Joseph Moll
Encyclopedia
Joseph Moll was a German labour leader and revolutionary. He was a pioneer of the German labour movement and a figure in early German socialism. Moll was an early associate of Karl Marx
.
'Young Italy', it advocated a similar mixture of democratic democracy, nationalism and social reform. His friendship with the labour organiser and revolutionary Karl Schapper
dated from that period. In 1836, Moll was expelled from Switzerland and went to Paris, where he joined the 'League of the Just', then under the influence of the utopian communist Wilhelm Weitling
. Schapper was also a member.
and Auguste Blanqui. The insurrection was suppressed and Moll escaped to Britain. In 1840 he was one of the founders of the German Workers' Educational Association in London. In 1846 he became a member of the Central Committee of the League of the Just (which had been relocated to London). Under the influence of Karl Marx
, who replaced Weitling as the ideological leader of the group, the League was re-organised as the 'Communist League
'. Moll was again elected to its Central Committee.
and a figure in the transition from the early artisan communism of Wilhelm Weitling
and the insurrectionary tactics of Auguste Blanqui and Marxism.
A street in Berlin is named after him.
Karl Marx
Karl Heinrich Marx was a German philosopher, economist, sociologist, historian, journalist, and revolutionary socialist. His ideas played a significant role in the development of social science and the socialist political movement...
.
Early life
Joseph Maximilian Moll was born in Cologne on October 14, 1813. He was born into a poor working class family and was apprenticed as a watchmaker. After his apprenticeship Moll travelled widely across Europe in search of work, as was customary for tradesmen at the time. On these travels he made contact with a number of German workers' associations, which exposed him to radical political and economic ideas.Young Germany
In 1834 he joined the secret society 'Young Germany' in Switzerland. Modelled on Mazzini'sGiuseppe Mazzini
Giuseppe Mazzini , nicknamed Soul of Italy, was an Italian politician, journalist and activist for the unification of Italy. His efforts helped bring about the independent and unified Italy in place of the several separate states, many dominated by foreign powers, that existed until the 19th century...
'Young Italy', it advocated a similar mixture of democratic democracy, nationalism and social reform. His friendship with the labour organiser and revolutionary Karl Schapper
Karl Schapper
Karl Schapper was a German socialist and labour leader. He was one of the pioneers of the labour movement in Germany and an early associate of Wilhelm Weitling and Karl Marx.-Young Germany and Mazzini:...
dated from that period. In 1836, Moll was expelled from Switzerland and went to Paris, where he joined the 'League of the Just', then under the influence of the utopian communist Wilhelm Weitling
Wilhelm Weitling
Wilhelm Weitling was an important 19th-century European radical.Both praised and critiqued by disciples of the growing Marxist philosophy during the 19th century, Weitling was characterized as a "utopian socialist" by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels, although Engels also referred to Weitling as the...
. Schapper was also a member.
The League of the Just
In 1839, the League participated in an insurrection carried out by the 'Society of the Seasons', led by Armand BarbèsArmand Barbès
Armand Barbès , was a French Republican revolutionary and a fierce and steadfast opponent of the July monarchy . He is remembered as a man whose life centers on two days:...
and Auguste Blanqui. The insurrection was suppressed and Moll escaped to Britain. In 1840 he was one of the founders of the German Workers' Educational Association in London. In 1846 he became a member of the Central Committee of the League of the Just (which had been relocated to London). Under the influence of Karl Marx
Karl Marx
Karl Heinrich Marx was a German philosopher, economist, sociologist, historian, journalist, and revolutionary socialist. His ideas played a significant role in the development of social science and the socialist political movement...
, who replaced Weitling as the ideological leader of the group, the League was re-organised as the 'Communist League
Communist League
The Communist League was the first Marxist international organization. It was founded originally as the League of the Just by German workers in Paris in 1834. This was initially a utopian socialist and Christian communist group devoted to the ideas of Gracchus Babeuf...
'. Moll was again elected to its Central Committee.
Revolution and Death
When the Revolution of 1848 broke out in Europe, Moll returned to Germany. He went to Cologne, where he became president of the Workers' Association and helped propagate Marxist ideas among its members. In September 1848 he was implicated in an uprising; to escape arrest, he fled to London, but later returned illegally to Germany. In May 1848, he participated in the democratic revolution in Baden and took an active part in the fighting. On June 28, 1849, he was killed in Rotenfels, near Murg.Significance
Moll was an important figure in the early German labour movement, playing a role in organising several workers' associations. He was an early associate of Karl MarxKarl Marx
Karl Heinrich Marx was a German philosopher, economist, sociologist, historian, journalist, and revolutionary socialist. His ideas played a significant role in the development of social science and the socialist political movement...
and a figure in the transition from the early artisan communism of Wilhelm Weitling
Wilhelm Weitling
Wilhelm Weitling was an important 19th-century European radical.Both praised and critiqued by disciples of the growing Marxist philosophy during the 19th century, Weitling was characterized as a "utopian socialist" by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels, although Engels also referred to Weitling as the...
and the insurrectionary tactics of Auguste Blanqui and Marxism.
A street in Berlin is named after him.
Sources
- Beloussowa, N., 'Joseph Moll'. In: Marx und Engels und die ersten proletarischen Revolutionäre. Berlin 1965, pp. 42–75.
- Becker, G., 'Joseph Moll. Mitglied der Zentralbehörde des Bundes der Kommunisten und Präsident des Kölner Arbeitervereins.' In: Bleiber, H., et al. (ed's), Männer der Revolution von 1848. Vol. 2. Berlin 1987 pp. 53–84.