History of Clara Zetkin

Clara Zetkin was a formidable figure in the annals of history, known for her pivotal role in the socialist and women’s movements in Europe during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Born Clara Josephine Eissner on July 5, 1857, in Wiederau, Saxony, her early exposure to the political and social issues of her time set the stage for a lifelong commitment to activism.

Her early years were marked by a strong educational background, which was somewhat unusual for women of her time. Clara's mother, Josephine, was an educated schoolteacher, a significant influence on Zetkin’s intellectual and social development. In the 1870s, Clara attended a teacher's college for women in Leipzig, where she was introduced to the world of revolutionary politics and became actively involved in the burgeoning socialist movement in Germany.

It was during this period that Clara met Ossip Zetkin, a Russian revolutionary, and through their relationship, she became deeply entrenched in the work of the Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD). The SPD, at the time, was spearheading efforts for workers' rights and social reforms, aiming to combat the industrial exploitation pervasive in Europe. Under the stringent anti-socialist laws introduced by Chancellor Otto von Bismarck, Clara, like many of her comrades, was forced into exile and spent a significant portion of her early activism in Switzerland and later in Paris. It was in Paris that Clara completed her association with radical thinkers and further honed her ideologies centered on Marxism and socialist feminism.

After Ossip's untimely death in 1889, Clara returned to Germany, where she became an influential member of the SPD and later the Communist Party of Germany (KPD). Her political career was multifaceted, but one area she passionately championed was women's rights. Given the backdrop of rigid gender roles and limited rights for women, Clara sought to bring feminist issues to the forefront of the socialist agenda. Her commitment was evident in her relentless advocacy for women's suffrage, equality, and social justice. She was instrumental in founding the International Socialist Women's Congress, and in 1907, she became the first head of the ‘Women's Office’ for the SPD.

One of Clara's most enduring legacies was her role in establishing International Women's Day. Inspired by the American socialist movement's "Women's Day," Clara proposed the observance of an annual event at the International Socialist Women's Conference in 1910. Although it was first observed on different days in different countries, by 1921, March 8th had been fixed as the date, and it continues to be celebrated worldwide, drawing attention to issues such as gender equality, reproductive rights, and violence against women.

Zetkin's political journey wasn't without its challenges, particularly as the Social Democratic Party of Germany split over its support for World War I. Clara was vehemently opposed to the war, viewing it as an imperialist conflict that only served the interests of the ruling bourgeois class. Her anti-war stance led to her participation in the formation of the Spartacist League, which subsequently became the Communist Party of Germany (KPD). Throughout her life, Clara Zetkin remained a committed advocate for peace, and her opposition to militarism further solidified her stature within international socialist circles.

As a politician in the Weimar Republic, Zetkin was elected to the Reichstag as a member of the Communist Party, where she served from 1920 to 1933. Her tenure in the Reichstag was marked by her eloquent and impassioned speeches on the floor, where she consistently pushed for labor rights, gender equality, and anti-fascist policies. In one notable act of defiance against the rising tide of fascism, Clara, already in her seventies and in frail health, delivered a speech against the Nazi regime during the Reichstag session of August 1932, asserting the necessity for a united struggle against the threat of dictatorship.

Despite her declining health, Zetkin remained an active and influential figure until the very end of her life. She spent her final years in exile in the Soviet Union, where she continued her work until her death on June 20, 1933. Her contributions to politics, both at the national and international levels, left an indelible mark on the socialist and feminist movements, earning her a revered place among revolutionary leaders.

Clara Zetkin's life was one of unwavering commitment to the cause of the oppressed and marginalized. Her work transcended the confines of her era and laid the groundwork for future generations of activists and politicians. By championing the interconnected struggle for socialism and gender emancipation, Clara Zetkin remains a potent symbol of the fight for justice and equality, her legacy continuing to inspire progressive movements across the globe.