Gewerkschaftsbund

Zentralgewerkschaftskommission des Deutschen Gewerkschaftsbundes in der Tschechoslowakischen Republik ('Central Commission of German Trade Unions in the Czechoslovak Republic') was a German Social Democratic trade union centre in Czechoslovakia. From 1927 onwards, it was an autonomous structure inside the Czechoslovak labour centre OSČ. The organization was dissolved as Czechoslovakia fell under German occupation.

Gewerkschaftsbund
Central Commission of German Trade Unions in the Czechoslovak Republic
Zentralgewerkschaftskommission des Deutschen Gewerkschaftsbundes in der Tschechoslowakischen Republik
FoundedJuly 1919
DissolvedMarch 1939
HeadquartersGablonzstraße 20, Liberec[1]
Location
Members
372,027 (1921)
Key people
Franz Macoun, General Secretary
AffiliationsInternational Federation of Trade Unions[2]

Early period

The organization was founded in July 1919. In 1920 the name Gewerkschaftsbund was adopted, and a headquarters was set up in Liberec.[3] Gewerkschaftsbund emerged as a prominent force in the amongst labour movements in Czechoslovakia, having around 75% of unionized German workers as its members in 1921 (at the time Czechoslovakia had a general unionizing rate of 50%, one of the higher in Europe). Major unions affiliated to Gewerkschaftsbund were Textile Workers (90,878 members in 1921), Metalworkers (39,209 members in 1921) and Miners (37,582 members in 1921).[4]

In 1922, Czechoslovak communists had formed a separate trade union centre, Mezinárodní všeodborový svaz (MVS). However, not all communist trade unionists joined MVS. As of 1926, there were around 15 000 communists inside the Gewerkschaftsbund affiliates.[5]

Merger into OSČ

In 1927 Gewerkschaftsbund merged into the main Czechoslovak trade union centre, the Social Democratic Odborové sdružení československé (OSČ).[6] The organization continued to function as an autonomous body inside OSČ until the unions were banned following the German occupation.

Leadership

Franz Macoun was the general secretary of the organization from 1920 to 1938. Macoun was a Member of Parliament for the German Social Democratic Workers Party between 1929 and 1938.[7]

Publications

The organization issued the publication Gewerkschafts-Jugend ('Trade Union Youth') between 1934-1937.[8]

Membership
Year Membership
1919 299,091
1920 403,211
1921 372,027
1927 200,183
1933 220,050
1937 206,474

[4][9]

Membership of Gewerkschaftsbund affiliates in 1937
Union Membership
Union der Textilarbeiter b. G. fuer das Tschechoslowakische Staatsgebiet 50,139
Internationaler Metallarbeiterverband in der Tschechoslowakischen Republik 27,553
Allgemeiner Angestellten-Verband 23,413
Verband der Eisenbahner in der Tschechoslowakischen Republik 16,219
Verband der Glas- und Keramarbeiter und -Arbeiterinnen der Tschechoslowakischen Republik 15,219
Union der Bergarbeiter in der Tschechoslowakischen Republik 13,853
Fabrikarbeiterverband in der Tschechoslowakischen Republik 11,235
Verband der Holz- und Landarbeiter in der Tschechoslowakischen Republik 11,090
Verband der oeffentlichen Angestellten 11,053
Verband der Transport- und Lebensmittelarbeiter 78,58
Bekleidungsarbeiterverband in der Tschechoslowakischen Republik 6,681
Gewerkschaft der Postler 4,590
Gewerkschaft der Tabakarbeiterinnen und -Arbeiter in der Tschechoslowakischen Republik 3,549
Graphische Union 2,179
Buehnenbund in der Tschechoslowakischen Republik 1,054
Deutscher Musiker-Verband in der Tschechoslowakischen Republik 789

[1]

References
  1. "OS KOVO - Historie". Archived from the original on 22 October 2008. Retrieved 5 December 2008.
  2. Goethem, Geert van. The Amsterdam International: The World of the International Federation of Trade Unions (IFTU), 1913–1945. Aldershot: Ashgate, 2006. p. 296.
  3. McDermott, Kevin. The Czech Red Unions, 1918-1929: A Study of Their Relations with the Communist Party and the Moscow Internationals. East European monographs, no. 239. Boulder: East European Monographs, 1988. p. 36
  4. McDermott, Kevin. The Czech Red Unions, 1918-1929: A Study of Their Relations with the Communist Party and the Moscow Internationals. East European monographs, no. 239. Boulder: East European Monographs, 1988. p. 38
  5. McDermott, Kevin. The Czech Red Unions, 1918-1929: A Study of Their Relations with the Communist Party and the Moscow Internationals. East European monographs, no. 239. Boulder: East European Monographs, 1988. p. 164
  6. McDermott, Kevin. The Czech Red Unions, 1918-1929: A Study of Their Relations with the Communist Party and the Moscow Internationals. East European monographs, no. 239. Boulder: East European Monographs, 1988. p. 37
  7. "Macoun, Franz (1881-1951)". Daas Bundes Archiv (in German). Retrieved 18 May 2023.
  8. http://www.barch.bund.de/bestaende_findmittel/bestaendeuebersicht/body.html?id_main=5364&where=naeheres&what=parent_id&id_bestand=5378&suchbegriff=
  9. "Po??Tky Odbor? V ?Esk?Ch Zem?Ch". Archived from the original on 17 May 2009. Retrieved 5 December 2008.
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