48
with the Mensheviks! The same social make-up, the same arguments, the same anger written on the faces of the intellectuals driven out by the workers from the proletarian party, the same contemptuous gestures. Let us hope that the results will be the same as well. The workers' party in Germany will be strengthened, the petty bourgeois intellectuals who pretend to be Socialists will be crushed. A part will join the bourgeoisie, the other—the better part—will after a time return to its paternal home.
Whatever else may be said, the German workers are the first in Europe to have recovered from an unparalleled crisis, and to close their ranks. The discipline of the old school proved effective. The work of the best German revolutionaries was not done in vain. A Communist party has been born in Germany and is leading the masses. This will involve consequences of the greatest historical importance.
The split occurred on Saturday night. Late the same night we left for Berlin. A meeting was arranged in one of the largest halls of the city. I was to speak on the "Truth about Soviet Russia." A few days previously this meeting was authorised by the authorities. Unfortunately, I was unable to speak at. that meeting. I caught a chill in Halle, and was so hoarse, that I could hardly utter a single word. I got up with a heightened temperature, and at first we decided that I should not go out at all, as I was in any case unable to speak. Other speakers were selected to take my place at the meeting. But half an hour after the beginning of the meeting a group of workers arrived from the meeting with an insistent request that I should at least "show myself" at the meeting. It was impossible to refuse them, and although I felt very ill, I had to go.
During the three years of our revolution I saw a good many imposing labour meetings, but I have rarely been at a meeting like the one which took place in the "Neue Welt." The huge hall was absolutely packed, the galleries were also full, the whole place was like a solid human mass. When we arrived Mayer was reading his report; the president interrupted him, announced my arrival, and lead me to the platform. Thundering cheers continued for a long time. I never in my whole life