The International Revolutionary Solidarity Movement : A study of the origins and development of the revolutionary anarchist movement in Europe 1945–73 with particular reference to the First of May Group

Chapter 1 : 1900–1939

1900–1939 Once again in history Anarchism is singled out by every reactionary force as its main enemy. World Governments, moving closer together against the common threat of the common people, fear a socialism unfettered by government ties, a class struggle without the limitations imposed by the parliamentary game, a working class without a leadership that aims at imposing authority either by a new dictatorship or by bourgeois parliamentarianism. Before the First World War the main impetus to social revolution came from the anarchist and revolutionary syndicalist movements. However, following the defeat of the Russian Revolution with the triumph of authoritarian communism, world capitalism tended to concentrate its energies on des... (From: TheAnarchistLibrary.org.)

Chapter 2 : 1939–1945

1939–1945 During the Second World War, liberals and social-democrats (together with the Communists, once the Nazi-Soviet Pact was broken by Hitler) pushed the idea of a ‘holy war’ against fascism, since the enemy happened to be fascist, and tried to bestow a democratic aura on the Allies. After a time, Allied propagandists themselves began to use some of the anti-fascist cliches, though with diplomatic caution until the powers concerned were actually in the war. Soon there grew up the popular myth that the only reason we went to war with Germany was because it was ‘Nazi’. Two major developments took place in the anarchist movement in Europe. The Spanish Anarchists, exiled in France and treated as second-cla... (From: TheAnarchistLibrary.org.)

Chapter 3 : 1945–1960

1945–1960 With the rise of the new Left and the collapse of Stalinism from its near-monopoly position among working class militants, there was a proliferation of Marxist groups. Some of these managed to ensure that there was carried over into a new generation, though purged of the Stalinist taint, the same mistakes of the Communist Party and the same subordination to political leadership, but even more than previously they substituted the cult of Nationalism for that of any form of socialism and thus managed to avoid the most important issue, class struggle. This nationalist cult, expressed in Marxist phraseology, has characterized the new left ever since. But despite the many struggles for national liberation which have over-clou... (From: TheAnarchistLibrary.org.)

Chapter 4 : 1960–1966

1960–1966 On January fifth, 1960, Francisco Sabate (el Quico, sometimes wrongly described as Sabater) one of the most tenacious and best known of the libertarian activists, was killed in the village of San Celoni (near Barcelona) following a gun battle with over 100 Guardia Civil the previous day, when four comrades from his group had been ambushed and killed in a Pyrenean farmhouse. Sabate, though badly wounded, managed to escape and make his way to San Celoni by hi-jacking a train, but he was recognized and brought down by the crossfire of a police patrol. The death of this man, who symbolized for many the whole of the Spanish Resistance, helped to inspire the formation of the new resistance groups, and also helped to re-unite t... (From: TheAnarchistLibrary.org.)

Chapter 5 : Grupo 1 De Mayo

Grupo 1 de Mayo At the end of April 1966 Mgr. Marcos Ussia, the ecclesiastical adviser to the Spanish Embassy in the Vatican, disappeared mysteriously while returning from the Embassy to his home in the suburbs of Rome. A few days later the First of May group announced its existence in Rome, while CNT militant Luis Andres Edo, in Madrid, announced simultaneously to the world press that Ussia had been kidnapped to draw attention to the plight of Franco’s prisoners. The results of this action by the revolutionary anarchist movement became an issue of international importance and a central point of discussion in the Italian, French, Swiss, Spanish and Swedish press (the British press avoided it, perhaps for fear of imitative action). ... (From: TheAnarchistLibrary.org.)

Chapter 6 : Some Documents

Some Documents To All Revolutionary Movements and Organizations in the World The ‘1st of May Group’ has, for several years now, come to support, in practice, the necessity of carrying out the struggle against dictatorship by means of revolutionary violence as the only possible way of answering the repressive violence of the regime of General Franco and of reconquering freedom for the Spanish people in accordance with the strategy drawn up by the Iberian Federation of Libertarian Youth (FIJL). Being aware of the backing given to various dictatorships and national oligarchies, by reactionary imperialist governments which enables them to maintain their oppression of the people—we address ourselves to revolutionary move... (From: TheAnarchistLibrary.org.)

Chapter 7 : Anarchist International

Anarchist International Towards the Creation of an Anarchist International On the basis of our recent experiences, and an analysis derived from our particular situation as anarchists (organized or not) within the International politico-social context, we have arrived at the following conclusions which we consider both useful and necessary to be put before all militants who believe it still possible to adopt an efficient revolutionary position. 1. The modern states (totalitarian or democratic), private and state capitalism, all variations of political and religious ideology, trade-unionism (whether reformist or state-run), in general, all social groups which are part of the present productive society, have established as a fact, a co... (From: TheAnarchistLibrary.org.)

Chapter 8 : And Now... What?

And now... what? The ‘end’ of the war in Vietnam corresponds to the end period of international politics of the great powers which, during these last thirty years, has governed the destiny of the world. Beyond these apparent and immediate consequences (‘end’ of the most flagrant technological genocide and the practical affirmation of the principle of ‘pacific co-existence between opposing political regimes) it has its probable consequences for the future which are disturbing; the consolidation of the domination of the state under all its forms and in all the four corners of the world; entente cordiale between all powers to ensure the status quo of Power and Privilege; extension of technological rationality o... (From: TheAnarchistLibrary.org.)

Chapter 9 : Press Communique

Press Communique Text distributed to press agencies and periodicals. Incomplete and erroneous accounts given by the press concerning recent events have obliged us to give a few explanations as to the objectives and characteristics of the ‘1st of May Group’. During the night of the 2nd and 3rd March 1968 the 1st of May Group carried out (in various European capitals) a series of actions directed against the diplomatic and military corps of the United States and the fascist governments Greece, Spain and Portugal. Actions such as the kidnap of Mgr. Ussia in Rome, the machine-gunning of the American Embassy in London, the attacks on the embassies of Greece and Bolivia in Bonn, etc. to which the Press gave, at the time, a... (From: TheAnarchistLibrary.org.)

Chapter 10 : Operation Durruti

Operation Durruti Report on the Arrest and Proceedings against Five Anarchists Accused by the Spanish Police of Planning to Kidnap an American VIP in Spain. On the 28th October 1966 the Spanish Press and the International Press Agencies announced the official police statement which confirmed the arrest of five Spanish anarchists: Luis EDO, 41 years old; Antonio CANETE,49; Alicia MUR, 33; Jesus RODRIGUEZ, 39; and Alfredo HERRERA, 31. The official communique published by all the Spanish press gave the following version:— ‘A group of five armed persons all members of the FIJL (Iberian Federation of Libertarian Youth, youth branch of the Spanish Libertarian Movement) which planned to kidnap an important foreign personality i... (From: TheAnarchistLibrary.org.)

Postscript

Postscript The First of May Group has been one of the best known of the anarchist activist groups of the period under review. It represents a continuation of the work of Sabate and the postwar Spanish resistance, and a bridge-head into the next period when revolutionary activism in many countries (Germany, USA, Italy, and South America) consisted of many strands some of which were authoritarian Marxist—usually Maoist, sometimes Council-Communist, occasionally Trotskyist others were Anarchist. In many cases the Press seized on the name ‘Anarchist’ and inflated the actual participation of the Anarchists (since anarchism now is the same bogey for Right Wing extremists that fascism is for left Wing extremists) so that in Tu... (From: TheAnarchistLibrary.org.)

Chronology

Chronology This chronology should not be considered exhaustive, nor definitive. It will, however, give the reader a rough outline of the development of revolutionary anarchist activism in Europe over the last fourteen years. Little mention has been made in this chronology of the activities of the Italian groups. As a result of fascist provocations in Italy it would be virtually impossible to prepare a reasonable chronology of groups such as The Red Brigade and The Partisan Action Group — GAP, as we have been able to do with the Angry Brigade, Red Army Fraction, the 1st of May Group and the Autonomous Combat Groups of the Iberian Liberation Movement. 1960 January In the early hours of January 3/4th a battle took place between a... (From: TheAnarchistLibrary.org.)

<< Last Entry in Anarchism Internal Regulations of the Federazione Dei Comunisti Anarchici	Current Entry in Anarchism The International Revolutionary Solidarity Movement	Next Entry in Anarchism >> The Terror in Russia
All Nearby Items in Anarchism Internal Regulations of the Federazione Dei Comunisti Anarchici, by Federazione Dei Comunisti Anarchici International Anarchist Congress, The, by Federazione Dei Comunisti Anarchici International Anarchist Manifesto on the War, The, by Emma Goldman International Brigades and the social revolution in Spain, 1936-1939, The, by Fifth Estate Collective International Campaign Wins Stay of Execution for US Black Activist, by Dermot Sreenan International Economic Situation, The, by Federazione Dei Comunisti Anarchici International Proletariat and War, The, by Alexandra Kollontai "Soviet" Power, by Nestor Makhno "The State Always has a Conspiracy... Have You?", by Anonymous A Word, The, by Anonymous International Revolutionary Solidarity Movement, The Living My Life, by Emma Goldman Prisons: Social Crime and Failure, A, by Emma Goldman Patriotism: Menace to Liberty, A, by Emma Goldman Minorities versus Majorities, by Emma Goldman Psychology of Political Violence, The, by Emma Goldman Russian Revolution and the Soviet Government, The, by Peter Kropotkin Words of a Rebel, by Peter Kropotkin War!, by Peter Kropotkin Wage System, The, by Peter Kropotkin Terror in Russia, The, by Peter Kropotkin

The International Revolutionary Solidarity Movement : A study of the origins and development of the revolutionary anarchist movement in Europe 1945–73 with particular reference to the First of May Group

By Albert Meltzer

Entry 5848

Public

Author : Albert Meltzer

Chapters

Chapter 1 : 1900–1939

Chapter 2 : 1939–1945

Chapter 3 : 1945–1960

Chapter 4 : 1960–1966

Chapter 5 : Grupo 1 De Mayo

Chapter 6 : Some Documents

Chapter 7 : Anarchist International

Chapter 8 : And Now... What?

Chapter 9 : Press Communique

Chapter 10 : Operation Durruti

Postscript

Chronology

Chronology

Comments

Navigation