Karl Schröder (KAPD)
Encyclopedia
Karl Schröder was a communist politician and writer.
where he studied philosophy
, literature
, history
and art history. He gained his doctorate with a dissertation on art history. He then worked as a private tutor. By 1913 he was a member of the Social Democratic Party of Germany
(SPD) and in 1914 became a research assistant at the SPD Zentralbildungsausschuss for workers' education. During this period, he became friends with Franz Mehring
and developed his connection to the labor movement.
After participating in the First World War, Karl Schroeder joined the Spartacus League in 1918, and shortly afterwards was appointed editor of Rote Fahn (Red Flag), the central organ of the Communist Party
(KPD). In 1919 he was expelled from the KPD along with the majority of the party who went on to form the Communist Workers Party of Germany
(KAPD). Alongside Alexander Schwab, he rose to become a leading member of the KAPD and the editor of the Arbeiter-Zeitung (Workers newspaper). He travelled to Moscow
where he met Lenin, Trotsky and Bukharin. After supporting the KAPD's membership of the Comintern, Schröder was advocate of the exclusion of minorities. After the Third Congress of the Comintern (June 22-July 12, 1921), he distanced himself from the Comintern and was expelled from the KAPD in 1922 as leader of the Essen Tendency.
After the attempt to develop the KAPD in Essen
failed, Schröder returned to the SPD at the instigation of Paul Levi
back to the SPD. In subsequent years, he became a novelist, editor and publisher active in the social democratic workers' education service. He was also active in the Sozialistische Arbeiter-Jugend (SAJ). As Schröder retained his left-wing approach, and sought to gain support for these in the SAJ and SPD,this has been regarded as entryism
.
In 1928 with support from Frederick Wendel Karl Schröder became head of Circle Books, a Berlin book club. He held this position until 1932. (Both knew each other from the Berlin group of KAPD.) Also in 1928, together with Alexander Schwab, he began to organise the Council Communist Rote Kämpfer (Red Fighters). After the Nazi seizure of power, Schroeder worked as a bookseller in Berlin. The Gestapo
penetrated the Rote Kämpfer in 1936, and arrested Schroeder. The following year he was sentenced to four years in prison and then detained in several concentration camps. In Börgermoor he met up with his longtime collaborator Alexander Schwab.
In 1945 he was close to death, but he recovered again. He worked for the reconstruction of the Berlin school system and adult education. At the same time he tried to reorganise in former members of the Rote Kämpfer in West Berlin. In 1948 he joined the SED, which his associates claim was tactically motivated, to gain a lecturing position.
Life
Karl Schröder was the son of a teacher. He went to BerlinBerlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
where he studied philosophy
Philosophy
Philosophy is the study of general and fundamental problems, such as those connected with existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. Philosophy is distinguished from other ways of addressing such problems by its critical, generally systematic approach and its reliance on rational...
, literature
Literature
Literature is the art of written works, and is not bound to published sources...
, history
History
History is the discovery, collection, organization, and presentation of information about past events. History can also mean the period of time after writing was invented. Scholars who write about history are called historians...
and art history. He gained his doctorate with a dissertation on art history. He then worked as a private tutor. By 1913 he was a member of the Social Democratic Party of Germany
Social Democratic Party of Germany
The Social Democratic Party of Germany is a social-democratic political party in Germany...
(SPD) and in 1914 became a research assistant at the SPD Zentralbildungsausschuss for workers' education. During this period, he became friends with Franz Mehring
Franz Mehring
Franz Erdmann Mehring , was a German publicist, politician and historian.-Early years:Franz Mehring was born 27 February 1846 in Schlawe, Pomerania, the son of a bourgeois family.-Political career:...
and developed his connection to the labor movement.
After participating in the First World War, Karl Schroeder joined the Spartacus League in 1918, and shortly afterwards was appointed editor of Rote Fahn (Red Flag), the central organ of the Communist Party
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...
(KPD). In 1919 he was expelled from the KPD along with the majority of the party who went on to form the Communist Workers Party of Germany
Communist Workers Party of Germany
The Communist Workers Party of Germany was an anti-parliamentarian and council communist party that was active in Germany during the time of the Weimar Republic. It was founded in April 1920 in Heidelberg as a split from the Communist Party of Germany...
(KAPD). Alongside Alexander Schwab, he rose to become a leading member of the KAPD and the editor of the Arbeiter-Zeitung (Workers newspaper). He travelled to Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
where he met Lenin, Trotsky and Bukharin. After supporting the KAPD's membership of the Comintern, Schröder was advocate of the exclusion of minorities. After the Third Congress of the Comintern (June 22-July 12, 1921), he distanced himself from the Comintern and was expelled from the KAPD in 1922 as leader of the Essen Tendency.
After the attempt to develop the KAPD in Essen
Essen
- Origin of the name :In German-speaking countries, the name of the city Essen often causes confusion as to its origins, because it is commonly known as the German infinitive of the verb for the act of eating, and/or the German noun for food. Although scholars still dispute the interpretation of...
failed, Schröder returned to the SPD at the instigation of Paul Levi
Paul Levi
Paul Levi was a German Jewish Communist political leader. He was the head of the Communist Party of Germany following the assassination of Rosa Luxemburg and Karl Liebknecht in 1919.-Early years:...
back to the SPD. In subsequent years, he became a novelist, editor and publisher active in the social democratic workers' education service. He was also active in the Sozialistische Arbeiter-Jugend (SAJ). As Schröder retained his left-wing approach, and sought to gain support for these in the SAJ and SPD,this has been regarded as entryism
Entryism
Entryism is a political tactic by which an organisation or state encourages its members or agents to infiltrate another organisation in an attempt to gain recruits, or take over entirely...
.
In 1928 with support from Frederick Wendel Karl Schröder became head of Circle Books, a Berlin book club. He held this position until 1932. (Both knew each other from the Berlin group of KAPD.) Also in 1928, together with Alexander Schwab, he began to organise the Council Communist Rote Kämpfer (Red Fighters). After the Nazi seizure of power, Schroeder worked as a bookseller in Berlin. The Gestapo
Gestapo
The Gestapo was the official secret police of Nazi Germany. Beginning on 20 April 1934, it was under the administration of the SS leader Heinrich Himmler in his position as Chief of German Police...
penetrated the Rote Kämpfer in 1936, and arrested Schroeder. The following year he was sentenced to four years in prison and then detained in several concentration camps. In Börgermoor he met up with his longtime collaborator Alexander Schwab.
In 1945 he was close to death, but he recovered again. He worked for the reconstruction of the Berlin school system and adult education. At the same time he tried to reorganise in former members of the Rote Kämpfer in West Berlin. In 1948 he joined the SED, which his associates claim was tactically motivated, to gain a lecturing position.