Comintern

CominternCommunism International

By: Sarah, Mike, and EvanGrade 11 World HistoryMr. Keery

Timeline:1919 - Comintern founded

1919-1921 – Belief in Revolution for the cause of communism1921 – Changed policy for cooperation with other parties

1928 – New policy, working with Social Fascists taboo1925 – View on main enemy changed from Reformists to Fascists

1939 – Nazi-Soviet Non-Aggression Pact; war in Europe should not be supported

1941 – Nazi invasion of USSR; asked for antifascists to defend USSR11943 – Comintern disbands

First Congress of the Comintern

The First Congress of the Communist International announced the formation of the Comintern. The Comintern was formed for the basic purpose of sowing the seeds of socialism in workers (proleteriat) across the world. Initially they planned on inciting revolution and seizing power through force.

The Third Communist International

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GggC-AJdDmA

In 1921 the Comintern realized that Revolution was not possible, and that they were more likely to succeed through cooperation of Social Democratic parties.

However in 1928 they changed their policy once more and declared Social Democrats and Reform Socialists to be “Social Fascists.” As such, workers and party members were told to destroy the “Social Fascists.”

The Comintern existed simultaneously in two worlds. One was the socialist USSR, and the other was in the international stage, the capitalist world. In the USSR, the Comintern strived to strengthen policies and further the international communist movement, and also to defend Soviet foreign and domestic policies. In the capitalist world, the Comintern worked hard to direct communist and socialist parties, educate their leaders on Marxism, and build their organizational structures.

Many socialist parties did not feel comfortable with joining the Comintern, because it would mean that their party would be under the direct leadership of Soviet Russia.

In 1935 the Seventh Congress changed the policy once again and decided that Fascism was the true enemy of the Comintern. Its urging for antifascist struggle was popular across the globe. During the Spanish civil war, the Comintern formed a small army of volunteers from many countries to fight fascism. Of course, when the Nazi-Soviet Non-Aggression Pace in 1939 was signed, the Comintern said that communists should not support the war in Europe.

When Nazi-Germany invaded the USSR in 1941, the Comintern announced that antifascists should do all they could to defend the USSR. The party was disbanded in 1943 by order of Josef Stalin.

Anthem of the Comintern

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KncK5cZ5Rmk

As you can see, the Comintern had a vast influence through the globe, especially in influencing and fighting in the Spanish civil war. The reason they were so innefective was most likely due to how many Congresses of Comintern they had, and how most of them made/revised policies to be the polar opposite of what they were previously.

Anti- Comintern Pact

The Anti-Comintern act was an agreement between Italy, Japan, And Germany that was established in 1936 by Hitler. They were against all influences of the Soviet Union.

Click for Youtube video of The Anti-Comintern revised pact of 1941 in Berlin

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t2rlXJz8mNo

Propaganda Posters

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This poster is of a man holding a Soviet flag. The writing says “Under the Jewish Flag”

Propaganda Posters (cont.)

This poster says “Jews are your eternal Enemies! Stalin and jews are the gang of criminals!”

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Propaganda Posters (cont.)

This poster says “Take advantage of Vacation spots…. in the soviet union”

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Bibliography:http://www.iisg.nl/exhibitions/chairman/sovintro.phphttp://www.answers.com/topic/communist-internationalhttp://www.answers.com/topic/anti-comintern-pacthttp://www.answers.com/topic/cominternhttp://www.library.yale.edu/slavic/comintern.htmlhttp://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/RUScomintern.htmhttp://www.englishrussia.com/?p=928

Textbook: The West and the World