This book is an attempt at a Marxist analysis of the causes of both the emergence and death of socialist societies, originating in the October Revolution. It is useful both for understanding history and for approaching new ways to build a classless society. In addition, it can serve as an introduction to Marxism. The author, Alfred Kosing, is a German Marxist philosopher from the GDR (born 1928). He joined the SED in 1946. He worked, in particular, as a professor at the Academy of Social Sciences under the Central Committee of the SED, a full member of the Academy of Sciences of the GDR, the author of a number of works that went through several editions, and a laureate of the National Prize of the GDR in Science and Technology.