Anyone know about the Dutch Rade or International Communists

Submitted by Working Class … on January 10, 2019

We're working on a podcast investigating the Reichstag fire. Marinus van der Lubbe, who was convicted for starting it, was a member of a small left communist group in the Netherlands called Rade or the International Communists.
So we would love to speak with someone who knows something about them, and who could explain left/internationalist communism in general to our listeners. Is anyone here up for it, or does anyone know anyone? Alf/ICC/CWO folks perhaps? Or anyone from the Netherlands?
Thanks in advance for any info or suggestions!

Alf

5 years 3 months ago

In reply to by libcom.org

Submitted by Alf on January 10, 2019

This sounds interesting. I've sent some questions as a PM

Fredo Corvo

5 years 3 months ago

In reply to by libcom.org

Submitted by Fredo Corvo on January 11, 2019

Hi guys,

Born in 1950 I have never known Van der Lubbe personally, but I have known Jan Appel, the german council communist, emigrated to the Netherlands, that has met Van der Lubbe several times.

If you tell me what information you have on council communism ("radenkommunisme") and the Group(s) of International Communists (GIC), I could refer to more.

The dutch journalist Martin Schouten is considered specialist in Van der Lubbe.

Interesting websites:

aaap.be
left-dis.nl

Internationalist greetings,

Fred Corvo

Working Class …

5 years 3 months ago

In reply to by libcom.org

Submitted by Working Class … on January 17, 2019

Fredo Corvo

Hi guys,

Born in 1950 I have never known Van der Lubbe personally, but I have known Jan Appel, the german council communist, emigrated to the Netherlands, that has met Van der Lubbe several times.

If you tell me what information you have on council communism ("radenkommunisme") and the Group(s) of International Communists (GIC), I could refer to more.

The dutch journalist Martin Schouten is considered specialist in Van der Lubbe.

Interesting websites:

aaap.be
left-dis.nl

Internationalist greetings,

Fred Corvo

Hey, thanks so much for your reply! Sorry for this late reply.

We tried reaching out to Schouten via his agent, but didn't receive any reply. He is around 88 years old, so do you know if he is still doing public-ish speaking engagements?

Alternatively do you know of any other ways of contacting Schouten?

In terms of council communism, basically we would be looking for someone to explain briefly what it is to our listeners, and say a little something about the work of GIC and the other council communist group van der Lubbe was involved with, whose name escapes me at the minute… Essentially though we mean the group who decided to support his "exemplary act" as opposed to GIC who rejected it.