Anti-Socialist Laws

“Sozialistengesetz” in German. A law passed by the Bismarck government of the German Empire with the support of a majority in the Reichstag on October 19, 1878, and entered into force on October 21, 1878, the full title of which was Gesetz gegen die gemeingefährlichen Bestrebungen der Sozialdemokratie (Law Against the Public Danger of Social-Democratic Endeavours). It was initially valid for three years, then extended four times, and on October 1, 1890, it was repealed.

There were 30 articles in this law, the purpose of which was to suppress the socialist and the workers’ movements. This law put the Social Democratic Party of Germany in an illegal position and all party organizations, workers’ mass organizations, socialist and workers’ publications were prohibited, socialist books and publication works were confiscated, and the social democrat activists were suppressed. The law stipulated: associations which aim at the overthrow of the existing political or social order through social democratic, socialistic, or communistic endeavors are to be prohibited. Their assemblies, activities, meetings, and processions shall be dissolved by the Police Authority, and printed matter of the social democrats shall be banned, gathering in the meeting places of the Social Democratic Party are prohibited; also a proclamation of “minor martial law” is declared in the cities or regions wherein public security is threatened; expulsion of persons who endanger public safety and public order from their places of residence; fines or prison sentences for those who participate in prohibited activities, so forth.

With the active assistance of Marx and Engels, the Social Democratic Party achieved to overcome those opportunist and ultra “Left” elements within its own ranks and correctly combined underground work with the use of legal opportunities during the period when the extraordinary anti-socialist law was prevalent, thus the Party could still greatly enhanced its influence among the masses.