#spartacists

Oh Rosa leader of the Spartacists bold Whose words and deeds were mighty and untold Your birth we celebrate with joy and pride For you fought for the workers side by side

Your pen was sharp your mind was clear In Accumulation of Capital you reveal Exploitation profit surplus value and more All were laid bare for the world to explore

Your voice was strong your spirit fierce In Germany's turmoil you were the one to pierce The darkness of capitalism's brutal reign And light the way for a new order to gain

You led the Spartacists with courage and might For workers' power and freedom you fought the good fight Your legacy lives on in the struggles we wage For a world without exploitation and rage

Jan 13 1919 AWM A01305

Rosa Luxemburg in 1915.

January 15 1919, Berlin--After the end of “Spartacist Week”, its leaders were now on the run.  An “Association for Combating Bolshevism” (supposedly founded by Russian emigrés) offered bounties for their capture.  Rosa Luxemburg (who had not even been in favor of the week’s events), Karl Liebknecht, and Wilhelm Pieck, all Spartacist (now Communist) leaders, moved their hiding place on the night of the 14th.  Unfortunately for them, they moved very close to a cavalry division headquarters, and they were quickly handed over to the soldiers the next afternoon.  Pieck somehow managed to escape, and later became the President of East Germany after the next war.  Luxemburg and Liebknecht, however, were killed that night.  A certain Private Runge clubbed them both on their heads with his rifle (likely killing Luxemburg).  Liebknecht was taken to the Tiergarten and shot “while attempting to escape.”  Luxemburg was shot in the head several times before her body was dumped in the Landwehr Canal; it would not be found until May.  Private Runge was convicted of “leaving his post without being properly relieved” and of “improper use of his weapons.”

“DESORDRES A WEIMAR,” La Tribune de Sherbrooke. June 19, 1919. Page 01. --- Des Spartacistes tentent s'emparer d'Ebert --- (Service de la Presse Associée) Weimar, 19. — Cinquante prisonniers spartacistes et communistes, libérés récemment de la prison de Weimar, on attaqué peu après minuit, ce matin, le château où vivrent les membres du gouvernement. Ils furent repoussés par une garde éloignée qui leur résista avec une mitraillereuse. Les assailants attaquèrent le château per surprise et désarmèrent les gardes qui se tenaient à l’entrée Ils se mirent à tires des coups de feu aux fenètree ce qui attira les troupes du chateau.

Les anciens forçats avaient comme on le croit, l’intention de saisir le président Ebert, le premier ministre Scheidermann et Gustav Noske, le ministre de la défense, mais leur attaque a été vaine.

Un rapport semi-officiel donnait aujourd’hui la description suivante des désordres d'hier à Weimar.

I wore a brooch with her photo, alongside my brooch of Max today.