Western Europe

Where is the struggle going?

May 2nd more than 600 followers of coordination 75 of the sans-papiers (75 is the number of the department of Paris) entered as a big group the Center of the Unions in order to occupy it. In this article, some of the delegates of this occupation give their views on struggle with and against the unions.

From the time of our arrival the gate of the big hall at bottom floor was quickly closed, so the occupation was limited to the courtyard, the stairs up until the forth floor and the hallways of the floors.

For the unity of all the sans-papiers collectives!

For 58 days, from the 2nd may, on the initiative of the coordination 75 around 800 children, men, and women have occupied the Center of the Unions at rue Charlot (metro République) in Paris.

Something new is coming into force in this historically important location in the workers struggle in France. The occupation is made in an autonomous way against every "advice" and recommendation of the big political organizations and against the unions, and it is holding out well.

Nowak, Franz (1983-1945) aka Zigeuner (Gypsy)

A short biography of Franz Nowak, German anarchist murdered by the Nazis

Franz Nowak was born on the 30th August 1983 in Kravarn in Upper Silesia. He worked as a bricklayer foreman in the summer on building sites throughout the area. From 1907 he was under surveillance from the political police as an anarchist. He was arrested several times, including during the Kaiser’s visits to Breslau (now Wroclaw) in 1909 and 1910.

Czakon, Paul (1896-1952) aka Max aka Maximo Mas

A short biography of Paul Czakon, anarchist active in Upper Silesia who fought in Spain.

Paul Czakon was born on 14th July 1897 in Neider-Heiduk. He worked as a miner and fitter. Czakon was chairman of the FAUD in Beuthen (now Bytom) in Upper Silesia from 1921 and in 1930 he was one of the founders of the the Schwarzen Scharen (Black Crowds) in the region. In a house search in May 1932 the police discovered the weapons and explosives cache of the group.

Huppertz, Willy 1904-1978

A short biography of Willy Huppertz, who kept alive the flame of German anarchism.

Wilhelm Huppertz was born in 1904 in the Ruhr. He worked as a fitter. He moved from being a Christian socialist to a position of atheism. In the mid-1920s he contacted both the FAUD and the AAUE, and worked with them.

Kater, Fritz (1861 - 1945)

A short biography of Fritz Kater, important figure within FVdG and FAUD in Germany.

“Frank and direct in the presence of friends or enemies, he was one of those men who knew their limits; he was never blinded by ambition and honestly recognised the merits of others”. Rudolf

Roche, Karl (1862-1931) aka KR aka Isegrim aka Diogenes

A short biography of Karl Roche, leading light within the revolutionary German workers movement.

Karl Roche was born in on 31st October 1862 in Koenigsberg (now the Russian enclave of Kaliningrad) in Prussia as Johann Friedrich Carl Roche.

Schreyer ,Paul Albert aka Luigi 1887-1918

A short biography of Paul Schreyer, German anarchist who opposed the First World War

Paul Schreyer was born on 21st September 1887 in Zahna, in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany . A member of the Hamburg Anarchistist Federation, he was editor of its weekly paper Kampf (1912-1914).

Starbucks Global Day of Action - Belfast picket

Organise! and the WSM picketed Starbucks in Belfast city centre today from 12 to 1 pm. Despite the miserable weather around 12 people joined the picket and leafleted passers by and potential customers outside the coffee shop.

At the start of the picket 3 people had gone inside to leaflet customers and staff. There was a very positive response to the picket however one person was falsely accused of assaulting a Starbuck's member of staff after leafleting staff and customers inside.

Schneider, Ernst Wilhelm 1883-1946??1970??) Aka Ikarus, Icarus

A short biography of the German revolutionary seaman Ernst Schneider

Born in Königsberg in Prussia (now the Russian enclave of Kaliningrad) on 23rd July 1883 Ernst Schneider was a harbour worker and seaman (steersman).

Benner, Fritz (1906-1966)

A short biography of Fritz Benner, courageous German anarchist.

Fritz Benner was born on 6th April 1906 in Solingen, Germany. By profession he was a belt operator. In 1927/28 he and his brother Willi joined the anarchosyndicalist Free Workers' Union of Germany (FAUD) in Wuppertal. His brother Eugen (usually known as August) also became involved. At this time the FAUD was past its height and only counted a few dozen members in Wuppertal.

Lagant, Christian 1926- 1978 aka Christian Lag aka Christian Lague

A short biography of Christian Lagant, French anarchist militant and one of chief editors of Noir et Rouge

”An exemplary comrade….intransigent militant..demanding but warm, sensitive but a passionate political debater” André Bernard

Wolf, Enno (1903 -1939/1940?)

A short biography of Enno Wolf, German anarchist who perished in the Nazi concentration camps

Enno Wolf was on born on 30th August 1903. Little is known about his life. He was a member of the Kassel group of the anarchosyndicalist Free Workers' Union of Germany (FAUD).

Clothing company beating of Bangladeshi workers in Athens met with wildcat collective action

Bangladeshi workers in clothing sweatshop in Athens, Greece, were attacked by company thugs for refusing to work on Sunday. When their co-workers walked out in solidarity, the company fired 120 out of 180 of the working force. In response the workers have sealed the factory off forcing the company to withdraw the lay-offs and negotiate.

On Monday 23 of June 2008 Bangladeshi foremen and thugs in the pay of the “LADY FASHION” clothing sweatshop in Votanikos, Athens, attacked Bangladeshi immigrant workers who had refused to work in the previous day (Sunday being an official day-off in Greece), using iron bars and wooden clubs.

Hannibal, Hermann 1898-1963

A short biography of Hermann Hannibal, blacksmith and member of the FAUD, imprisoned by the Nazis in Sachsenhausen concentration camp

Hermann Hannibal was born on 8 October 1898 in Kassel. Little is known about his private life. He worked as a blacksmith. Between 1919 and 1925 he had 10 criminal convictions, eight of them for theft. He had two children: Franz, born on 4th January 1930, and Ilse, also born in the 1930s.

Paul, Willi, 1897-1979

A short biography of Willi Paul, lifelong anarchist militant, active in the Anarchist-Communist Federation of Germany (FKAD) and the Spanish Civil War.

Wilhelm Paul was born on the 1st July 1897 in Goettingen. After a carpentry apprenticeship, he worked during 1915/16 as a relief worker and then as a metal worker. He then served as a soldier in the First World War. After the war, he moved to Kassel and joined the USPD, and then the Spartakusbund.

Corfu garbage-dump protest followup: renewed barricades met with plastic bullets by greek riot-police

20 days after the battle between residents of Lefkimi township in south Corfu and the riot-police over the construction of an open garbage-dump, renewed mobilisation of the residents is once again being met with repression and arbitrary punitive measures such as inhibiting farmers from accessing their fields.

Finster, Ramon, 194?-1996

Ramon Finster

A founding member of the French ORA, anarchist militant, artist, writer, animator of cultural and artistic events.

The Butte aux Cailles in the 13th arrondissement of Paris, lies south of the Seine. It is one of the least known old neighbourhoods of the French capital, like its working class cousins north of the river – Batignolles, Belleville and Menilmontant. The Butte rises gently beside the now subterranean course of Paris’s forgotten river the Bievre.

Fayolle, Maurice César, 19?-1970

A short biography of Maurice Fayolle, veteran social anarchist and founder of the French ORA.

”A discreet, modest, straightforward, scrupulous and honest man, little gifted for speeches but possessing an excellent pen” Maurice Laisant.

Guerra, Armand, 1886-1939

Armand Guerra

Typesetter, film maker, scenario write, actor and anarchist active within the movement in Spain and internationally.

Born 4 January 1886, Liria, Spain. Died 10 March 1939, Saint Mande, France.

Armand Guerra was born Jose Estivalis Cabo at Liria near Valencia on 4th January 1886, the son of a farmer and of a mother who was already looking after a child of 5 years. First as a choirboy and then as a pupil at a seminary in Valencia, he developed an intense hatred for the Church.

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