Max Sievers
Encyclopedia
Max Sievers was chairman of the German Freethinkers League
, writer and active communist.
by 1919 among other things. In 1920, he joined the Communist Party of Germany (KPD)
even serving as a secretary of its headquarters when needed. However, he was strongly critical of the March Action (attempted Putsch) and as a result left the organization for the Kommunistische Arbeitsgemeinschaft, a group of communists who opposed the tactics of the KPD. However, the group began falling apart, and by 1927 Sievers had returned to the Communist party of Germany (KPD). During the post-Reichstag Fire
crackdown he was placed into "protective custody" and the party was thrown into disarray. Unlike most communist activists, Sievers was released a few months later and left for Belgium. He remained active and advocated bringing about a socialist government in the form of a Soviet Republic
to replace the Nazis.
articles, writing of the Reichskonkordat
as an alliance between the Nazi government and the clergy and promoting the idea they be replaced with a Soviet model. He wrote the book "Unser Kampf gegen das Dritte Reich" to outline many of his objections with the third reich.
, sentenced on 17 November 1943 to death by the Volksgerichtshof, with ironically a former Marxist, Roland Freisler
, presiding, for "conspiracy to commit high treason
along with favouring the enemy", and beheaded at the guillotine
on 17 January 1944 at Brandenburg Prison.
German Freethinkers League
The German Freethinkers League was an organisation founded in 1881 by the materialist philosopher, and physician Ludwig Büchner, to oppose the power of the state churches in Germany. Its aim was to provide a public meeting-ground and forum for materialist and atheist thinkers in Germany.By 1885...
, writer and active communist.
Politics
Max Sievers opposed the first world war and was an unwilling participant and suffered an arm injury in 1915. The experiences during the war led him to become politically active. He became a socialist, editing the Arbeiter-Rats and joining the Independent Social Democratic Party of Germany (USPD)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...
by 1919 among other things. In 1920, he joined the Communist Party of Germany (KPD)
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...
even serving as a secretary of its headquarters when needed. However, he was strongly critical of the March Action (attempted Putsch) and as a result left the organization for the Kommunistische Arbeitsgemeinschaft, a group of communists who opposed the tactics of the KPD. However, the group began falling apart, and by 1927 Sievers had returned to the Communist party of Germany (KPD). During the post-Reichstag Fire
Reichstag fire
The Reichstag fire was an arson attack on the Reichstag building in Berlin on 27 February 1933. The event is seen as pivotal in the establishment of Nazi Germany....
crackdown he was placed into "protective custody" and the party was thrown into disarray. Unlike most communist activists, Sievers was released a few months later and left for Belgium. He remained active and advocated bringing about a socialist government in the form of 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...
to replace the Nazis.
Freethought
In 1922 he became active in the organization, Union of Freethinkers for Cremation (VdFfF), gaining an administrative position. He started the freethought publication "Der Freidenker" in 1925. In 1927 he was elected as chairman of the German Freethinkers League. By 1930 the organization boasted 600,000 members and took on the new name. Sievers opposed the Nazi government in his freethoughtFreethought
Freethought is a philosophical viewpoint that holds that opinions should be formed on the basis of science, logic, and reason, and should not be influenced by authority, tradition, or other dogmas...
articles, writing of the Reichskonkordat
Reichskonkordat
The Reichskonkordat is a treaty that was agreed between the Holy See and Nazi government, that guarantees the rights of the Catholic Church in Germany. It was signed on July 20, 1933 by Secretary of State Eugenio Pacelli and Vice Chancellor Franz von Papen on behalf of Pope Pius XI and President...
as an alliance between the Nazi government and the clergy and promoting the idea they be replaced with a Soviet model. He wrote the book "Unser Kampf gegen das Dritte Reich" to outline many of his objections with the third reich.
Death
Max Sievers immigrated to the United States in 1939, but he could not get a visa, so he returned to Belgium. He was arrested on 3 June 1943 by the GestapoGestapo
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...
, sentenced on 17 November 1943 to death by the Volksgerichtshof, with ironically a former Marxist, Roland Freisler
Roland Freisler
Roland Freisler was a prominent and notorious Nazi lawyer and judge. He was State Secretary of the Reich Ministry of Justice and President of the People's Court , which was set up outside constitutional authority...
, presiding, for "conspiracy to commit high treason
High treason
High treason is criminal disloyalty to one's government. Participating in a war against one's native country, attempting to overthrow its government, spying on its military, its diplomats, or its secret services for a hostile and foreign power, or attempting to kill its head of state are perhaps...
along with favouring the enemy", and beheaded at the guillotine
Guillotine
The guillotine is a device used for carrying out :executions by decapitation. It consists of a tall upright frame from which an angled blade is suspended. This blade is raised with a rope and then allowed to drop, severing the head from the body...
on 17 January 1944 at Brandenburg Prison.