International Communist - SpeedyLook encyclopedia

History

Genesis

The August 4th 1914, whereas the Great War has just burst and that it sets ablaze the Old continent, the deputies of SPD vote the appropriations of war to the Reichstag. Exiled in Zurich, Lénine learns with stupor and incredulity the rallying from the German Socialists to the Sacred union, going until initially accepting a false report of journalist.

Oldest and the most powerful social democrat party of Europe, leader of the International IIe, is not the only one to give up day the shortly after the years of militancy Pacifiste, in the name of the defense of the fatherland " agressée". In all the belligerent countries, socialist and Marxist trade unionists make in the same way, except for individualities and of very minority groups, as well as Serb socialist small part and of the five deputies Sociaux-démocrates of Russian POSDR, who refuse to vote the appropriations with the Douma, but announce that they will not try to sabotage the effort of war. Everywhere the workmen (and peasants) answer like only one man the general mobilization. The national Sentiment forged by centuries of history carries it without much evil on the Class struggle theorized with the XIXe century, contradicting all the forecasts. It is the spectacular bankruptcy of the IIe Internationale. Its party-members, impotent to prevent the war, are now divided, and its militants find face-to-face discussion in the trenches.

Lénine will never forgive with SPD and the Sociaux-démocrates what he regards as their " trahison". As of the Conference of Zimmerwald (1915) and that of Kienthal (1916), where it finds various hostile European militants with the continuation of the war, it proclaims that International 1889 died forever, and that it is thus necessary to rebuild a third of it. He also preaches the revolutionary defeatism, and " the transformation of the civil war inter-impérialiste into revolutionary war mondiale". All the participants are however far from then following it on these points, and in Russia, Lénine is minority even among his/her comrades of the Parti Bolshevik.

However, returned to Russia following the Revolution of February, Lénine leads in a few months the Bolsheviks to the capacity to the general surprise (Révolution of October). He addresses himself in vain to all the belligerents to obtain a " peace blanche" , then with the only Germans the very expensive Traité concludes from Brest-Litovsk (March 1918).

At the summer 1918, Lénine makes take with its formation the name of " party communiste" , to accentuate the categorical rupture with the Social democracy.

Convinced internationalists, Lénine and Trotski consider from the start that the Russian Révolution has direction only like first act of a general revolution in the whole world, and that she will survive only on the condition of receiving the assistance of other socialist countries. They count particularly on a revolution in Germany, country with the economic potential highest of Europe, and where the working class one of is best organized. Only Zinoviev and Kamenev had been opposed to the takeover by force of October while preventing that the European workers would not move to extend the Russian revolution.

In fact, the calls of the Bolsheviks with the latter receive few concrete echoes in the immediate future: strikes, mutinies and revolts increase but remain minority until the end of the conflict. In spite of voluntarism léninien, the revolutionary contagion exists but leads to a general flashover neither in 1918 nor even afterwards.

However, in Europe ruined and traumatized by immense carnage, Lénine gains a considerable prestige near many workmen, peasants, intellectuals and militants. He was indeed always resolutely opposed to the world war, and for the first time Marxist” and “proletarian” revolution known as a “arrived at the capacity. As of the summer 1917, inscriptions " Live Lénine! " appear on walls of Italy or Spain, where the social disturbances of years 1917-1919 will receive the significant nickname of " bienno bolchevik".

Fascinated by " the great gleam in the East " (Jules Romans), much of sympathizers of the Russian revolution then grant little importance to the real program of the revolution of October (collectivism agrarian, mode of sole party), neither with the pitiless dictatorship that the Bolcheviks found quite front even the beginning of the Russian Civil war, whereas it saves the other revolutionary parties nor of many men of the people, peasants at the head. But everywhere diffuse the same very carrying watchwords as in Russia, preaching peace, the " ground with the paysans" , " factories with the ouvriers" , the " to be able with the Soviet s". Lastly, the military intervention of the Westerners, who end up helping the white Armées, deeply shocks all those which refuse to see the young revolution crushed by the forces counter-revolutionaries. As of March 1919, thus, Andre Marty and Charles Tillon leads a mutiny to edge of several French ships stationed at sea Noire.

Men, groups, parties are thus from the start loans to answer the call of Lénine to constitute IIIe Internationale. The first congress is held as of March 1919 in Moscow, in full civil war. But the true congress of foundation will be the second, held at the summer 1920, in full euphoria of walk on Warsaw (Russo-Polish war).

Beginnings

An authoritative turning appears as of 1921 with the exclusion of many militants of the left of International (Anton Pannekoek, Hermann Gorter…), some could be found in the positions defended by Rosa Luxemburg (assassinated in 1919).

Years 1919-1923 are filled of hope. But all the insurrections armed in Europe fail and are repressed: revolt Spartakiste Berlin in January 1919, Commune of Budapest which sees directed Hungary 133 days by Bela Kun in spring 1919, backward flow of the insurrectionary strikes of 1919-1920 in Italy, followed seizure of power by Mussolini (1922), new attempts in Germany in October 1923, whose fast failure causes an immense disappointment… Moreover, the Russian defeat in the Russo-Polish war breaks any hope of the Red Army to reach Warsaw and Berlin and to thus accelerate the propagation of the revolution. In the middle of the years 1920, the majority of the Communist parties in Europe and in the world are reduced to clandestinity, or are the object of monitoring and regular repression, like the PCF. Lastly, the scissions between Socialists and Communists, as in France at the time of the Congress of Turns (Christmas 1920) or in Italy at the time of the Congress of Leghorn (1921), in the immediate future weakened and durably divided the left forces vis-a-vis the rise of the preserving or fascistic forces.

The Bolchevisation of the PC

To adhere to IIIe International, the parties members must accept the " 21 conditions " , very Draconian, which aligns their structures and their methods on the model Bolshevik, until there unknown out of Russia. Even in democratic country, the Communist parties must become semi-clandestine, be strictly treated on a hierarchical basis and centralized, adopt an iron discipline, and resort to the need with the illegality. They must also obey the orders of the center imperatively. After 1921, they must also prohibit the tendencies in their center (democratic Centralisme) and exclude, especially after 1924, those which strictly do not follow the line imposed from Moscow

Many Communists, but as militants come from the Anarcho-syndicalism or the radical Republican left, adhered by thinking as they could always keep a certain autonomy - it was the case of many French participants of the Congrès of Turns (1920), where the 21 conditions were not adopted besides.

But Moscow intends to firmly align the parties on the Russian model. It frames them and more and more narrowly subjects them by the means of agents delegated by the center (Jules Humbert-Droz or Eugen Fried in France). As of 1921, thus, Trotski complains that there remain Francs-Maçons with the PCF, and requires their exclusion, a first in France in a left party. In 1924, the president of the Comintern, Zinoviev, considered and criticized for its authoritarianism, launches the watchword of Bolchevisation of the PC in Ve Congrès of the Comintern. It is an authoritative hardening which causes a crisis and exclusions in the majority of the party-members. At the same time, in addition, Stalin, Zinoviev and Kamenev launch a violent campaign to put on the key the Trotskistes in the USSR like abroad.

The stalinisation

Starting from 1926, the Third International master key completely under the domination of Stalin. In the Years 1930, Stalin works out a new ideology which it names the Marxisme-léninisme and which is based on the theory known as of the Socialisme in only one country. It is actually the accompaniment of the Stalinist dictatorship.

Almost ever left Russia, being unaware of the foreign languages, often little with the fact of realities of external countries that he does not know, Stalin shows himself scorning towards the Comintern (" the boutique"). He does not grow with a world revolution which does not finish any being made wait, fears the insurrectionary phenomena which he would not control itself and which would attract diplomatic complications in the USSR. In its eyes, the extension of the revolution will pass by the conquests of the Red Army - what occurs in 1939-1941 at the time of the Pacte germano-Soviet, then in Europe with the East after the victory of 1945. While waiting, the International one must especially serve the national interests of the Soviet Union, hastily comparable with those of the world proletariat.

After being excluded from the Communist party of Soviet Union by Stalin, Leon Trotsky still hopes for some time a possible regeneration of IIIe Internationale, then declares into 1933 that the International one irremediably died. It founds in 1938 the IV {{E}} Internationale. Other opponents, often excluded, create or take part in the international communist Opposition, or in the international revolutionary Marxist Center.

Purging

During the Great Terror of 1937-1939 (Great Purgings), the International one is a target of choice of purification. It is the time when the witnesses hear each night NKVD enter to the Hôtel Lux, general headquarter of the Comintern in Moscow, and where the next morning, of new seals were affixed on the doors of the employees and the militants adopted in the night.

Veterans of the Comintern such as the Hungarian Bleated Kun or the Russian Piatnitski disappears in prison, probably carried out. Taken refuge in Moscow, more leaders of KPD are victims of the Stalinist repression than of the terror hitlérienne, of which Hugo Eberlein or Heinz Neumann. The woman of this last, Margarete Buber-Neumann, off-set with the Gulag with Karaganda, is delivered to the Gestapo in 1940 and is sent to Ravensbrück. All the staff in exile of the Polish party is decimated, and the dissolved formation itself. The Palestinian party and the Yugoslav party are also dissouts, but Stalin saving the future marshal Tito, not without to have made shoot his wife. Jaan Anvelt is in charge of the purgings within the Estonian Communist party before being itself eliminated.

Repression extends to the militants who fought in the Guerre of Spain, such Antonov-Ovseenko, with the veterans of the International Brigades or with the Spanish republicans taken refuge after the victory of Franco. If one saves the chief of the Comintern, Bulgarian the Dimitrov, hero of the lawsuit of Leipzig brought by the Nazis with alleged the " flamers of the Reichstag " (1933), its two co-defendants, Popov and Tanev, finish with the Gulag.

The chief of NKVD, Nikolaï Iejov, proposed even in Stalin to organize a lawsuit of Moscow specifically devoted to the International one: he would have to see inter alia on the French dock Jacques Duclos, the British Harry Politt and the Chinese Mao Zedong! Undoubtedly because too much complicated to carry out, this project did not have a continuation.

Lastly, of many less famous agents of the Comintern were recalled to Moscow and decrees on their arrival, like the French Jacques Rossi. Those which refused to return were sometimes found assassinated abroad, like the prime-contractor of the propaganda of the Comintern, Willy Münzenberg.

Pact germano-Soviet with Resistance

Bloodless exit of the Great Purgings, the International one was seen ordering, after the interview Stalin - Dimitrov of September 7th, 1939, to defend the Pacte germano-Soviet and to denounce the Second world war commenaçante like a conflict " inter-impérialiste". These instructions had as a result true a " liquidation of influence" (François Pipe cleaner): the PCF was discredited and prohibited, the chief of the British PC Harry Politt announced his rupture with the Comintern, of many militants their Parties left, or took care not to really follow the instructions of Moscow (Charles Tillon, Georges Guingouin). In July 1940, in the distress of the invasion and in the absence of regular connections with Moscow, a handle of clandestine leaders of the PCF with Jacques Duclos and Maurice Tréand probed even the Kommandantur of Paris to obtain to the legal republication of Humanity , and made inconsiderately express the communist sympathizers of Paris region to obtain the return of the municipalities PCF déchues in 1939. Moscow, informed, ordered to put an end immediately to the steps.

In spring 1941, the Comintern inflects its line and ordered with the Communist parties of Europe occupied to conclude from the agreements with forces not-Communists to fight against the Germans. May 15th, 1941, PCF thus founded the Front National of Lutte for the Independence of France. June 22nd, 1941, with the aggression of the USSR by Hitler, the swing in resistance to excess was completely completed. The heavy tribute paid by the Communists restored of good part the prestige started by the Pact, just like the Soviet victories.

On order of Moscow, which hoped to see more German troops fixed in the occupied countries, the PC had to practice a strategy of immediate action and frontal attacks of the German occupant, thus exposing the militants, the hostages and the civil populations with terrifying expensive repressions as men. That often tightened the relationships to the other formations of Resistance in France, Yugoslavia or Poland, which criticized the uselessness and the danger of the individual attacks against the German soldiers as well as the heavy cost of spectacular sabotages and the premature combat of guerilla. Much however admired the determination and the courage of the Communists, who seemed to them the most decided to fight immediately and richest in martyrs. See Colonel Fabien and hostages of Chateaubriant.

Dissolution and posterity

Since 1940 Stalin thinks of dissolving the Comintern, but differs the advertisement not to seem to sacrifice it to the agreement with Hitler. IIIe Internationale is finally dissolved during the Second world war, the March 15th 1943, in order to slacken the relations with the allies. The creation of the Kominform by Stalin in October 1947 falls under the continuity of the Third International one, but it does not act more, as its name states it, that of a " office of information". However, in the facts, the Western Communist parties remained dominated as before by Moscow until the Déstalinisation of 1956, even beyond. See Eurocommunisme.

Stalin dies in 1953. Starting from 1956, the the USSR breaks, at least officially, with the Stalinisme. Cominform is dissolved the April 17th 1956. Starting from the Years 1960 and Rupture sino-Soviet, Mao Zedong and the Popular republic of China are asserted of Stalin. It is not without paradox, if one thinks that Stalin was always wary of Mao since this chief of very independent guerilla had not passed by the schools of the Comintern and escaped direct control from Moscow.

Twenty-nine parties and groups stated to have " reconstitué" the Third International November 5th 1995 with Sofia, but its existence is purely anecdotic.

IIIe International forever concluded any victorious revolution. But it remains a field of historical studies important. It also continues to fascinate like remarkable active semi-secret organization in so much of country, and by the often romantic life of many its clandestine representatives. It especially was a fish pond of very important frameworks. It is there that were recruited the majority of the leaders that Stalin placed then at responsibility-keys in the Communist parties (Togliatti, Duclos, Marty, Artur London, the Passionaria…) or in the governments of the people's democracies: Tito, Ernö Gero, Rakosi, Pieck, Anna Pauker…

Congresses of the Comintern

First Congress of the Comintern (March 1919)
Second Congress of the Comintern (July 1920)
Third Congress of the Comintern (June 1921)
Fourth Congress of the Comintern (November 1922)
Fifth Congress of the Comintern (1924)
Sixth Congress of the Comintern (September 1928)
Seventh Congress of the Comintern (1934)
Seventh Congress of the Comintern (1935)

Presidents of the Comintern

1919-1926: Grigori Zinoviev

1926-1929: Nikolaï Boukharine

1929-1934: Viatcheslav Mikhaïlovitch Molotov

1934-1943: Georgi Mikhailov Dimitrov

Agents of the Comintern

Jacques Duclos

Eugen Fried, “comrade Clement”, Slovak Communist representing of the Comintern near the PCF of 1929 to 1943. He was the mentor of Maurice Thorez and the 3eminence grise of PCF, inspiring in particular with Thorez the strategy leading to the constitution of the Popular front.

Arthur Koestler, British, collaborator writer of Willy Münzemberg and agent of the Comintern in particular in Spain. It broke in 1938.

Andre Marty

Willy Muzenberg : German Communist, close friend of Lénine which had responsible it for all the great operations of Propagande/Désinformation within the Western democracies. It had built an empire of press and editions (“Munzemberg trust”) and had as a task to collect supports beyond the communist circles; it is of this fact impossible to circumvent in the history of the Fellow travellers. It had erected scaffolding a theory of seizure of power by investing the moral field as a preliminary, in opposition to Gramsci which preached the cultural field.

Jacques Rossi

Palmiro Togliatti

See too

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