1919. The uprising in Berlin

95 years ago, on January 5, 1919, in Berlin, an armed uprising of workers broke out, led by Left Social Democrats from the Union Spartak group. It took place under the slogan of "Down with Ebert and Shaideman, bloody dogs and graves of the revolution." The reason for the uprising was the displacement of the German government of the Police President of Berlin, appointed by the Berlin Council. The uprising was preceded by the Constituent Congress of the Communist Party of Germany, convened by the leadership of the Spartak Union and proclaimed the ultimate goal of the party of the world socialist revolution.

During the demonstration of 150 thousand armed workers, led by the Communists, the editorial offices of leading newspapers and the building of the Police Presidium were captured. A universal strike began. According to the then Minister of Defense of the Social Democrat Gustav Noska, "if the masses had strong leaders who clearly realized their goals, instead of empty, by noon, they would have seized Berlin." On January 6, a new, even more large demonstration was held at the call of the revolutionary committee. However, the demonstrators failed to attract troops to their side, including the People’s Sea Division. The Government of the Social Democrats introduced a state of emergency and applied force against the rebels. On January 11, sock entered Berlin with 3 thousand soldiers and repulsed a number of editorial offices and the building of the Police Presidium. The uprising was crushed. The Soviet delegate of the Red Cross in Berlin Karl Radek took part in the uprising and, together with eighteen other citizens of the RSFSR, was expelled from Germany.