The Eisenachers

Social Democratic Workers’ Party of Germany. Founded in August 1869 in the city of Eisenach. In May 1875, it merged with the General German Workers’ Association led by the Lassalleans to form the Socialist Workers’ Party of Germany.

In October 1890, the Socialist Workers’ Party of Germany decided to change its name to “Social Democratic Party of Germany” at the Halle Congress. After World War I, it was transformed into a bourgeois party.

The main leaders of this Party in the early period (1869–1875) were Bebel and Liebknecht among others. In its early period, its programme was basically formulated in accordance with the principles of Marxism although it had some flaws in ideology. Its programme pointed out that the working class must resolutely oppose the existing political and social system and fight for political freedom and the elimination of capitalist mode of production and class rule. The resolution declared that the party would participate in and support the First International and carry forward the Paris Commune spirit; it also advocated the establishment of a unified Germany by relying on the struggle of the working class and the people and follow the bottom-up revolutionary struggle path; the resolution upheld the standpoint of proletarian internationalism, opposed the war between the Prussian and French Dynasties, also opposed the invasion and plunder of France by the Prussian army; it organized the masses for political and economic struggle at home; and its organization was determined to be based on democratic centralism, and it had a certain degree of prestige among the masses. After the merger with the General German Workers’ Association, the workers' movement gained strength, but the lack of adherence to the principles of Marxist at the time of the merger led to the proliferation of petty-bourgeois socialist currents, such as Dühring, within the party, and the emergence of Bernstein’s revisionism. In the later period, the leadership of the party was usurped by the right wing led by Scheidemann, Ebert and Noske which degenerated the party.

Marx and Engels were utterly concerned about the development of the Party and the political conduct and maturation of its leaders, and constantly gave education, guidance and support. They warned the leaders of the Party to achieve unity on the basis of principles and oppose all kinds of non-proletarian ideas. Marx wrote Critique of the Gotha Programme and criticized Lassalleanism in all respects. Engels wrote Anti-Dühring and other works and criticized Dühringism. After the reactionary Bismarck government promulgated the Anti-Socialist Laws and the party was placed in an illegal position, Marx and Engels promptly stopped the attempts of a few leaders who were in panic and ready to dissolve the party organization, formulated a correct tactic of struggle for the party, and helped the party to eliminate the disturbances, put an end to the chaotic situation, and saved the party.