anarchists

Articles about the lives of the men and women who helped to build the international anarchist movement.

Kavanagh, Mat, 1876-1954

A short biography of Mat Kavanagh, Liverpool-Irish class struggle anarchist.

“For the young anarchists of the 30s, of whom I was one, and right until the 50s, Mat was our link with the traditional working class Anarchism of the past and our mentor as no other” - Albert Meltzer

Remembering Ralph DiGia

An obituary for Lifelong New York activist Ralph Digia (December 13, 1914 - February 1, 2008). The Ralph DiGia Fund for Peace & Justice was set up in his honour in 2008.

On, February 1st, I got a call from Ruth Benn that Ralph DiGia, 93, had died at St. Vincent's in New York City. I had visited him recently and sensed he was losing his battle - he had fallen and broken a hip about two weeks before, got an infection in the hospital (hospitals in the US are notoriously dangerous places for the sick and .wounded to go!), and despite rallying several times, died.

Greenberg, Yiddelle 1909-194?

Soviet labour camp

Biography of Polish anarchist Yiddelle Greenberg, whose activity was crucial in the formation of the Polish anarchist movement.

A salute to a comrade,

Rogdaev, Nikolai 1880-1932 aka Uncle Vanya

A short biography of Nikolai Rogdaev, trailblazer of Russian anarchism.

Born Nikolai Ignatievich Muzil in 1880 in the village of Silkino near Klin to the north of Moscow, into a family of nobility with Austrian origins.In the 1890s he became active in the revolutionary movement, joining the Riazan group of Social-Revolutionaries and also contacting a circle of Social-Democrats. In May 1900 he came to the notice of the Tsarist police.

Borrell, Federico 1912-1936

Short biography of Spanish anarchist Federico Borrell, made famous by the iconic photo The Fallen Soldier by Robert Capa.

Federico Borrell Garcia was born in Benilloba in Alicante, Spain on April 3 1912.

The son of Vicente Borrell and Maria Garcia, he was one of a large family with 3 brothers and 2 sisters, who lived in poverty-stricken conditions.

Dunn, Fred 1884-1925

A short biography of English anarchist Fred Dunn, active opponent of the First World War.

Fred William Dunn was the son of Edwin Dunn, leading light in the Rose Street Club in Soho (Rose Street is now Manette Street). Edwin had been elected secretary of the Marylebone Radical Reform Association at a founding meeting chaired by Joe Lane. He was the initiator for an independent labour party alongside H. M.

Wess, Woolf, 1861-1946

A short biography of Jewish anarchist Woolf, aka William, Wess, active in the Socialist League in East London.

“He was the most modest of men” - Rudolf Rocker
Woolf Wess was born to a Jewish family in Vilkomar (or Ukmerge) near Kovno in Lithuania in 1861.

He was the son of a Hasidic master baker and at age of 12 was apprenticed to a shoemaker.

Gorelik, Grigorii aka Anatolii, 1890-1956

A short biography of Grigorii Gorelik, Ukrainian anarchist participant in the Russian Revolution.

Grigorii Gorelik, usually known as Anatolii Gorelik, was born into a large Jewish family, the poorest in their village, on February 28th 1890. This was at Guenichesk, a little port in the Ukrainian province of Tavrivchesk. He started work at the age of 10 , working selling food.He became an anarchist in 1904, at the age of fourteen.

Berner, Rudolf, 1907-1977

Rudolf Berner

A short biography of Swedish anarchist Rudolf Berner, active in Spain and in underground work in Nazi Germany.

Berner, Rudolf (Rube) AKA Frank Tireur

Born on 14 July 1907 in Skövde (West Sweden), Rudolf Berner grew up in a small farmer and working-class family of many children. He attended school and learned painting and crafts.

Timmermann, Claus, 1866-1941

Die Brandfackel

A short biography of German-American anarchist Claus Timmermann, indefatigable editor and loyal supporter of Goldman and Berkman

“An ardent German anarchist…He had considerable poetic talent and wrote forceful propaganda…He was a likeable fellow and entirely trustworthy, though a considerable drinker”. - Living My Life. Emma Goldman

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