On This Day in Working Class History

Sömmerda Commune: A Forgotten German Workers’ Uprising


Listen Later

On 13 March 1920, in Germany, just hours after the far-right Kapp Putsch began and the Social Democratic government called for a general strike, workers in Sömmerda, Germany – many of whom were members of the anarchist Free Workers' Union of Germany (FAUD) – took control of their town. 
They formed an executive committee of 40 workers, disarmed the town guard, arrested the reactionary mayor, and formed a workers' militia. 
The putsch fell apart on March 17, the Social Democratic government asked for the end of the general strike on 20 March, and, after backdoor deals, the trade unions along with the Independent Social Democratic Party and Communist Party joined in calling the general strike officially over on March 22. 
The workers in Sömmerda wouldn't give up their control, so on March 24 a detachment of troops, containing many of those who had just attempted to overthrow the government a week earlier, was sent to take back the town. In the repression, around 23 workers ended up dead and 180 were imprisoned. 
More information, sources and map: https://stories.workingclasshistory.com/article/8496/s%C3%B6mmerda-commune

Our work is only possible because of support from you, our listeners on patreon. If you appreciate our work, please join us and access exclusive content and benefits at patreon.com/workingclasshistory.
  • See all of our anniversaries each day, alongside sources and maps on the On This Day section of our Stories app: stories.workingclasshistory.com/date/today
  • Browse all Stories by Date here on the Date index: https://stories.workingclasshistory.com/date
  • Check out our Map of historical Stories: https://map.workingclasshistory.com
  • Check out books, posters, clothing and more in our online store, here: https://shop.workingclasshistory.com
  • If you enjoy this podcast, make sure to check out our flagship longform podcast, Working Class History
...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

On This Day in Working Class HistoryBy Working Class History

  • 5
  • 5
  • 5
  • 5
  • 5

5

11 ratings


More shows like On This Day in Working Class History

View all
Economic Update with Richard D. Wolff by Democracy at Work, Richard D. Wolff

Economic Update with Richard D. Wolff

1,992 Listeners

Working Class History by Working Class History

Working Class History

615 Listeners

You're Wrong About by Sarah Marshall

You're Wrong About

21,958 Listeners

This Wreckage by Sean KB and AP Andy

This Wreckage

936 Listeners

Al Jazeera News Updates by Al Jazeera

Al Jazeera News Updates

288 Listeners

The Take by Al Jazeera

The Take

597 Listeners

It Could Happen Here by Cool Zone Media and iHeartPodcasts

It Could Happen Here

6,259 Listeners

Live Like the World is Dying by Margaret Killjoy

Live Like the World is Dying

444 Listeners

Novara Live by Novara Media

Novara Live

59 Listeners

The Inside Story Podcast by Al Jazeera

The Inside Story Podcast

149 Listeners

Cool People Who Did Cool Stuff by Cool Zone Media and iHeartPodcasts

Cool People Who Did Cool Stuff

847 Listeners

In Bed With The Right by Adrian Daub and Moira Donegan

In Bed With The Right

576 Listeners

Colonial Outcasts by Colonial Outcasts

Colonial Outcasts

997 Listeners

Panic World by COURIER

Panic World

313 Listeners

Drop Site News by Drop Site News

Drop Site News

486 Listeners