when the uspd split over the question whether to join the communist international (comintern), thälmann sided with the pro-communist faction which in november 1920 merged with the kpd. in december thälmann was elected to the central committee of the kpd. in march 1921 he was fired from his job at the employment office due to his political activities. that summer thälmann went as a representative of the kpd to the congress of the comintern in moscow and met vladimir lenin.