All power to the councils!: A documentary history of the German revolution of 1918–1919

This definitive documentary history collects manifestos, speeches, articles, and letters from the German Revolution—Rosa Luxemburg, the Revolutionary Stewards, and Gustav Landauer amongst others—introduced and annotated by the editor. Many documents, such as the anarchist Erich Mühsam's comprehensive account of the Bavarian Council Republic, are presented here in English for the first time. The volume also includes materials from the Red Ruhr Army that repelled the reactionary Kapp Putsch in 1920 and the communist bandits that roamed Eastern Germany until 1921.

Submitted by working class … on December 24, 2012

The German Revolution erupted out of the ashes of World War I, triggered by mutinying sailors refusing to be sacrificed in the final carnage of the war. While the Social Democrats grabbed power, radicals across the country rallied to establish a communist society under the slogan "All Power to the Councils!" The Spartacus League launched an uprising in Berlin, council republics were proclaimed in Bremen and Bavaria, and workers' revolts shook numerous German towns. Yet in an act that would tragically shape the course of history, the Social Democratic government crushed the rebellions with the help of right-wing militias, paving the way for the ill-fated Weimar Republic—and ultimately the ascension of the Nazis.

Comments

klas batalo

11 years 2 months ago

In reply to by libcom.org

Submitted by klas batalo on December 26, 2012

Currently reading this and Ours to Master and to Own.

COUNCILS COUNCILS COUNCILS!!! :upnorth:

redsdisease

11 years 2 months ago

In reply to by libcom.org

Submitted by redsdisease on December 27, 2012

Read a rave review of this today in the International Socialist Review. It helped wash the awful taste of their article about the IWW out of my mouth.

syndicalist

11 years 2 months ago

In reply to by libcom.org

Submitted by syndicalist on December 27, 2012

klas batalo

Currently reading this and Ours to Master and to Own.

COUNCILS COUNCILS COUNCILS!!! :upnorth:

trusting this is not so.

klas batalo

11 years 2 months ago

In reply to by libcom.org

Submitted by klas batalo on December 27, 2012

syndicalist

klas batalo

Currently reading this and Ours to Master and to Own.

COUNCILS COUNCILS COUNCILS!!! :upnorth:

trusting this is not so.

you are quite enigmatic sometimes comrade. what do you mean?

yes i am reading both of these books, because they are incredibly interesting, and i just had a few long train rides.

klas batalo

11 years 2 months ago

In reply to by libcom.org

Submitted by klas batalo on December 27, 2012

redsdisease

Read a rave review of this today in the International Socialist Review. It helped wash the awful taste of their article about the IWW out of my mouth.

interesting.

syndicalist

11 years 2 months ago

In reply to by libcom.org

Submitted by syndicalist on December 27, 2012

klas batalo

syndicalist

klas batalo

Currently reading this and Ours to Master and to Own.

COUNCILS COUNCILS COUNCILS!!! :upnorth:

trusting this is not so.

you are quite enigmatic sometimes comrade. what do you mean?

yes i am reading both of these books, because they are incredibly interesting, and i just had a few long train rides.

I didn't mean about the book readings. Just the over-enthusasim for councilism. It was meant in a kidding manner.

And I'm proud to be "quite enigmatic" (after I looked the word up). :groucho:

klas batalo

11 years 2 months ago

In reply to by libcom.org

Submitted by klas batalo on December 28, 2012

Soviets are the shit! JK, Anarcho-Syndicalist Factory Committees!!!

syndicalist

11 years 2 months ago

In reply to by libcom.org

Submitted by syndicalist on December 28, 2012

Soviets are the shit!

Dude, maybe some pampers to keep you clean a bit. :groucho:

Anarcho-Syndicalist Factory Committees

Drop the factory and keep it as committees and now we're talking....but anarchy-syndicalist unions also rule! :rb:

syndicalist

11 years 2 months ago

In reply to by libcom.org

Submitted by syndicalist on December 30, 2012

redsdisease

Read a rave review of this today in the International Socialist Review.

Do you jave a link?

Also, during the 1970s and 1980s the IS, SWP, US IS/ISO all had a fascination with elements of "workers councils" and elements "syndicalism". So a rave review wouldn't surprise me.

EDIT: Gluckstein's book: "The Western Soviets workers' councils versus parliament 1915-1920"

Two other books outlining the IS/SWP softness for their brand of "councilism":
Proletarian order: Antonio Gramsci, factory councils and the origins of Italian communism, 1911-1921

The occupation of the factories: Italy 1920 by Paolo Spriano

redsdisease

11 years 2 months ago

In reply to by libcom.org

Submitted by redsdisease on December 29, 2012

No, I think it's print only right now. I wouldn't have even picked it up except I was at Barnes and Noble and there wasn't much else of interest to read. It's only like a half page review anyways.