Primary sourceBook1915 (published 1916)
The Junius Pamphlet
Rosa Luxemburg · 1915 (published 1916)
Luxemburg's 1915 prison pamphlet attacking the SPD's support for World War I, popularising the phrase 'socialism or barbarism'.
Written secretly in prison, this pamphlet shows Luxemburg's fierce opposition to her own party's support for the war.
About this source
What it is
Written by Rosa Luxemburg in prison in 1915 and circulated illegally, this pamphlet was published in 1916 under the pseudonym 'Junius'. Early editions, including a 1918 American translation, also credited Karl Liebknecht and Franz Mehring, but later editions clarified Luxemburg was the sole author.
Why it matters
The pamphlet condemned the SPD's vote to support German war funding, a decision that split European socialism. Its slogan 'socialism or barbarism' became a lasting phrase for the choice Luxemburg believed societies faced. It shows her willingness to break with her own party's leadership at great personal risk.
Look closer
- Why might Luxemburg have needed to publish this under a false name?
- Why do you think later editions wrongly listed other authors alongside her?
- What risks did distributing an illegal pamphlet during wartime involve?
This book is part of the curated material that grounds the AI version of Rosa Luxemburg on Humy.ai — when students ask about related events, the AI can quote it and cite it.
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