Jewish Social Democratic Party
Encyclopedia
The Jewish Social Democratic Party (in Yiddish, Yidishe sotsial-demokratishe partey, , abbreviated ŻPS) was a political party
in Galicia and later also Bukovina
, established in a split from the Polish Social Democratic Party of Galicia
(PPSD) in 1905. The party made its first public appearance on May 1, 1905, with separate May Day
rallies in Kraków
, Lemberg, Tarnów
and Przemyśl
. However, as the new party stressed that it was not a competitor of the existing Social Democratic parties, they later joined the PPSD celebrations.
The Party, often nicknamed the 'Galician Bund', was influenced by the Bund
in Russia and was opposed to Zionism.
ŻPS held its founding congress in June 1905. The second congress was held in 1906.
Its founding theoretician and secretary was Henryk Grossman
. While the Party sought affiliation to the Social Democratic Workers Party of Austria
, this was refused. The ŻPS became the largest organisation of Jewish workers in Galicia.
In the initial period of the existence of the party, it publish a monthtly titled Der yudisher sotsial-demokrat. In October 1905 it was replaced by a weekly, Der sotsial-demokrat. As of 1910, Der sotsial-demokrat had a circulation of 2000.
In 1911 the Jewish Social Democracy in Galicia, the Jewish affiliate section of the PPSD, merged into the ŻPS. The Jewish Social Democracy in Galicia had 377 members at the time of the merger. The strength of the party reached its peak when the Bukovina Bundists
merged into the party the following year. The united party took the name Jewish Social Democratic Party in Galicia and Bukovina.
In 1913, several prominent leaders of the erstwhile Jewish Social Democracy began returning to the PPSD. More devastating for the ŻPS, though, was the outbreak of the First World War. Galicia and Bukovina became battlefield, and party activities ceased. The branch in Cracow was reconstructed in 1916, and in the fall of 1917 there was a conference of delegates from different local ŻPS branches. On 15, 1918 Der sotsial-demokrat reappeared.
In 1920, its organisation in Poland merged with the Polish Bund. In Bukovina, now part of Romania
, the remnants of the party continued to operate under the name 'Bund', and in 1922 they founded (along with Jewish socialists from Old Romania and Bessarabia
) the General Jewish Labour Bund in Romania
.
Except for its organization in Galicia and Bukovina, the party also had presence (at warying times) in Vienna
, New York
, Antwerp and Bielsk
.
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 Galicia and later also Bukovina
Bukovina
Bukovina is a historical region on the northern slopes of the northeastern Carpathian Mountains and the adjoining plains.-Name:The name Bukovina came into official use in 1775 with the region's annexation from the Principality of Moldavia to the possessions of the Habsburg Monarchy, which became...
, established in a split from the Polish Social Democratic Party of Galicia
Polish Social Democratic Party of Galicia
Polish Social Democratic Party of Galicia was a political party in Galicia. The party was formed in 1890 as the Galician territorial organization of the Social Democratic Workers Party of Austria. In 1892 it took the name Social Democratic Party of Galicia...
(PPSD) in 1905. The party made its first public appearance on May 1, 1905, with separate May Day
May Day
May Day on May 1 is an ancient northern hemisphere spring festival and usually a public holiday; it is also a traditional spring holiday in many cultures....
rallies in Kraków
Kraków
Kraków also Krakow, or Cracow , is the second largest and one of the oldest cities in Poland. Situated on the Vistula River in the Lesser Poland region, the city dates back to the 7th century. Kraków has traditionally been one of the leading centres of Polish academic, cultural, and artistic life...
, Lemberg, Tarnów
Tarnów
Tarnów is a city in southeastern Poland with 115,341 inhabitants as of June 2009. The city has been situated in the Lesser Poland Voivodeship since 1999, but from 1975 to 1998 it was the capital of the Tarnów Voivodeship. It is a major rail junction, located on the strategic east-west connection...
and Przemyśl
Przemysl
Przemyśl is a city in south-eastern Poland with 66,756 inhabitants, as of June 2009. In 1999, it became part of the Podkarpackie Voivodeship; it was previously the capital of Przemyśl Voivodeship....
. However, as the new party stressed that it was not a competitor of the existing Social Democratic parties, they later joined the PPSD celebrations.
The Party, often nicknamed the 'Galician Bund', was influenced by the Bund
Bund
- Organizations :* German American Bund, a pro-Nazi pre-World War II organisation* General Jewish Labour Bund in Lithuania, Poland and Russia, a political party founded in the Russian Empire* General Jewish Labour Bund in Poland, a political party founded in Poland...
in Russia and was opposed to Zionism.
ŻPS held its founding congress in June 1905. The second congress was held in 1906.
Its founding theoretician and secretary was Henryk Grossman
Henryk Grossman
Henryk Grossmanalternative spelling: Henryk Grossmann , was a Polish-German economist and historian of Jewish descent....
. While the Party sought affiliation to the Social Democratic Workers Party of Austria
SPO
- Technology :SPO: Microsoft SharePoint Online, Microsoft Cloud Computing, Office 365. See Microsoft Online Services-Economics:* Secondary Public Offering, an equity capital market instrument...
, this was refused. The ŻPS became the largest organisation of Jewish workers in Galicia.
In the initial period of the existence of the party, it publish a monthtly titled Der yudisher sotsial-demokrat. In October 1905 it was replaced by a weekly, Der sotsial-demokrat. As of 1910, Der sotsial-demokrat had a circulation of 2000.
In 1911 the Jewish Social Democracy in Galicia, the Jewish affiliate section of the PPSD, merged into the ŻPS. The Jewish Social Democracy in Galicia had 377 members at the time of the merger. The strength of the party reached its peak when the Bukovina Bundists
Bund (Bukovina)
The Jewish Social Democratic Association Bund was a Jewish socialist organization in Bukovina, named after the Russian General Jewish Labour Bund....
merged into the party the following year. The united party took the name Jewish Social Democratic Party in Galicia and Bukovina.
In 1913, several prominent leaders of the erstwhile Jewish Social Democracy began returning to the PPSD. More devastating for the ŻPS, though, was the outbreak of the First World War. Galicia and Bukovina became battlefield, and party activities ceased. The branch in Cracow was reconstructed in 1916, and in the fall of 1917 there was a conference of delegates from different local ŻPS branches. On 15, 1918 Der sotsial-demokrat reappeared.
In 1920, its organisation in Poland merged with the Polish Bund. In Bukovina, now part of Romania
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
, the remnants of the party continued to operate under the name 'Bund', and in 1922 they founded (along with Jewish socialists from Old Romania and Bessarabia
Bessarabia
Bessarabia is a historical term for the geographic region in Eastern Europe bounded by the Dniester River on the east and the Prut River on the west....
) the General Jewish Labour Bund in Romania
General Jewish Labour Bund in Romania
The General Jewish Labour Bund in Romania was a Jewish socialist party in Romania, adhering to the political line of the General Jewish Labour Bund. Founded in 1922, shortly after the establishment of Greater Romania, it united Jewish socialists in Bukovina, Bessarabia and the Romanian Old Kingdom...
.
Membership
The party had 2800 members in 1906, by 1908 the figure had risen to 3600 and by 1910 it claimed a membership of 4206. At the time, the party had 80 branches in 32 different localities. In 1911, after the merger with the Bukovina Bund, the party had 4500 members.Except for its organization in Galicia and Bukovina, the party also had presence (at warying times) in Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, Antwerp and Bielsk
Bielsk
Bielsk may refer to the following places:*Bielsk, Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship *Bielsk, Masovian Voivodeship *Bielsk Podlaski in Podlaskie Voivodeship...
.