German Socialist Labour Party in Poland – Left
Encyclopedia
The German Socialist Labour Party in Poland – Left was a political party
in Poland
. The party was founded on October 3, 1930, as a leftist
split from the German Socialist Labour Party in Poland (DSAP) in Łódź.
Most of the members of the North Łódź party branch of DSAP (Ortsgruppe Lodz-Nord) joined DSAP–Linke in the split. The DSAP–Linke also attracted some recruits from Ortsgruppe Lodz-Chojny of the erstwhile DSAP. Some other DSAP–Linke members were recruited amongst German and Jewish workers in Stryków
, Brzeziny
and Tomaszów
. However, the total membership of DSAP–Linke didn't exceed 200.
DSAP–Linke was led by Heinrich Scheibler, who had been the chairman of the Lodz-Nord party branch of DSAP and who in 1930 had become member of the DSAP Party Council. Schlieber had advocated that DSAP should seek cooperation with other leftwing parties, for unity between socialists and communists in struggle against reaction
. Other founding members of DSAP–Linke were Johann Rückert, Oskar Fiebig, Adolf Jedich, and Joseph Dillner.
After the split, the relations between DSAP–Linke and the mother-party DSAP (or DSAP–Rechts, i.e. 'DSAP–Right', as DSAP–Linke branded the party) were antagonistic. DSAP–Linke characterized DSAP and the Polish Socialist Party
(PPS) as 'social fascists
', arguing that the leaderships of those two parties were laying the foundations for fascism
in Poland
. The DSAP press organs, on their behalf, began using the spelling 'Szajbel' for Scheibler's name, thus insinuating that he was Jewish (Scheibler wasn't of Jewish origin, but had married a Jewish woman).
The peak of activity of DSAP–Linke coincided with the 1930 October-November campaign ahead of the parliamentary election
. DSAP–Linke contested the election in coalition with the Polish Socialist Party – Left, running on joint lists titled PPS–Lewica (List 23). The bloc propagated the formation of a Workers-Peasants government and self-rule for national minorities, political stands that attracted sharp attacks from the Sanacja
government and the Centrolew
opposition coalition (in which the DSAP participated). The Polish government classified the DSAP–Linke as 'crypto-communist'. The list on which Scheibler was the number 2 candidate was declared invalid by the Polish government.
On January 5, 1931 DSAP–Linke organized an assembly in Łódź. The political police, assisted by uniformed policemen, arrested all participants and party materials were seized. 46 participants were accused of anti-state activities. In October 1931, a legal case against twenty-two party cadres accused of connections with the Soviet Union
, was opened. Scheibler was threatened with two years imprisonment, but on March 23, 1932 he was found 'not guilty'.
After a short existence, DSAP–Linke became defunct. Already after the 1930 election, the view inside the party was that the party was lacking prospects for the future. Sometime around 1932 Scheibler joined the Communist Party of Poland
(KPP). Most members of the political activist core of DSAP–Linke also joined KPP. Some former DSAP–Linke members rejoined DSAP.
Political party
A political party is a political organization that typically seeks to influence government policy, usually by nominating their own candidates and trying to seat them in political office. Parties participate in electoral campaigns, educational outreach or protest actions...
in Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
. The party was founded on October 3, 1930, as a leftist
Left-wing politics
In politics, Left, left-wing and leftist generally refer to support for social change to create a more egalitarian society...
split from the German Socialist Labour Party in Poland (DSAP) in Łódź.
Most of the members of the North Łódź party branch of DSAP (Ortsgruppe Lodz-Nord) joined DSAP–Linke in the split. The DSAP–Linke also attracted some recruits from Ortsgruppe Lodz-Chojny of the erstwhile DSAP. Some other DSAP–Linke members were recruited amongst German and Jewish workers in Stryków
Stryków
Stryków is a town in central Poland, in Łódź Voivodeship, in Zgierz County. It has 3,602 inhabitants .-Early history:The first mention of Strykow was in 1387. Strykow was a village situated on the route from Zgierz to Lowicz. Strykow received city rights in 1394 from King Wladyslaw Jagiello, at...
, Brzeziny
Brzeziny
Brzeziny is a town in Poland, in Łódź Voivodeship, about 20 km east of Łódź. It is the capital of Brzeziny County. Population is 12,417 .- History :...
and Tomaszów
Tomaszów
Tomaszów may refer to the following places in Poland:* Tomaszów Lubelski, a town in Lublin Voivodeship* Tomaszów Mazowiecki, a town in Łódź Voivodeship*Tomaszów, Lublin Voivodeship *Tomaszów, Opoczno County in Łódź Voivodeship...
. However, the total membership of DSAP–Linke didn't exceed 200.
DSAP–Linke was led by Heinrich Scheibler, who had been the chairman of the Lodz-Nord party branch of DSAP and who in 1930 had become member of the DSAP Party Council. Schlieber had advocated that DSAP should seek cooperation with other leftwing parties, for unity between socialists and communists in struggle against reaction
Reactionary
The term reactionary refers to viewpoints that seek to return to a previous state in a society. The term is meant to describe one end of a political spectrum whose opposite pole is "radical". While it has not been generally considered a term of praise it has been adopted as a self-description by...
. Other founding members of DSAP–Linke were Johann Rückert, Oskar Fiebig, Adolf Jedich, and Joseph Dillner.
After the split, the relations between DSAP–Linke and the mother-party DSAP (or DSAP–Rechts, i.e. 'DSAP–Right', as DSAP–Linke branded the party) were antagonistic. DSAP–Linke characterized DSAP and the Polish Socialist Party
Polish Socialist Party
The Polish Socialist Party was one of the most important Polish left-wing political parties from its inception in 1892 until 1948...
(PPS) as 'social fascists
Social fascism
Social fascism was a theory supported by the Communist International during the early 1930s, which believed that social democracy was a variant of fascism because, in addition to a shared corporatist economic model, it stood in the way of a complete and final transition to communism...
', arguing that the leaderships of those two parties were laying the foundations for fascism
Fascism
Fascism is a radical authoritarian nationalist political ideology. Fascists seek to rejuvenate their nation based on commitment to the national community as an organic entity, in which individuals are bound together in national identity by suprapersonal connections of ancestry, culture, and blood...
in Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
. The DSAP press organs, on their behalf, began using the spelling 'Szajbel' for Scheibler's name, thus insinuating that he was Jewish (Scheibler wasn't of Jewish origin, but had married a Jewish woman).
The peak of activity of DSAP–Linke coincided with the 1930 October-November campaign ahead of the parliamentary election
Polish legislative election, 1930
Polish legislative election, 1930, also known as the Brest elections , were the elections to the Sejm on 16 November 1930. The pro-Sanacja Bezpartyjny Blok Współpracy z Rządem party took 56% of the votes...
. DSAP–Linke contested the election in coalition with the Polish Socialist Party – Left, running on joint lists titled PPS–Lewica (List 23). The bloc propagated the formation of a Workers-Peasants government and self-rule for national minorities, political stands that attracted sharp attacks from the Sanacja
Sanacja
Sanation was a Polish political movement that came to power after Józef Piłsudski's May 1926 Coup d'État. Sanation took its name from his watchword—the moral "sanation" of the Polish body politic...
government and the Centrolew
Centrolew
The Centrolew was a coalition of several Polish political parties after the 1928 Sejm elections...
opposition coalition (in which the DSAP participated). The Polish government classified the DSAP–Linke as 'crypto-communist'. The list on which Scheibler was the number 2 candidate was declared invalid by the Polish government.
On January 5, 1931 DSAP–Linke organized an assembly in Łódź. The political police, assisted by uniformed policemen, arrested all participants and party materials were seized. 46 participants were accused of anti-state activities. In October 1931, a legal case against twenty-two party cadres accused of connections with the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
, was opened. Scheibler was threatened with two years imprisonment, but on March 23, 1932 he was found 'not guilty'.
After a short existence, DSAP–Linke became defunct. Already after the 1930 election, the view inside the party was that the party was lacking prospects for the future. Sometime around 1932 Scheibler joined the Communist Party of Poland
Communist Party of Poland
The Communist Party of Poland is a historical communist party in Poland. It was a result of the fusion of Social Democracy of the Kingdom of Poland and Lithuania and the Polish Socialist Party-Left in the Communist Workers Party of Poland .-1918-1921:The KPRP was founded on 16 December 1918 as...
(KPP). Most members of the political activist core of DSAP–Linke also joined KPP. Some former DSAP–Linke members rejoined DSAP.