The Socialist Equality Party (Sozialistische Gleichheitspartei), the German section of the International Committee of the Fourth International, adopted this document unanimously at its Founding Congress held on May 23, 2010 in Berlin. It is published below in full.

The document traces the historical experiences of the workers’ movement over the past 140 years. The Congress resolution examines the origins of the German SPD (Social Democratic Party) and the reasons behind its capitulation to German militarism in WWI; the rise of the German Communist Party and its subsequent Stalinist degeneration; the postwar division of Germany; the significance of the collapse of the Stalinist German Democratic Republic; and many other historical experiences that led to the founding of the Socialist Equality Party in Germany.

This document acquaints a new generation of workers and young people with the historical experiences of the workers’ movement in Germany, where the working class achieved triumphant successes and suffered world historic defeats that shaped the character of the 20th century. It is an essential read for all students of Marxism.