Between 1878 and 1890, the German Empire experienced a phase of state repression that is today considered a blueprint for the suppression of political opposition. The “Act against the Publicly Dangerous Endeavors of Social Democracy”—commonly known as the Anti-Socialist Laws—was Otto von Bismarck’s attempt to erase an entire worldview from public life through administrative force, police arbitrariness, and social exclusion.
At PolitischeVerfolgung.de, we document this era as the moment when the rule of law in the Empire was sacrificed to political expediency in order to crush the rising labor movement.
Instrumentalizing Fear: The Path to the Law
Bismarck had long sought a pretext to ban Social Democracy, which he branded as “enemies of the Empire” (Reichsfeinde). Two assassination attempts on Emperor Wilhelm I in 1878 provided the welcome opportunity. Although no connection between the assassins and the Socialist Workers’ Party (SAP, later the SPD) could be proven, the government used public outrage to launch an unprecedented smear campaign.
The law was passed in October 1878. It was aimed not at specific criminal acts, but at political conviction. This marked the transition from a criminal law based on deeds to a criminal law based on ideology—a defining feature of all political persecution.
The Mechanics of Suppression: A Total Assault
The impact of the Anti-Socialist Laws was devastating, affecting every sphere of life for those targeted. The law functioned like a permanent state of emergency within the normal legal framework:
- Ban on Associations and Assemblies: All organizations linked to the labor movement—ranging from party sections and trade unions to choral societies—were dissolved.
- Press Censorship: Over 1,300 publications were banned. Anyone possessing or distributing socialist literature risked severe prison sentences.
- Employment Banning: Teachers, civil servants, and state workers were dismissed if suspected of sympathizing with Social Democracy.
- Police Arbitrariness: House searches without specific suspicion became everyday reality. The political police was massively expanded to weave a dense network of informants and spies.
The Minor State of Siege and Mass Expulsions
A particularly insidious provision of the law was the authority to declare a “minor state of siege” over major urban centers such as Berlin, Leipzig, or Hamburg.
This granted authorities the right to expel politically undesirable individuals from their places of residence without trial. For those affected, this meant social and economic ruin. Families were torn apart, artisans lost their workshops, and workers often found no employment in their new locations due to being placed on “blacklists.” In total, approximately 1,500 people were expelled and more than 15,000 years of prison sentences were handed down.
Underground Resistance: The “Red Field Post”
Despite massive repression, Bismarck failed to break the spirit of the movement. Political persecution forced the Social Democrats underground, which paradoxically professionalized and united the party.
- Exile as a Base: Because no party press was allowed to exist domestically, the newspaper Der Sozialdemokrat was printed abroad (Zürich and London).
- The Red Field Post: A high-risk smuggling system brought tens of thousands of copies of banned literature across the border. Those involved risked life and liberty to maintain freedom of information.
- Front Organizations: Political work was disguised as harmless leisure activities. Hiking clubs or smoking circles served as covers for secret party meetings.
Bismarck’s Failure and the Legacy of Persecution
After twelve years, the Anti-Socialist Laws had to be abandoned in 1890. Bismarck had failed: the Social Democrats became the strongest party in terms of popular vote in the 1890 Reichstag election. Political persecution had achieved the exact opposite of its intent—it morally legitimized the SAP and permanently shattered workers’ trust in the state.
Nevertheless, deep scars remained. The Anti-Socialist Laws established a culture of distrust and political surveillance that persisted even after 1890 through specialized police divisions. The division between “state-supporting” and “state-hostile” citizens was etched deeply into the German consciousness.
Conclusion: Societal Rifts Across Generations
The era of the Anti-Socialist Laws demonstrates that emergency legislation is never merely a short-term security measure. It corrupts the judiciary, destroys livelihoods, and deepens societal rifts across generations. The steadfastness of figures like August Bebel or Wilhelm Liebknecht under this intense pressure remains a monument to the unyielding nature of the democratic spirit against authoritarian arbitrariness.