V. I. Lenin

Speech at the Opening Session of the Congress

March 2

On behalf of the Central Committee of the Russian Communist
Party I declare the First Congress of the Communist
International open. First I would ask all present to rise in
tribute to the finest representatives of the Third
International: Karl Liebknecht and Rosa Luxemburg . ( All rise .)

Comrades, our gathering has great historic significance. It
testifies to the collapse of all the illusions cherished by
bourgeois democrats. Not only in Russia, but in the most
developed capitalist countries of Europe, in Germany for
example, civil war is a fact.

The bourgeois are terror-stricken at the growing workers’
revolutionary movement. This is understandable if we take into
account that the development of events since the imperialist war
inevitably favors the workers’ revolutionary movement, and that
the world revolution is beginning and growing in intensity
everywhere.

The people are aware of the greatness and significance of the
struggle now going on. All that is needed is to find the
practical form to enable the proletariat to establish its rule.
Such a form is the Soviet system with the dictatorship of the proletariat.
Dictatorship of the proletariat—until now these words were Latin to the masses. Thanks to the spread of the Soviets
throughout the world this Latin has been translated into all
modern languages; a practical form of dictatorship has been
found by the working people. The mass of workers now understand
it thanks to Soviet power in Russia, thanks to the Spartacus League in Germany and to similar organizations in
other countries, such as, for example, the Shop Stewards Committees in Britain . All this shows that a
revolutionary form of the dictatorship of the proletariat has
been found, that the proletariat is now able to exercise its
rule.

Comrades, I think that after the events in Russia and the
January struggle in Germany, it is especially important to note
that in other countries, too, the latest form of the workers’
movement is asserting itself and getting the upper hand. Today,
for example, I read in an anti-socialist newspaper a report to
the effect that the British government had received a deputation
from the Birmingham Workers’ Counsel and had expressed its
readiness to recognize the Councils as economic bodies. [A] The Soviet
system has triumphed not only in backward Russia, but also in
the most developed country of Europe—in Germany, and in
Britain, the oldest capitalist country.

Even though the bourgeoisie are still raging, even though they
may kill thousands more workers, victory will be ours, the
victory of the worldwide Communist revolution is assured.

Comrades, I extend hearty greetings to you on behalf of the
Central Committee of the Russian Communist Party. I move that
we elect a presidium. Let us have nominations. [B]