2nd German Congress of Workers' and Soldiers' Councils

The **2nd German Congress of Workers' and Soldiers' Councils** was held between 19–24 April 1919.

## Election

The election to the congress was organized shortly before the May Revolution, and followed the federal election that had been held in February. Though another congress had long been sought after December 1918, its organization was continually delayed, with the MSPD considering the matter of the councils settled with the election of the National Assembly. However, the right-wing putsch on 10 April and the subsequent mass strike action reopened the opportunity. Previously, the introduction of proportional representation into the process of electing the Berlin Executive Council (Vollzugsrat) allowed the KPD and USPD to secure a majority in March. The body was theoretically the supreme authority of the workers' councils in Germany, though the establishment of the National Assembly diminished its powers. Nonetheless, the council was still invested with the power of organizing congresses, which was achieved with the support of the MSPD in April.

The state of the country at the time made it difficult to organize a truly pan-German congress. The forces of the putschist government were able to dismantle councils in many of the areas under their influence, while other councils could not safely send their elected delegates to Berlin. This led to an overrepresentation of delegates from Berlin and Central Germany, where the putschists exercised limited authority. Nonetheless, delegates were sourced from a few hundred councils across the country, with some arriving after the start of the congress. 332 delegates were elected from workers' councils, while 54 were elected from soldiers' councils, for a total of 386 delegates.

In total throughout the congress there were 156 delegates aligned with the MSPD, in contrast with 110 for the USPD and 41 for the KPD. This left the allied KPD and USPD with roughly equal representation as the MSPD, in clear contrast with the previous congress, which reflected shifts in working class support away from the MSPD and towards the radical parties since December 1918. Additionally, there were 23 soldiers unaffiliated with parties, a small grouping of 16 "Democrats" from liberal parties, 5 International Communists, 1 anarchist from the FDvG, and 34 independents.

## Conduct

The congress opened with a call for unity by the MSPD delegates, pressing for the formation of a broad government including the MSPD, USPD and KPD, in opposition to the putschists. This was subject to intense debate and viewed with skepticism by the USPD and KPD delegates, who called for a repudiation of the Weimar Coalition. Ultimately this debate ended inconclusively, culminating with a vaguely worded motion agreed upon by a majority of the congress. Afterwards, Karl Liebknecht delivered a speech calling upon the delegates to fight for the irreversible establishment of socialist power. The biggest topic to discuss was how to develop the strike further. The KPD delegates spoke out in favor of armed opposition and the establishment of a workers' militia to defend against putschist forces, which was joined in support by a majority of the USPD delegation. The MSPD delegates, aware that the Ebert government was opposed to such a move, but also pressured by the councils and the unions, acceded to this under the condition it be delivered in the form of an ultimatum, which would give time for the putschists to surrender, possibly avoiding a civil war. The KPD and USPD, though favoring an immediate uprising, agreed to this demand and proposed a deadline for 1 May, marking International Workers' Day, which was approved. The congress then set about drafting a list of demands, with various points being discussed and compromises made before the ultimatum was published on the final day. Besides the ultimatum delivered to the putschist government, the congress drafted a number of other demands and goals with the following key points:

* The establishment of a German socialist republic is a non-negotiable.
* The workers' and soldiers' councils represent the supreme national authority.
* The proletariat must struggle against the counterrevolution.
* The proletariat must be armed and reorganized into a workers' militia.
* The army structure must be democratically reformed and soldiers' councils integrated with the armed forces.
* The means of production must be socialized and managed by the proletariat.
* Natural resources and industries must be nationalized.
* Peace must be sought with the Entente powers.

## Aftermath

The end of the congress was subsequently followed shortly afterwards by the May Uprising in Berlin, due to the failure of the putschist government to stand down by the deadline. A third congress would be held afterwards under very different circumstances, with the MSPD excluded. The congress was used as a basis for the formation of a socialist government in Berlin, which would become known as the Berlin Government, in contrast with the so-called Stuttgart Government.