Eugen Leviné, assassinated on this day in 1919, was a German revolutionary communist who briefly led the Bavarian Council Republic, giving luxury apartments to the homeless and factories to the workers during his short reign in power.

Eugen Levine was born to wealthy Jewish parents in St Petersberg, Russia, and became exposed to radical politics after moving to Heidelberg, Germany at a young age. In 1905, Leviné returned to Russia to participate in the failed revolution of 1905 against the Tsar and was arrested and exiled to Siberia.

After World War I ended, Leviné joined the Communist Party of Germany and helped to create a socialist republic in Bavaria. Leviné eventually rose to power as the communists assumed control of the government.

He attempted to pass many reforms, such as giving the more luxurious flats to the homeless and giving workers control and ownership of factories. Leviné also planned reforms for the education system and to abolish paper money, but did not get the chance to complete either.

The German Army, assisted by the right-wing Freikorps paramilitary invaded and quickly conquered Munich on May 3rd, 1919. Leviné himself was arrested and shot by firing squad in Stadelheim Prison.

Ex-Soviet agent Whitaker Chambers cited Leviné as an inspirational figure, writing “During the Bavarian Council Republic in 1919, Leviné was the organiser of the Workers’ and Soldiers’ Soviets. When the Bavarian Council Republic was crushed, Leviné was captured and court-martialed. The court-martial told him: “You are under sentence of death.” Leviné answered: ‘We Communists are always under sentence of death.’”

Eugen Levine - Spartacus

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  • Frank [he/him, he/him]@hexbear.netEnglish
    17·
    2 days ago

    Dropping in to say high. I’ve been taking a HexBreak for a while. Spent all yesterday arguing with Libs about I couldn’t even tell you what because it got tied in to so many knots. I wanted to come check iun because everywehere else is AHHHHHHHHHHHHH and hexbear is hexbear-retro

  • r9seng [any]@hexbear.netEnglish
    8·
    2 days ago

    I just finished reading Blackshirts & Reds and found it to be very informative and also fascinating, as it touched on future topics like 9/11 and the War on Terror, Snowden and the NSA, Putin and Russian corruption, etc.

    I did notice that, due to it being released in 1997, it is an incomplete view of Marxism-Leninism. Particularly in regards to China and the extreme developments the people of China have seen in the past 30 years.

    What subsequent books can I read to bridge the gap between 1997’s Marxism-Leninism and today? What can I read that will inform me about China’s developments, specifically Socialism with Chinese Characteristics, and Dengism leading into the current leadership of Xi. How did that propel them into being able to strong-arm the US as we are currently seeing? What is the Belt & Road Initiative? What are China’s global goals? Why does China build hospitals in the global south? How is China able to afford these works? Has China inspired other countries to pursue Marxism-Leninism, and if so, how? At this point, is China an adequate replacement for the loss of the USSR? Why or why not?

    Furthermore, several eastern european countries were discussed in Blackshirts & Reds. Their progress between 1992 and 1997 was observed and reported. How have those countries fared in the ensuing 30 years? What has changed? Several commentators in 1997 mentioned that the “switch to Capitalism would take time, and short-term hardship is predicted.” Has the hardship continued? Have those countries used western capitalism to turn their countries around?

    I am just very curious about the decades since 1997 and how they affected Eastern Europe, China, and the global south, and I am very interested to read more like Blackshirts & Reds that covers these more recent decades.

    EDIT: And I want to learn more about Yemen, Houthis, Ansarallah!!

    • CocteauChameleons [none/use name]@hexbear.netEnglish
      3·
      2 days ago

      What can I read that will inform me about China’s developments, specifically Socialism with Chinese Characteristics, and Dengism leading into the current leadership of Xi. How did that propel them into being able to strong-arm the US as we are currently seeing?

      Xi has actually written a couple books on China’s governance, that may be a good resource for you

      • KuroXppi [they/them]@hexbear.netEnglish
        2·
        2 days ago

        They’re kinda dry tbh. They’re like a compendium of speeches and essays (i tapped out halfway through the first book). I wouldn’t say they’re not a good resource, but they’re definitely not as readable as Blackshirts

  • Frogmanfromlake [none/use name]@hexbear.netEnglish
    6·
    2 days ago

    I watched a Documentary about being lgbt in Mississippi and good God it’s more insane than I imagined. The statistics of trans suicides are brought up and the church pastor counters with dentists suicide rates. Then there’s this lesbian who swears she had “the devil” exorcised from her and is now straight while continuing to notice fleeting feelings for a woman in her life. She then tries to take her gay son to feel the spirit of Jesus and turn straight too. Just sad overall.

    It makes all those “are the straight okay” comments make a lot more sense. If that’s what queer Americans have to put up with.

  • DragonBallZinn [he/him, they/them]@hexbear.netEnglish
    10·
    2 days ago

    I’m working in a fucking non-profit and it still acts like a for-profit corporation.

    One manager who I have good rapport with warned me that while I’m not in any trouble, she wants to make sure I reach fundraising goals because higher ups think “wow! Look at all these applicants we’re getting! We can fire all but the best of the best and have a small group of elite employees!” for a fucking minimum wage summer job where half of all new hires don’t even last a week. And of fucking course the higher-ups get all stuck up with their “it’s not that people don’t want to make contributions or even if they do, everyone is too broke and busy to, it’s YOUR fault for people not wanting to contribute!" Like, sorry when people say “no” I understand that means fucking “no”.

    Yeah, because the fact that previous members (who make up the bulk of any given quota) are almost never home or too busy with literally anything is all my fault…and the fact people all say “no” is also my fault.

    • Maturin [any]@hexbear.netEnglish
      4·
      2 days ago

      Non-profits ARE for profit. The distinction about non-profits is just about where the profits go and what taxes they are subject to. Nonprofits just don’t have shareholders who have a right to keep the profits but they are still profit-based businesses.

      • DragonBallZinn [he/him, they/them]@hexbear.netEnglish
        3·
        2 days ago

        I see, it was my idea that nonprofits really just met “as long as we’re achieving our goals and not running at a loss, we’re good.”

        Personally, I’m only working such a job since it was the only place that even bothered to respond and it looks like they have their own bugs up their asses about refusing anything less than the best of the best employees, and all part of a skeleton crew.

        • Maturin [any]@hexbear.netEnglish
          5·
          2 days ago

          It’s definitely exhibit infinity of Americans applying a very deceptive label to something to make it sound better than it actually is.

  • homhom9000 [she/her]@hexbear.netEnglish
    5·
    2 days ago

    Libs doom too much. Seeing musk/trump are starting their fallout and a subset of maga being mad about palantir(that I’m happily egging on). Meanwhile, I’m seeing libs quote tweet the FBI’s transphobia as “this is not who we are”.

    Anyway get ready for funny times, I predicted 6 months for the fallout, what was everyone else’s predictions?