Josef Peukert
Encyclopedia
Josef Peukert was an Austria
n anarchist known for his autobiographical book Memoirs from the proletarian revolutionary labour movement . The book provided a glimpse into the early days of the radical labour movement
in Austria, the start of the anarchist movement in Germany and the exile of the anarchists in London
and America at the time of Socialist Law (1878-1890)
. The accuracy of the book was questioned by fellow anarchist and historian Max Nettlau
, who looked upon it in a "highly-skeptical" manner.
, Austrian Empire
. From the age of six, he worked for his father's company and the age of eleven he was taken out of school. At the age of 16 he left home and worked odd jobs in Germany
. Peukert contributed to social democratic
workers' associations
later becoming an Anarchist communist
.
, but became increasingly critical of Most as Social-Revolutionist as opposed to an anarchist. During this time he became even more radicalized and upon his return in the 1880s he became the leader of the radical Fraktion, who were believers in the concept of Propaganda of the deed
, which calls for the use of terror
against society civil rights.
In 1881, Peukert became the editor of Die Zukunft
(The Future), published by Der Rebell (The Rebel), from 1886 to 1893 he was the editor of Die Autonomie (The Autonomy) and co-editor after 1889 of Der Anarchist (The Anarchist).
A so-called civil war within the Socialist League
began because of Peukert's friendship with Theodor Reuss
. Victor Dave
, head of a rival authoritarian anarchist movement in London, did not trust Reuss which led to tension with Peukert. In 1887, Peukert went with Reuss to Belgium
, where Reuss passed information to the police leading to the arrest of Johann Neve. Neve was arrested and sentenced to 15 years in prison. The episode severely damaged the reputation of Peukert, and also Dave. This incident is touched upon in John Henry Mackay
's Die Anarchisten
.
From 1890 he worked with Emma Goldman
for several years in New York City
.
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
n anarchist known for his autobiographical book Memoirs from the proletarian revolutionary labour movement . The book provided a glimpse into the early days of the radical labour movement
Labour movement
The term labour movement or labor movement is a broad term for the development of a collective organization of working people, to campaign in their own interest for better treatment from their employers and governments, in particular through the implementation of specific laws governing labour...
in Austria, the start of the anarchist movement in Germany and the exile of the anarchists in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
and America at the time of Socialist Law (1878-1890)
Socialist law
Socialist law denotes a general type of legal system which has been used in communist and formerly communist states. It is based on the civil law system, with major modifications and additions from Marxist-Leninist ideology. There is controversy as to whether socialist law ever constituted a...
. The accuracy of the book was questioned by fellow anarchist and historian Max Nettlau
Max Nettlau
Max Heinrich Hermann Reinhardt Nettlau was a German anarchist and historian. Although born in Neuwaldegg and raised in Vienna he retained his Prussian nationality throughout his life. A student of the Welsh language he spent time in London where he joined the Socialist League where he met...
, who looked upon it in a "highly-skeptical" manner.
Early life
Peukert grew up poor in Albrechtsdorf an der Adler, BohemiaBohemia
Bohemia is a historical region in central Europe, occupying the western two-thirds of the traditional Czech Lands. It is located in the contemporary Czech Republic with its capital in Prague...
, Austrian Empire
Austrian Empire
The Austrian Empire was a modern era successor empire, which was centered on what is today's Austria and which officially lasted from 1804 to 1867. It was followed by the Empire of Austria-Hungary, whose proclamation was a diplomatic move that elevated Hungary's status within the Austrian Empire...
. From the age of six, he worked for his father's company and the age of eleven he was taken out of school. At the age of 16 he left home and worked odd jobs in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
. Peukert contributed to social democratic
Social democracy
Social democracy is a political ideology of the center-left on the political spectrum. Social democracy is officially a form of evolutionary reformist socialism. It supports class collaboration as the course to achieve socialism...
workers' associations
Labour movement
The term labour movement or labor movement is a broad term for the development of a collective organization of working people, to campaign in their own interest for better treatment from their employers and governments, in particular through the implementation of specific laws governing labour...
later becoming an Anarchist communist
Anarchist communism
Anarchist communism is a theory of anarchism which advocates the abolition of the state, markets, money, private property, and capitalism in favor of common ownership of the means of production, direct democracy and a horizontal network of voluntary associations and workers' councils with...
.
Career
In exile in London, Peukert became involved in distributing Freiheit published by Johann MostJohann Most
Johann Joseph Most was a German-American politician, newspaper editor, and orator. He is credited with popularizing the concept of "Propaganda of the deed". His grandson was Boston Celtics radio play-by-play man Johnny Most...
, but became increasingly critical of Most as Social-Revolutionist as opposed to an anarchist. During this time he became even more radicalized and upon his return in the 1880s he became the leader of the radical Fraktion, who were believers in the concept of Propaganda of the deed
Propaganda of the deed
Propaganda of the deed is a concept that refers to specific political actions meant to be exemplary to others...
, which calls for the use of terror
Terrorism
Terrorism is the systematic use of terror, especially as a means of coercion. In the international community, however, terrorism has no universally agreed, legally binding, criminal law definition...
against society civil rights.
In 1881, Peukert became the editor of Die Zukunft
Die Zukunft
Die Zukunft was a German social-democratic weekly founded and edited by Maximilian Harden. It published allegations of homosexuality of Philip, Prince of Eulenburg, leading to the Harden–Eulenburg Affair in Wilhelmine Germany.Die Zukunft was also the name of an exile German language paper, both...
(The Future), published by Der Rebell (The Rebel), from 1886 to 1893 he was the editor of Die Autonomie (The Autonomy) and co-editor after 1889 of Der Anarchist (The Anarchist).
A so-called civil war within the Socialist League
Socialist League (UK, 1885)
The Socialist League was an early revolutionary socialist organisation in the United Kingdom. The organisation began as a dissident offshoot of the Social Democratic Federation of Henry Hyndman at the end of 1884. Never an ideologically harmonious group, by the 1890s the group had turned from...
began because of Peukert's friendship with Theodor Reuss
Theodor Reuss
Theodor Reuss was an Anglo-German tantric occultist, anarchist, police spy, journalist, singer, and promoter of Women's Liberation; and head of Ordo Templi Orientis.-Early years:...
. Victor Dave
Victor Dave
Victor Dave was a Belgian journalist. Between 1865 and 1873 he worked for the German socialist movement, but then, influenced by Bakunin and Proudhon, he converted to anarchism, becoming a close associate of Johann Most...
, head of a rival authoritarian anarchist movement in London, did not trust Reuss which led to tension with Peukert. In 1887, Peukert went with Reuss to Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
, where Reuss passed information to the police leading to the arrest of Johann Neve. Neve was arrested and sentenced to 15 years in prison. The episode severely damaged the reputation of Peukert, and also Dave. This incident is touched upon in John Henry Mackay
John Henry Mackay
John Henry Mackay was an individualist anarchist, thinker and writer. Born in Scotland and raised in Germany, Mackay was the author of Die Anarchisten and Der Freiheitsucher . Mackay was published in the United States in his friend Benjamin Tucker's magazine, Liberty...
's Die Anarchisten
Die Anarchisten
Die Anarchisten: Kulturgemälde aus dem Ende des XIX Jahrhunderts is a book by anarchist writer John Henry Mackay published in German and English in 1891. It is the best known and most widely read of Mackay's works, and made him famous overnight...
.
From 1890 he worked with Emma Goldman
Emma Goldman
Emma Goldman was an anarchist known for her political activism, writing and speeches. She played a pivotal role in the development of anarchist political philosophy in North America and Europe in the first half of the twentieth century....
for several years in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
.
See also
- PeukertPeukertPeukert can refer to:* Detlev Peukert , German historian* Josef Peukert , a Bohemian-Austrian anarchist* Karl Peukert , German actor* Leo Peukert , German actor...