through the 1920s the kpd was racked by internal conflict between more and less radical factions, partly reflecting the power struggles between zinoviev and stalin in moscow. germany was seen as being of central importance to the struggle for socialism, and the failure of the german revolution was a major setback. eventually levi was expelled in 1921 by the comintern for "indiscipline." further leadership changes took place in the 1920s. supporters of the left or right opposition to the stalin-controlled comintern leadership were expelled; of these, heinrich brandler, august thalheimer and paul frölich set up a splinter communist party opposition.