biographies
Biographies and autobiographies of key historical figures and thinkers, and ordinary people who have tried to change the world.
Domaschi, Giovanni, 1891-1945
A short biography of courageous anarchist and veteran escapee, Giovanni Domaschi who was tortured and had an ear severed before dying in the Dachau death camp.
Giovanni Domaschi was born on 30th December 1891 at Verona, the son of poor peasants.
They were never able to feed their eight children adequately, and three of them died young.
His hard life alerted him at an early age to social injustice and he began to see that the world was divided into two camps, the rich and the poor, those who rule and those who produce wealth.
Götze, Ferdinand 'Nante', 1907-1985
A short biography of German anarcho-syndicalist, Ferdinand Götze, who was also active in Sweden and Spain.
Ferdinand Götze was born in Leipzig on March 28th, 1907, the son of the FAUD stalwart Anna Götze.
Götze, Anna, 1875-1958
A short biography of anarchist and German revolutionary Anna Götze.
Anna Götze was born in 1875. She was a member of the Social Democratic Party from 1897 up to 1917 and with the end of the war and the Revolution was one of the founders of the Spartakusbund. At the beginning of the 1920s she moved to a clear anarchist position and joined the FAUD. She worked as a folder in the printing industry.
Lohstöter, Jürgen, 1947- 2006
A short biography of a founder of the German ORA and activist of the anarcho-syndicalist FAU, Jurgen Lohstöter.
Jurgen Lohstöter was born on December 23rd 1947 in Hamburg.
Ester Borrás, José 1913-1980
Short biography of CNT militant José Ester Borrás, 1913-1980
On October 26, 1913, José Ester Borrás was born in Berga (province of Barcelona, Spain).
Caleffi, Giovanina, 1897-1962
Biography of Italian anarchist Giovanina Caleffi aka Giovanna Berneri, who, as well as being involved in anti-fascist resistance during the Second World War and helping rebuild the Italian anarchist movement after it, was also the wife of Camillo Berneri and mother of Marie Louise and Giliana Berneri.
Giovannina Caleffi aka Giovanna Berneri
Born Gualtieri, Italy 4 May 1897, Died Genova Nervi, Italy 14 March 1962
Elser, Georg, 1903-1945
The story of a quiet man who tried single-handedly to kill Hitler.
Georg Elser
Born Hermaringen, Germany, 1903, died Dachau, Germany 9 April 1945
Camus, Albert and the anarchists
Organise! magazine looks at the life and work of the great existentialist writer Albert Camus.
Born in French Algeria into a poor family in 1913, Camus lost his father in the Battle of the Marne in 1916. He was raised by his mother, who worked as a charlady and was illiterate. Winning a scholarship, Camus eventually began a career as a journalist. As a youth, he was a keen footballer as well as being a member of a theatrical troupe.
Mollie Steimer, 1897-1980 - Paul Avrich
The life of Mollie Steimer, a Jewish anarchist in New York who opposed the First World War, and later lived in exile in France and Mexico.
Mollie Steimer: An Anarchist Life
By Paul Avrich
Medvedev, Sergei Pavlovich, 1885-1937
Story of the life of Bolshevik metal worker and member of the Workers' Opposition group, Sergei Medvedev, who, like many others who criticised his party's bureaucracy, was executed by the party he spent the majority of his life serving.
Sergei Pavlovich Medvedev was a Russian Bolshevik revolutionary, metalworker, and trade union organizer. Born into a peasant estate, he grew up in the countryside near Moscow and in St. Petersburg. After receiving a primary school education, he began factory work at age thirteen. He first worked at the Obukhov factory in St. Petersburg and participated in the 1901 Obukhov strike.
