Šmeral was born into a relatively well to-do family in a small town. While studying at the gymnasium in Třebíč he joined the local wing of the Czech Social Democratic Party. During 1898–1904 he studied law at the Charles University in Prague and actively engaged in politics. Since 1899 he also worked as a journalist in the party newspaper Právo lidu and as a public speaker. He also published several theoretical works.
Political careeredit
Being able, outspoken and hard working, Šmeral was elected to the executive committee of social democracy (in 1909) and into the parliament of Austria (Reichsrat), in 1911. According to historian Jan Galandauer he was the most competent politician among Czech social democrats.
During World War I Šmeral became head of social democracy. He advocated federalization of Austria-Hungary as the best way to achieve the goals of the worker's movement and argued against creation of small national states. As the war dragged on and faith in the monarchy vanished, the other leaders of the party grew discontented. During September 1917, Gustav Habrman, František Soukup, František Tomášek, Rudolf Bechyně and others criticized Šmeral for his pro-Austrian stance and forced him to resign.
After 28 October 1918, when Czechoslovakia was established, he refused to participate in politics of the new state and until the end of 1919 worked as a correspondent of Právo lidu in Switzerland.
During the spring of 1920, Šmeral visited Soviet Russia where he discussed the future directions of the left movement in Czechoslovakia with V. I. Lenin. After his return, he led the left-wing of Social Democracy, preparing for the creation of the communist party and participated in work of the Comintern. In May 1921 he co-founded, together with Antonín Zápotocký, the Communist Party of Czechoslovakia (KSČ) and served in its executive committee (later named the central committee, ÚV KSČ).
Šmeral was criticized as too moderate and for "social democratism" by radicals. He worked as an executive of the Comintern from 1926, most of the time outside Czechoslovakia. During the 1930s he organized anti-fascist movements. In September 1938, after the Sudetenland Crisis resulted in the Munich Agreement, he left for Moscow and joined the exiled leadership (zahraniční vedení) of the KSČ (soon banned in Nazi-occupied Czechoslovakia).
In November 1938 he went to Moscow, where he died on 8 May 1941.
Selected worksedit
Kdo jsou a co chtějí sociální demokraté [Social Democrats: Who They Are And What They Want] (1906)
Materálie k dějinám dělnického hnutí [Historical Materials About Worker's Movement] (1906)
Pravda o sovětském Rusku [The Truth About Soviet Russia] (1920)
Referencesedit
Bernard Wheaton: "Radical socialism in Czechoslovakia : Bohumír Šmeral, the Czech road to socialism and the origins of the Czechoslovak Communist Party, 1917-1921", 1986, ISBN0-88033-110-0
Jan Galandauer: "Bohumír Šmeral 1888 až 1914", Prague, 1981
External linksedit
Short biography 2020-05-31 at the Wayback Machine (in Czech)
January 01, 1970
bohumír, Šmeral, october, 1880, 1941, czech, politician, leader, czech, social, democratic, party, founders, communist, party, czechoslovakia, born, 1890, october, 1890třebíč, austria, hungarydied8, 1941, 1941, aged, moscow, russian, sfsr, soviet, unionoccupat. Bohumir Smeral 25 October 1880 8 May 1941 was a Czech politician leader of the Czech Social Democratic Party and one of the founders of the Communist Party of Czechoslovakia Bohumir SmeralBorn 1890 10 25 25 October 1890Trebic Austria HungaryDied8 May 1941 1941 05 08 aged 50 Moscow Russian SFSR Soviet UnionOccupation s Politician journalist and writer Contents 1 Early life 2 Political career 3 Selected works 4 References 5 External linksEarly life editSmeral was born into a relatively well to do family in a small town While studying at the gymnasium in Trebic he joined the local wing of the Czech Social Democratic Party During 1898 1904 he studied law at the Charles University in Prague and actively engaged in politics Since 1899 he also worked as a journalist in the party newspaper Pravo lidu and as a public speaker He also published several theoretical works Political career editBeing able outspoken and hard working Smeral was elected to the executive committee of social democracy in 1909 and into the parliament of Austria Reichsrat in 1911 According to historian Jan Galandauer he was the most competent politician among Czech social democrats During World War I Smeral became head of social democracy He advocated federalization of Austria Hungary as the best way to achieve the goals of the worker s movement and argued against creation of small national states As the war dragged on and faith in the monarchy vanished the other leaders of the party grew discontented During September 1917 Gustav Habrman Frantisek Soukup Frantisek Tomasek Rudolf Bechyne and others criticized Smeral for his pro Austrian stance and forced him to resign After 28 October 1918 when Czechoslovakia was established he refused to participate in politics of the new state and until the end of 1919 worked as a correspondent of Pravo lidu in Switzerland During the spring of 1920 Smeral visited Soviet Russia where he discussed the future directions of the left movement in Czechoslovakia with V I Lenin After his return he led the left wing of Social Democracy preparing for the creation of the communist party and participated in work of the Comintern In May 1921 he co founded together with Antonin Zapotocky the Communist Party of Czechoslovakia KSC and served in its executive committee later named the central committee UV KSC Smeral was criticized as too moderate and for social democratism by radicals He worked as an executive of the Comintern from 1926 most of the time outside Czechoslovakia During the 1930s he organized anti fascist movements In September 1938 after the Sudetenland Crisis resulted in the Munich Agreement he left for Moscow and joined the exiled leadership zahranicni vedeni of the KSC soon banned in Nazi occupied Czechoslovakia In November 1938 he went to Moscow where he died on 8 May 1941 Selected works editKdo jsou a co chteji socialni demokrate Social Democrats Who They Are And What They Want 1906 Materalie k dejinam delnickeho hnuti Historical Materials About Worker s Movement 1906 Pravda o sovetskem Rusku The Truth About Soviet Russia 1920 References editBernard Wheaton Radical socialism in Czechoslovakia Bohumir Smeral the Czech road to socialism and the origins of the Czechoslovak Communist Party 1917 1921 1986 ISBN 0 88033 110 0 Jan Galandauer Bohumir Smeral 1888 az 1914 Prague 1981External links editShort biography Archived 2020 05 31 at the Wayback Machine in Czech Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Bohumir Smeral amp oldid 1214960293, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
