On the second cohomology group of a simplicial group

Abstract

We give an algebraic proof for the result of Eilenberg and Mac Lane that the second cohomology group of a simplicial group G can be computed as a quotient of a fibre product involving the first two homotopy groups and the first Postnikov invariant of G. Our main tool is the theory of crossed module extensions of groups.

Further references added. This article is an extension of the published version