The split in the Socialist Workers Party between the majority (Leon Trotsky, James Cannon) and the minority factions (Max Schachtman, James Burnhman)

Documents edited and proofread by Scott Wilson in 2006 for the Encyclopedia of Trotskyism On-Line

1939-1942

Background: Ribbentrop-Molotov Pact (Aug 23, 1939), outbreak of the Second World War (September 1, 1939), Nazis invade Western Poland (September 1, 1939), the Soviet Union invades Eastern Poland (September 17, 1939), Finnish-Russian War (November 30, 1939-March 12, 1940), Germany attacks Soviet Union (Operation Barbarossa) (June 22, 1941), Japanese raid on Pearl Harbor: American entry in WWII (December 7, 1941)

The Second World War, by the Editors of New International. Source: New International, Vol. V, No. 10, October 1939

The USSR in War, by L. Trotsky (25 September 1939) Source: New International, Vol. V, No. 11, November 1939

Leon Trotsky, Again and Once More Again on the Nature of the USSR (October 21, 1939) Source: New International, Vol. VI, No. 1, February 1940

Leon Trotsky, A Petty-Bourgeois Opposition in the Socialist Workers Party (December 15, 1939) Source: New International, Vol. VI, No. 2, March 1940

Abern, Bern, Burnham and Shachtman: The War and Bureaucratic ConservatismSource: Internal Bulletin of the Socialist Workers Party, Vol. II, No. 26, January 1940

Max Shachtman, The Crisis in the American Party: An Open Letter in Reply to Comrade Leon Trotsky (January 1, 1940) Source: New International, Vol. VI, No. 2, March 1940

Party Opinion: An Editorial on Finland Source: New International, Vol. VI, No. 1, February 1940

Speech on the Russian Question, by James P. Cannon Source: New International, Vol. VI, No. 1, February 1940

Editorial Comment—1940 Editorial by the Editors of Fourth International on the war in Europe

Resolution on Russia,—A Statement of Policy by the Political Committee of the Socialist Workers Party, Source: New International, Vol. VI, No. 1, February 1940

James Burnham, Science and Style: A Reply to Comrade Trotsky (February 1940) Appendix, to Leon Trotsky, In Defence of Marxism, London 1966, pp. 232-256.

Leon Trotsky, From a Scratch to the Danger of Gangrene (January 24, 1940) Source: New International, Vol. VI, No. 2, March 1940

SWP Minority: The Second World War and the Soviet Union - A Resolution Submitted by the Minority of the Political Committee for the Consideration of the Membership of the Socialist Workers Party Source: New International, Vol. VI, No. 2, March 1940

Editorial Statement: The Voice of the Third Camp Must Be Heard! Source: New International, Vol. VI, No. 3, April 1940

Editorial: For the Third Camp!Source: New International, Vol. VI, No. 3, April 1940

The Soviet Union and the World War, by Max Shachtman Source: New International, Vol. VI, No. 3, April 1940

The United States at War, by Dwight Macdonald Source: New International, Vol. VI, No. 3, April 1940

India and the Third Camp, by Sherman Stanley Source: New International, Vol. VI, No. 3, April 1940

The Politics of Desperation, by James Burnham Source: New International, Vol. VI, No. 3, April 1940

Why We Publish Fourth International Source: Fourth International, Vol. I, No. 1, May 1940

Editorial Comment Source: Fourth International, Vol. I, No. 1, May 1940

The Convention of the SWP, by James P. Cannon Source: Fourth International, Vol. I, No. 1, May 1940

The Algebra of Revolution, by Jarvis Gerland [Jean van Heijenoort] Source: Fourth International, Vol. I, No. 1, May 1940

An Open Letter to Comrade Burnham, by Leon Trotsky (January 7, 1940) Source: Fourth International, Vol. I, No. 1, May 1940

Balance Sheet of the Finnish Events, by Leon Trotsky (April 25, 1940) Source: Fourth International, Vol. I, No. 2, June 1940

M. Lebrun, Mass and Class in Soviet Society Source: New International, Vol. 6, No. 4, May 1940, pp. 87-91.

SWP Minority: Where Is the Petty Bourgeois Opposition? A Repeated Challenge Remains Unanswered, (Part I) Source: New International, Vol. 6, No. 4, May 1940, pp. 93-96.

SWP Minority: Where Is the Petty Bourgeois Opposition? A Repeated Challenge Remains Unanswered (Part II) Source: New International, Vol. 6, No. 5, June 1940.

Marxism and National Defense, by Ernest Erber Source: New International, Vol. 6, No. 5, June 1940.

James Burnham, Letter of Resignation from the Workers Party (May 1940) Source: Fourth International, Vol. I, No. 4, August 1940

Burnham’s Letter of Resignation, by Jack Weber Source: Fourth International, Vol. I, No. 4, August 1940

Leon Trotsky, On a Petty Bourgeois Philistine [Dwight Macdonald], (9 August 1940) Source: Fourth International, Vol. I, No. 5, October 1940

The Pathology of Renegacy, by James P. Cannon Source: Fourth International, Vol. I, No. 2, June 1940

“Science”—Burnham’s Style, by Jarvis Gerland [Jean van Heijenoort] Source: Fourth International, Vol. I, No. 2, June 1940

Capitalist Society and the War Source: New International, Vol. 6, No. 6, July 1940.

Leon Trotsky: The Heritage, by Max Shachtman Source: New International, Vol. 6, No. 8, September 1940.

Trotsky’s Place in History, by J.R. Johnson [C.L.R. James] Source: New International, Vol. 6, No. 8, September 1940.

Trotsky’s Last Battle against the Revisionists, by Joseph Hansen Source: Fourth International, Vol. I, No. 6, November 1940

Is Russia a Workers’ State, by Max Shachtman Source: New International, Vol. 6, No. 10, December 1940.

Leon Trotsky: In Defense of Marxism

James P. Cannon: The Struggle for a Proletarian Party

Working-Class Policy in War and Peace: Once more on the New Policy towards Militarism and War of the Socialist Workers Party, by Max Shachtman Source: “New International”, New York, Vol. 7, No. 1, January 1941.

Defend the Soviet Union!—1941, Manifesto of the Socialist Workers Party

Burnham’s Attorney Carries On, by Joseph Hansen Source: “Fourth International”, New York, Vol. II, No. 2, February 1941.

Russia—A Workers State, by Milton Alvin Source: “New International”, New York, Vol. 7, No. 2, February 1941.

Russia—A Fascist State, by J.R. Johnson Source: “New International”, New York, Vol. 7, No. 3, April 1941.

Burnham’s Managerial Revolution, by Joseph Hansen Source: “Fourth International”, New York, Vol. II, No. 5, June 1941.

Burnham and His Managers, by Albert Gates Source: “New International”, New York, Vol. 7, No. 6, July 1941.

Burnham and His Managers—II, by Albert Gates Source: “New International”, New York, Vol. 7, No. 7, August 1941.

The Russian State, by David Coolidge Source: “New International”, New York, Vol. 7, No. 5, June 1941.

The Russian State, by W. Kent Source: “New International”, New York, Vol. 7, No. 6, July 1941.

The Russian State—II, by W. Kent Source: “New International”, New York, Vol. 7, No. 7, August 1941.

For Defense of the Soviet Union, by Milton Alvin Source: “New International”, New York, Vol. 7, No. 7, August 1941.

Basis for Defensism in Russia, by Ernest Lund Source: “New International”, New York, Vol. 7, No. 7, August 1941.

Defend the Soviet Union—Manifesto of the Socialist Workers Party Source: “Fourth International”, New York, Vol. II, No. 6, July 1941

The War in Russia: Manifesto of the American Committee for a Fourth International Source: “New International”, New York, Vol. 7, No. 8, September 1941.

Class Relations in the Soviet Union, by John G. Wright Source: “Fourth International”, New York, Vol. II, No. 6, July 1941

The Soviet Union at War, by John G. Wright Source: “Fourth International”, New York, Vol. II, No. 7, August 1941

Russia and Marxism, by J.R. Johnson Source: “New International”, New York, Vol. 7, No. 8, September 1941.

Bureaucratic Collectivism, by Joseph Carter Source: “New International”, New York, Vol. 7, No. 8, September 1941.

Manifesto of the Fourth International: For Defense of the Soviet Union (August 1941) Source: “Fourth International”, New York, New York, Vol. II, No. 8, October 1941, pp. 229-31.

The Russian Question: Resolution of the Workers Party Source: “New International”, New York, Vol. 7, No. 9, October 1941.

The USSR—Twenty Four Years Later, by the Editors Source: “Fourth International”, New York, Vol. II, No. 9, November 1941

James P. Cannon: A Statement on the War (December 22, 1941) Source: Fourth International, Volume III, No. 1, January 1942, pages 3-4.

Last updated on 25.4.2007