A People's History of the German Revolution

by William A. Pelz

In October 1918, war-weary German sailors mutinied rather than engage in one final, fruitless battle with the British Royal Navy. That revolt, coming as World War I slowly ended, quickly became far bigger, erupting into a full-scale revolution that toppled the monarchy and inaugurated a brief period of radical popular democracy. This book tells that mostly forgotten story, going beyond the handful of familiar names such as Rosa Luxemburg and Karl Liebknecht, to present the revolution from the bottom up. Through stories of the actions of rank-and-file activists and ordinary workers, Willam A. Pelz builds a compelling case that, for a brief period, the actions of the common people shaped a truly revolutionary society.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Germany, Politics, European History, 20th Century

208 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2018

Reviews

[Sleepless Dreamer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm mildly obsessed with German history (let's be honest, that's a classic Ashkenazi trait). 

In A People's History, Pelz describes the development of the German revolution, starting off with WW1 and going all the way to the establishment of the Weimar Republic. His focus is the average people as seen by the usage of diary entries and other first hand sources. 

As a history book, this is great. Pelz's writing is clear and accessible. It's written so well that I read it cover to cover after handing in my paper, just because I wanted to. So I definitely recommend it in that sense. 

However, it's a little edgy, academically speaking. Compared to other history books about this period, Pelz makes some claims that I hadn't read elsewhere. He seems to defend the revolutionaries in a way that many historians don't. The German revolution was influenced by the Soviet revolution. In hindsight, it's hard to support the revolutionaries entirely, when considering the results of the Soviet revolution. Like heck yes, destroy the emperor, get rid of militarism, equal rights for all but also, can councils replace a government? 

In any case, German revolution is remarkable to me. Is it even a revolution? What would happen if it was able to run its course? Do we consider it successful? It failed at changing the status quo of leaders and powers but it got rid of the emperor. By violently stopping the revolution, the Weimar republic was shaky but it survived, practically against all odds. 

I'm awed by Ebert. His behavior was nasty but also stunningly willy. It feels like he defined what centrist politics can mean. His failures ultimately led to Hitler's rise but his ability to get politics exactly where he wanted them was impressive, even if it came at the cost of destroying a revolution (read: control the army properly). 

Honestly, I could go on (and already did in my paper, I'm so happy I had an excuse to read so much about German history) but alas, the philosophy paper awaits (ahh, I have like 4 more days to write and I have nothing, why am I not more stressed about this). If you're looking for a readable book on the German revolution, this is the best I've read.

What I'm Taking With Me
- My paper was about how militaries become active political powers when there isn't a stabilizing force around cause I'll take any opportunity to shame armies. 
- German workers prior to the war were already against things like tipping. The abuse of the higher class during that time is fascinating to learn about.
- Did the German people support WW1? It doesn't seem as clear cut as Pelz claims it to be. Sure, during the war, the support dwindled but it does seem like the war had some kind of support.
- I loved how Pelz focuses on women and their role and not just because I have a lot of feelings about Rosa Luxemburg.  

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Alfred Kornitzke is my new favorite historical character. Review to come but for now, this is such a fantastic piece of history!

[Steffi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very timely read to celebrate the centenary of the German Revolution in November 1918. As the title indicates, this is a 'people's history' (by American Marxist historian William Pelz who died last December), highlighting the role of ordinary people, especially women, in bringing down Imperial Germany and establishing a republic on 9 November 1918.

There are some very interesting parallels with today. Then and now, it wasn't the far right or old regime that brought down the revolution but the Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD) and the party's conservative leader and Chancellor Friedrich Ebert who feared social revolution so much that he sided with old regime of aristocrats, industrialists and military generals against the socialists and working class. Ebert and his reactionary acolytes went as far as using the proto-fascist right-wing paramilitary militias Freikorps to arrest and kill socialist leaders. I am not an historian but I guess it's fair to say that there would have been no Nazi Germany if Ebert didn't ensure that the old regime and capital survived the revolution. (It's also telling that the SPD has not yet renamed its party think tank the Ebert Foundation.)

Anyway, while history doesn't repeat itself, ever since the global financial crisis in 2008, we've seen an increasing polarization of politics, insane levels of inequality and a rise of anti-democratic forces. This time around, we should not follow social democracy's lead in compromising with the elites only for the elites to side with the fascists a few years down the track when capitalism needs to get rid of the last bit of democracy.

[Daniel · Rating 4 out of 5]

“The common people make their own history, just not in the conditions they would wish” is the perfect ending sentence about a book dedicated to the struggle of the common people.

While lacking in some areas, the book provides a interesting analysis of the failures of the German Revolution which is even moving at times. The failures of the SPD leads to questions about the reformist road to socialism which are, unfortunately, still debated to this day.

This book also brings to light the experiences of working class women, and their crucial role in the making of the revolution. The reactionary violence directed towards women as depicted in this book, and the betrayal of them by many people on the left, is more than worth being carefully studied.

[André Mattana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gostei a abordagem que entra na vida das pessoas comuns e reconhece o papel das mulheres na revolução.

[Julia D · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great peoples history. A very enjoyable and colourful read for the layperson (calling the Bavarian revolution a revolution full of cranks is both fair and hilarious), and featuring a really interesting array of sources for people already more familiar with this period of German history.

[Kriegslok · Rating 4 out of 5]

The German Revolution(s?) is generally reduced to a footnote in history. In fact the whole period from the late rise of the unified imperialist German state to its temporary collapse in 1945 is generally spun according to a particular line which reflects a largely victors narrative. It certainly omits, or if not distorts, the role of the disenfranchised ordinary worker in events. William Pelz book is an excellent work in reexamining, reevaluating and adding to the literature. Importantly as the title suggests this is an attempt to put the People back into the picture. The book opens with some general discussion about approaches to history, the absence of the ordinary person from much of the historical record and approaches to the German Revolution. The author then looks at the rise of the German Working Class against a background of rapid industrialisation and a ruling class that intended to keep ruling. The rapid rise of an organised and conscious working class movement which congregated around a strong Social Democratic tendency - that became a way of life and something of a counter-hegemonic mass - laid the foundations for much that followed. The rise of a centralist SPD leadership which was increasingly at odds with the membership led to an SPD which backed Imperial Germany in its war aims in 1914 and enthusiastically continued to do so throughout the war. It is interesting to read in detail the level of anti-war agitation both in the run up to and during WWI by workers in the face of severe repression not only by the ruling class but by their own party the leadership which was increasingly supportive of and identified with ruling class interests. William Pelz has gone back to contemporary sources, often hostile to the workers movement, in order to try to get a better picture of events, these suggest that the SPD leadership was very much out of step with its supporters. Given the level of what can only be described as betrayal it is little surprise that the SPD split. More surprising, even for those who know something of events, is the degree to which the SPD betrayed those the party had originally been set up to represent. The final straw was undoubtedly the SPD support for the Freicorps who received a carte blanche to massacre revolutionary workers and commit atrocities against the people. To understand the hostility of the KPD towards social democracy it is only necessary to see how social democracy became the main bulwark of the ruling class, which was duly grateful as long as it took it to take back control. The rise of fascism was not inevitable but the SPD leadership certainly did its utmost to enable it. The revolutionary uprisings themselves in various German cities occurred with varying degrees of success and farce, lacking in strong organised leadership the crowds without anyone to tell them what to do "went home sad" like good Germans. The role of women in revolutionary agitation is examined in some detail. During the war women on the home front played an especially active part in labour organisation, anti-war actions and revolutionary organisation with Clara Zetkin noting "the German Revolution was only possible because of women" which seems a reasonable statement based on the evidence presented. Even with a leadership that had supported the workers struggle a revolutionary uprising in the conditions of post WWI Germany would have been challenging. The former enemy powers were in no hurry to see a Soviet Germany and did their bit to try to make sure it did not happen. However, the prize for defeat must rest with the SPD leadership "extremists of the center who would unleash mass carnage so they could continue in their so-called moderation", the cynic in me feels that little has changed in social democratic leadership since. This is a book worth reading to appreciate the genuinely revolutionary sacrifice of German workers, it restores some balance to the historic narrative, the book also remains an important lesson for recent decades and any future struggle.

[Ramzey · Rating 5 out of 5]

History tends to viewed from the perspective of the rich and powerful, where actions of small numbers are seen to dictate the course of world affairs. But this perspective conceals the role of ordinary woman and men, as individuals or as parts of collective organisations, in shaping the course of history. The peoples history series put ordinary people and mass movements centre stage and looks at the great moments of the past from the bottom up.

William A. Pelz cuts against mainstream accounts that paint that the revolution as "collapse" that preceeded the country's "natural progression" into a Republic.

Rejecting the description of agency as exclusively in the hands of international actors like Woodrow Wilson, or in those of German Elites.

[Matthew Griffiths · Rating 4 out of 5]

This made for a really enlightening short read on a very poorly understood but critical moment in history. So much of the history of the end of World War 1 goes straight from the signing of the Armistice in Compiegne to the treaties signed in Versailles. I had been aware of, coming to this book, the mutiny in Kiel but had very little understanding of the wider goings-on across the German Empire. I was particularly surprised and gripped by the authors recounting of the accommodation reached between the Social Democrats, particularly Ebert, and the Freikorps movement.

[Tony · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good introduction to the German Revolution from a left-wing perspective using first-hand accounts of what happened. And not just those of the usual suspects.

Good on the significant role of women in events.

Not a book to read if you're a fan of the SPD or Friedrich Ebert whose role as 'extreme centrists' is given a careful review & their decision to go where even the Kaiser didn't go & effectively let radical left-wing protest become punishable by death. The loosing of the Freikorps for example was - however you want to tidy it up - criminal.

But this book did exactly what I wanted it to cover the basics. If you want more information you can dig deeper elsewhere.

[Feargal McGovern · Rating 3 out of 5]

The history itself is interesting enough, however I was annoyed by the political conclusions he drew from the experience of the failed german revolution of 1918-1919 : He claimed that it wasnt simply for the lack of a revolutionary Leninst/Bolshevik type party, only to proceed to give reasons for the failure that all could have been avoided if there had been a revolutionary Leninist/Bolshevik type party to give strategic direction and prepare the working class for the tasks and of carrying out a revolution - not to mention responding to a counter revolution.

Further he goes so far as to say the Bolsheviks clearly werent the answer as stalinism emerged from the bolsheviks, whilst in the same breath saying that the SPD counter revolutionary leadership were comparable with Stalin in their role of repressing the revolution and killing the revolutionary leadership. And further, forgetting that stalinism and 'socialism in one country' was a doctrine that came about *excactly* because the german revolution.

What would otherwise be a good book, especially for an introduction on the subject (its quite a quick and easy read) is ruined by its absolutely garbage political conclusions that fly in the face of the information he himself provided

3 stars for what otherwise could of been a 5 star book

[Adam · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a good short overview of the conditions underlying the German Revolution of 1918-1919 and the timeline of events. Pelz's methodology is materialist with a strong focus on the "people's" view of history and this comes through strongly, particularly in his focus on the role of women in the Revolution. Key characters, such as Luxemburg, Liebknecht and Zetkin (though she gets more focus), are discussed but not in-depth; reflecting Pelz's intentions. The conclusion was not at all to my taste - the so-called "justice" of comparing Stalin and Friedrich Ebert is silly, as is the list of "successes" of the Revolution (the end of the monarchy, suffrage) in light of future events; events that don't really get an enormous amount of airtime relatively. This doesn't detract from the overall utility of the work, but colours the political discussion. I would suggest this one to all readers, especially as a primer to German socialist history, the trajectory of the Soviet project, or either World War.

[Titus Hjelm · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read Chris Harman's history several years ago, so this was a welcome reminder. Might be a bit much to chew--as the foreword agrees--for someone with not previous knowledge of early 20th century German/European history. But true to its title by providing voices of the common people instead of the standard history of 'great men'.

[Bill · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved the first few chapters, then Pelz moves from the German Revolution as told by common people to a historical telling of the German Revolution from his perspective as well as that of the powerful people involved in the events. That's unfortunate, because while still interesting, it leaves a book that feels like it is two very different halves.

[Tim Briedis · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a banger. The Kapp Putsch, the rise and culture of German Social Democracy, the seperation between party and class, and of course the revolution itself are all covered with aplomb. Pelz writes beautifully, using rich anecdotes to support his argument. Despite the brevity of the text, he is able to make an important intervention into the historiography of the revolution, challenging the standard Trotskyist line (what I call the Great Lenin theory of history) whilst remaining incontrovertibly on the side of the revolutionaries.

[Ietrio · Rating 1 out of 5]

Like with Zinn's book, from which Pelz rips off the title, it's an emotional book for the reader living the comfort of late 20th century Western country. Things just happen and the proletariat is a faceless mass that gets exploited without mercy.

[DDee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good short intro to the revolution (I suppose).
But calling it a "people's history" is a bit of a misnomer in my opinion, as the ethnographic part of it felt rather limited in propertion to the broader facttelling and analysis.

[Keir Walker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quick and easy read that helps illustrate the oft ignored left-flank socialism in Germany following the bloodbath that was the Great War/WW1. It also gives greater perspective to the eventual formation of the Weimar Republic and the Bolshevik Revolution which simultaneously occurring in Europe.

[Nathan Fisher · Rating 3 out of 5]

Breezy and not terribly thorough, but a quick, well-motivated read.

[Bob · Rating 4 out of 5]

The in-depth explanation of Germany’s descent into disaster, viewed from the inside-out. This book has a very different approach compared to others I’ve read; very interesting.

[Clint Miller · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thoroughly enjoyed, very good take on the era with a lot of detail that other histories of the period tend to gloss over. Friedrich Ebert is now my bette noire for his actions...

[Matthew · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great and accessible history of the German Revolution - couldn't put this down!

[alex angelosanto · Rating 4 out of 5]

One could say Liberals are not good at self preservation