Kurt Eisner

Kurt Eisner (May 14, 1867 – February 21, 1919) was a German and Bavarian politician and journalist. As a German socialist journalist and statesman, he organized the Socialist Revolution that achieved the overthrow of the monarchy in Bavaria (in 1918). He is used as an example of charismatic authority by Max Weber.

Biography

Kurt Eisner was born in Berlin at 10:15 p.m. on May 14, 1867 to Emanuel Eisner and Hedwig Levenstein. His birth was recorded on page 140, Nr. 289 of the Jüdischen Gemeinde Geburtsregister for 1867.

Kurt Eisner was always an open Republican as well as a Social-Democrat, whereas for tactical reasons German Social-Democracy, particularly in its later stages, rather cold-shouldered anything in the shape of Republican propaganda as being unnecessary and included in general Social-Democratic aims. Consequently he fought actively for political democracy as well as Social-Democracy. He became editor of “Vorwärts” after the death of Wilhelm Liebknecht in 1900, but was subsequently called upon to resign from that position. After his withdrawal from “Vorwärts,” his activities were confined in the main to Bavaria, though he toured other parts of Germany.

He joined the Independent Social Democratic Party of Germany in 1917, at the height of World War I, and was convicted of treason in 1918 for his role in inciting a strike of munitions workers.

After his release from prison, he organized the revolution that overthrew the monarchy in Bavaria (see German Revolution). He declared Bavaria to be a free state and republic on November 8, 1918, becoming the first republican premier of Bavaria.

Monument to Kurt Eisner on the sidewalk where he fell when he was assassinated in Munich.

He was defeated in the February 1919 election, and was assassinated in Munich when Anton Graf von Arco auf Valley shot at him on his way to present his resignation to the Bavarian parliament.

His assassination resulted in the establishment of the Bavarian Soviet Republic and parliament and government fleeing Munich.