What is Social Democratic Party of Germany?
{{Infobox political party | country = Germany | name = Social Democratic Party of Germany | native_name = Sozialdemokratische Partei Deutschlands | abbreviation = SPD | logo = SPD logo.svg | colorcode = {{party color|Social Democratic Party of Germany}} | leader = [[Norbert Walter-Borjans]] and [[Saskia Esken]] | foundation = 23 May 1863 ([[Allgemeiner Deutscher Arbeiterverein|ADAV]])<br />7 August 1869 ([[Social Democratic Workers' Party of Germany|SDAP]]) | ideology = [[Social democracy]] | position = [[Centre-left]] | international = [[Socialist International]] | european = [[Party of European Socialists]] | europarl = [[Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats]] | colors = [[Red]] | headquarters = Willy-Brandt-Haus<br />D-10911 [[Berlin]] | website = [http://www.spd.de http://www.spd.de] }} The '''Social Democratic Party of Germany''' ([[German language|German]] '''Sozialdemokratische Partei Deutschlands''' or '''SPD''') is the oldest [[political party]] in Germany that still exists. It was created on 23 May 1863. Many people think that the SPD is one of the two most important political parties in modern-day Germany, with the [[Christian Democratic Union of Germany|Christian Democratic Union]] (CDU). == History == It was founded as the General German Workers Association (''Allgemeiner Deutscher Arbeiterverein'') (ADAV) on May 23rd in 1863 in [[Leipzig]]. Founder was Ferdinand Lassalle. In 1875 the ADAV joined with the Social Democratic Workers' Party (''Sozialdemokratische Arbeiterpartei'') (SDAP), which was founded in 1869 in [[Eisenach]] by [[August Bebel]] and [[Wilhelm Liebknecht]]. The new name was the Socialist Workers' Party of Germany (''Sozialistische Arbeiterpartei Deutschlands'') (SAP). In the autumn of 1890, it took its present name. In the years between 1875 and 1890, it was made illegal by [[Otto von Bismarck]]. The Social democrats wanted to support the rights of workers. In 1914, the SPD was split into two. Most members of the party supported the [[Kaiser]] and his plans for war.