# the German — The Communist Manifesto character guide

> the German in The Communist Manifesto by Karl Marx.

**Role:** minor

**First appearance:** 0009-c-german-or-true-socialism

## Who they are

Generic reference to German socialists and philosophers critiqued in the text.

## Relationships

### [Socialism](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_communist_manifesto_se/characters/socialism)

_rivalry_

Socialism is contrasted with 'German' or 'True' Socialism, which is depicted as a reactionary and philosophical distortion of socialist ideas.

### [the Communists](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_communist_manifesto_se/characters/the_communists)

_rivalry_

The Communists oppose German Socialism as a petty-bourgeois ideology that undermines the revolutionary proletarian movement.

## In the story

### [I: Bourgeois and Proletarians](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_communist_manifesto_se/chapters/i-bourgeois-and-proletarians)

The German context is implicit in the discussion of the bourgeoisie's political advance in Germany and the broader European development.

### [II: Proletarians and Communists](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_communist_manifesto_se/chapters/ii-proletarians-and-communists)

Mentioned in the context of German 'True' Socialism as part of the broader critique of alternative socialist currents.

### [III: Socialist and Communist Literature](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_communist_manifesto_se/chapters/iii-socialist-and-communist-literature)

Refers to German philosophers and literati who appropriated French socialist literature, stripping it of its practical significance and turning it into abstract philosophical nonsense.

### [Reactionary Socialism](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_communist_manifesto_se/chapters/1-reactionary-socialism)

Central to the discussion of German 'True' Socialism, which is depicted as a philosophical distortion of French socialist literature.

### [Feudal Socialism](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_communist_manifesto_se/chapters/a-feudal-socialism)

The German context is referenced through the mention of 'German True Socialism' in the broader discussion, though not directly in this excerpt.

### [German, or “True,” Socialism](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_communist_manifesto_se/chapters/c-german-or-true-socialism)

The German literati and philosophers who appropriated French socialist literature, translating it into abstract philosophical terms and losing its practical revolutionary significance.

### [Position of the Communists in Relation to the Various Existing Opposition Parties](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_communist_manifesto_se/chapters/iv-position-of-the-communists-in-relation-to-the-various-existing-opposition-parties)

Germany is highlighted as the focal point for the coming bourgeois revolution, which is seen as a prelude to proletarian revolution.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_communist_manifesto_se/characters/the_german
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_communist_manifesto_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_communist_manifesto_se/characters