also recently proclaimed...
.
Background
Leviné was born in St. Petersburg, to Jewish parents, and educated in GermanyGermany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
. In 1905, he returned to Russia to participate in the failed revolution
Russian Revolution of 1905
The 1905 Russian Revolution was a wave of mass political and social unrest that spread through vast areas of the Russian Empire. Some of it was directed against the government, while some was undirected. It included worker strikes, peasant unrest, and military mutinies...
against the Tsar
Tsar
Tsar is a title used to designate certain European Slavic monarchs or supreme rulers. As a system of government in the Tsardom of Russia and Russian Empire, it is known as Tsarist autocracy, or Tsarism...
. For his actions, he was exiled to Siberia
Siberia
Siberia is an extensive region constituting almost all of Northern Asia. Comprising the central and eastern portion of the Russian Federation, it was part of the Soviet Union from its beginning, as its predecessor states, the Tsardom of Russia and the Russian Empire, conquered it during the 16th...
. He would eventually escape to Germany and began studying at Heidelberg University and in 1915, married Rose Levine, daughter of a rabbi in the Polish town of Grodek
Gródek
Gródek may refer to the following places:* Gródek, Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship * Gródek, Lesser Poland Voivodeship * Gródek, Lower Silesian Voivodeship...
. They had at least one child (a son, whom they named Eugen). For a short time, he served in the Imperial German Army during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
.
Bavarian Soviet Republic
After the war ended, Leviné joined the Communist Party of GermanyCommunist 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...
and helped create of a socialist republic in Bavaria. However, this republic lasted a few months, replaced quickly by a soviet republic
Soviet republic (system of government)
A Soviet Republic is a system of government in which the whole state power belongs to the Soviets . Although the term is usually associated with communist states, it was not initially intended to represent only one political force, but merely a form of democracy and representation.In the classic...
after the assassination of Kurt Eisner
Kurt Eisner
Kurt Eisner was a Bavarian politician and journalist. As a German socialist journalist and statesman, he organized the Socialist Revolution that overthrew the Wittelsbach monarchy in Bavaria in November 1918....
, who was then leader of the Independent Social Democratic Party of Germany
Independent Social Democratic Party of Germany
The Independent Social Democratic Party of Germany was a short-lived political party in Germany during the Second Reich and the Weimar Republic. The organization was established in 1917 as the result of a split of left wing members of the Social Democratic Party of Germany...
(USPD).
The ruling government of the new republic did not last very long, due to poor leadership under German playwright Ernst Toller
Ernst Toller
Ernst Toller was a left-wing German playwright, best known for his Expressionist plays and serving as President of the short-lived Bavarian Soviet Republic, for six days.- Biography :...
: six days. Eugen Leviné rose to power as the Communists assumed control of the government.
Leviné attempted to pass many reforms, such as giving the more luxurious apartments to the homeless and giving workers control and ownership of factories. He also planned reforms for the education system and to abolish paper money
Banknote
A banknote is a kind of negotiable instrument, a promissory note made by a bank payable to the bearer on demand, used as money, and in many jurisdictions is legal tender. In addition to coins, banknotes make up the cash or bearer forms of all modern fiat money...
, neither of which he ever completed.
Under orders from Leviné, the Red Guards began rounding up people they considered to be hostile to the new regime, as hostages against imminent outside attack. As German president Friedrich Ebert
Friedrich Ebert
Friedrich Ebert was a German politician of the Social Democratic Party of Germany .When Ebert was elected as the leader of the SPD after the death of August Bebel, the party members of the SPD were deeply divided because of the party's support for World War I. Ebert supported the Burgfrieden and...
ordered to subdue the Soviet Republic and reinstate the Bavarian government under Johannes Hoffmann
Johannes Hoffmann
Johannes Hoffmann was a Bavarian Minister-President and member of the SPD.-Life:Born in Ilbesheim, near Landau, his parents were Peter Hoffmann and Maria Eva Keller...
, the Red Guards executed eight hostages on 29 April 1919.
The German Army
Reichswehr
The Reichswehr formed the military organisation of Germany from 1919 until 1935, when it was renamed the Wehrmacht ....
, assisted by Freikorps
Freikorps
Freikorps are German volunteer military or paramilitary units. The term was originally applied to voluntary armies formed in German lands from the middle of the 18th century onwards. Between World War I and World War II the term was also used for the paramilitary organizations that arose during...
, with a force of roughly 39,000 men, invaded and quickly conquered Munich on May 3 1919. In retaliation for execution of the hostages, the Freikorps captured and executed some 700 men and women. Leviné himself was arrested, found guilty as part of those executions, and was shot by firing squad in Stadelheim Prison
Stadelheim Prison
Stadelheim Prison, in Munich's Giesing district, is one of the largest prisons in Germany.Founded in 1894 it was the site of many executions, particularly by guillotine during the Nazi period.-Notable inmates:...
.
Influence
The American Soviet agent Whittaker ChambersWhittaker Chambers
Whittaker Chambers was born Jay Vivian Chambers and also known as David Whittaker Chambers , was an American writer and editor. After being a Communist Party USA member and Soviet spy, he later renounced communism and became an outspoken opponent later testifying in the perjury and espionage trial...
cited Leviné as one of three men who inspired him. (The other two were Felix Dzerzhinsky, head of the Soviet Cheka
Cheka
Cheka was the first of a succession of Soviet state security organizations. It was created by a decree issued on December 20, 1917, by Vladimir Lenin and subsequently led by aristocrat-turned-communist Felix Dzerzhinsky...
, and Sazonov, a member of the SR
Socialist-Revolutionary Party
thumb|right|200px|Socialist-Revolutionary election poster, 1917. The caption in red reads "партия соц-рев" , short for Party of the Socialist Revolutionaries...
's Terrorist Brigade.) Chambers wrote,
During the Bavarian Soviet Republic in 1919, Levine was the organizer of the Workers and Soldiers Soviets. When the Bavarian Soviet Republic was crushed, Levine was captured and courtmartialed. The court-martial told him: "You are under sentence of death." Levine answered: "We Communists are always under sentence of death."
See also
- Bavarian Socialist Republic
- Kurt EisnerKurt EisnerKurt Eisner was a Bavarian politician and journalist. As a German socialist journalist and statesman, he organized the Socialist Revolution that overthrew the Wittelsbach monarchy in Bavaria in November 1918....
- Friedrich EbertFriedrich EbertFriedrich Ebert was a German politician of the Social Democratic Party of Germany .When Ebert was elected as the leader of the SPD after the death of August Bebel, the party members of the SPD were deeply divided because of the party's support for World War I. Ebert supported the Burgfrieden and...
- Ernst TollerErnst TollerErnst Toller was a left-wing German playwright, best known for his Expressionist plays and serving as President of the short-lived Bavarian Soviet Republic, for six days.- Biography :...