Kurt Eisner

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Monument to Kurt Eisner on the sidewalk where he fell when he was assassinated in Munich.

Kurt Eisner (May 14, 1867–February 21, 1919) was a German and Bavarian politician. He is used as an example of charismatic authority by Max Weber.

Life

Early activism

Born in Berlin, he studied at Friedrich Wilhelm University, worked as a theater critic, and edited several socialist newspapers. He was critical about Karl Marx's theory of historical materialism, which was a part of the dogmatic thought of the Social Democratic Party of Germany.

His thought was heavily influenced by Friedrich Nietzsche: Eisner agreed with Nietzsche on the issue of equality, believing that people should have the possibility to rise above the average and be creative, as the only way to bettering society. Nonetheless, other opinions held by Nietzsche made Eisner view him as a monster and a sinister thinker. As a pacifist and a socialist, he was against idealizing strong and irresponsible characters (the Übermensch) encouraged by Nietzsche.

Prominence

He joined the Independent Social Democratic Party of Germany in 1917, at the height of World War I, and was convicted of treason in 1918 for his role in inciting a strike of munitions workers.

After his release from prison, he organized the revolution that overthrew the monarchy in Bavaria (see German Revolution). He declared Bavaria to be a free state and republic on November 9, 1918, becoming the first republican premier of Bavaria.

He was defeated in the February 1919 election, and was assassinated in Munich when Count Anton Graf von Arco auf Valley shot at him on his way to present his resignation to the Bavarian parliament.

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