Die Freiheit

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Die Freiheit was a long-running anarchist journal established by Johann Most in 1879. It was known for advocacy of attentat, or propaganda of the deed — revolutionary violence that could inspire people to revolution.

Most began the German-language journal in London, aiming it at expatriate German and Austrians.^[1] He brought the publication with him when he immigrated to the United States just a few years later in 1882.

Die Freiheit, and Most, were not shy about criticizing fellow anarchists, and work published in Die Freiheit often fomented controversies in anarchist circles. Most and Benjamin Tucker carried out a well-publicized disagreement in the pages of their respective journals, and although Tucker championed Most's revolutionary philosophy later, the schism never healed.^[2]

Some years later, Emma Goldman and Alexander Berkman became involved with the Die Freiheit group, only to leave after conflicts with Most arose. When Berkman, inspired by Most's theory of the attentat, was imprisoned for the attempted assassination of Henry Clay Frick, Most decried Berkman's action as intended to rouse sympathy for Frick. Goldman was infuriated and publicly took a horse-whip to Most at his lecture, demanding a proof or a retraction.^[3]

The journal's publication occasionally faltered when Most was imprisoned--at least once, for writings he published in Die Freiheit^[4]^[5]--but fellow anarchists kept the journal afloat during those times.

When its charismatic founder and editor died in 1905, the publication began to ail. Die Freiheit ceased publication in 1910 after 28 years.

[edit] References

Emma Goldman, Living My Life
Wendy McElroy, "The Schism Between Individualist and Communist Anarchism", Journal of Libertarian Studies, v.15, n.1 (Fall 2000).
George Woodcock, Anarchism: A History of Libertarian Ideas and Movements (2004)
"Lights Out in the City of Light" -- Anarchy and Assassination at the Pan-American Exposition, University of Buffalo Library exhibition.

[edit] Footnotes

^ Woodcock, p.373
^ McElroy, Schism.
^ Goldman, Living My Life
^ "Lights Out". Most was charged with a misdemeanor for "Publication of an anarchical article" under New York Penal Code § 675. The article was a reprint of "Murder vs. Murder", originally written by Carl Heinzen in the mid-19th century, and reprinted in Die Freiheit on Sept. 7, 1901. Most lost an appeal and was sentenced to one year in prison.
^ "John Most Sentenced", New York Times, Oct. 15, 1901, p.16.