 Constructed in 1912 as a factory, the building was purchased by the Communist Party of Germany ("Kommunistische Partei Deutschlands", KPD) in 1926, became the seat of its Central Committee, and was named in honor of Karl Liebknecht, the KPD leader who was murdered by a paramilitary unit in January 1919.After Adolf Hitler was appointed German Chancellor, Berlin police raided the headquarters, and by March 1 the Nazi swastika flag was flying over the building.Renamed the Horst Wessel House, the building at first served as a district police station and detention center where Jews and political opponents were tortured.