Freiheit (1879)
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''Freiheit'' (German for ''Freedom'') was a long-running anarchist journal established by
Johann Most Johann Joseph "Hans" Most (February 5, 1846 – March 17, 1906) was a German-American Social Democratic and then anarchist politician, newspaper editor, and orator. He is credited with popularizing the concept of "propaganda of the deed" in the Un ...
in 1879. It was known for advocacy of ''attentat'', or
propaganda of the deed Propaganda of the deed, or propaganda by the deed, is a type of direct action intended to influence public opinion. The action itself is meant to serve as an example for others to follow, acting as a catalyst for social revolution. It is primari ...
—revolutionary violence that could inspire people to revolution. Most began the German-language journal in London, aiming it at expatriate Germans and Austrians. He brought the publication with him when he immigrated to the United States just a few years later in 1882. ''Freiheit'', and Most, were not shy about criticizing fellow anarchists, and work published in ''Freiheit'' often fomented controversies in anarchist circles. For instance, Most and
Benjamin Tucker Benjamin Ricketson Tucker (; April 17, 1854 – June 22, 1939) was an American individualist anarchist and self-identified socialist. Tucker was the editor and publisher of the American individualist anarchist periodical ''Liberty'' (1881–19 ...
carried out a well-publicized disagreement in the pages of their respective journals, and although Tucker championed Most's revolutionary philosophy later, the schism never healed. Some years later,
Emma Goldman Emma Goldman (June 27, 1869 – May 14, 1940) was a Russian-born Anarchism, anarchist revolutionary, political activist, and writer. She played a pivotal role in the development of anarchist political philosophy in North America and Europ ...
and
Alexander Berkman Alexander Berkman (November 21, 1870June 28, 1936) was a Russian-American anarchist and author. He was a leading member of the anarchist movement in the early 20th century, famous for both his political activism and his writing. Be ...
became involved with the ''Freiheit'' group, only to leave after conflicts with Most arose. When Berkman, inspired by Most's theory of the ''attentat'', was imprisoned for the attempted assassination of
Henry Clay Frick Henry Clay Frick (December 19, 1849 – December 2, 1919) was an American industrialist, financier, and art patron. He founded the H. C. Frick & Company coke manufacturing company, was chairman of the Carnegie Steel Company and played a major ...
, Most criticized Berkman's action. Goldman was infuriated and publicly took a horse-whip to Most at his lecture, demanding a proof or a retraction. The journal's publication occasionally faltered when Most was imprisoned—at least once, for writings he published in ''Freiheit''John Most Sentenced
, ''New York Times'', Oct. 15, 1901, p. 16.—but fellow anarchists kept the journal afloat during those times. When its charismatic founder and editor died in 1905, the publication began to fail. ''Freiheit'' ceased publication in 1910 after 28 years.


Editors

:1879:
Johann Most Johann Joseph "Hans" Most (February 5, 1846 – March 17, 1906) was a German-American Social Democratic and then anarchist politician, newspaper editor, and orator. He is credited with popularizing the concept of "propaganda of the deed" in the Un ...
:1881:
Frank Kitz Frank Kitz (1849 – 8 January 1923) was an English people, English anarchist. Life Born in the Kentish Town area of London as Francis Platt, he was illegitimate and grew up in poverty.E. P. Thompson and Peter Linebaugh, ''William Morris: ...
:1881:
Victor Dave Victor Dave (25 February 1847 – 31 October 1922) was a Belgian editor and journalist best known for his work on anarchist publications and in the International Workingmen's Association. Early life and career Victor Dave was born in Aal ...
:1884:
Johann Most Johann Joseph "Hans" Most (February 5, 1846 – March 17, 1906) was a German-American Social Democratic and then anarchist politician, newspaper editor, and orator. He is credited with popularizing the concept of "propaganda of the deed" in the Un ...
:1905:
Helene Minkin Helene Minkin (June 10, 1873 – February 3, 1954) was a Russian-Jewish anarchist immigrant who settled in New York City and had close ties with three of the U.S. Anarchism, anarchist movement's most notable figures – Emma Goldman, Alexander Ber ...
:1907:
Max Baginski Max Baginski (1864 – November 24, 1943) was a German-American anarchist revolutionary. Early life Baginski was born in 1864 in Bartenstein (now Bartoszyce), a small East Prussian town. His father was a shoemaker who had been active in th ...


Footnotes


Other sources consulted

*
Emma Goldman Emma Goldman (June 27, 1869 – May 14, 1940) was a Russian-born Anarchism, anarchist revolutionary, political activist, and writer. She played a pivotal role in the development of anarchist political philosophy in North America and Europ ...
, ''Living My Life'' *
Wendy McElroy Wendy McElroy (born 1951) is a Canadian individualist feminist and voluntaryist writer. McElroy is the editor of the website ifeminists.net. McElroy is the author of the book ''Rape Culture Hysteria'', in which she contends that rape cul ...

"The Schism Between Individualist and Communist Anarchism"
''Journal of Libertarian Studies'', v.15, n.1 (Fall 2000). *
George Woodcock George Woodcock (May 8, 1912 – January 28, 1995) was a Canadian writer of political biography and history, an anarchist thinker, a philosopher, an essayist and literary critic. He was also a poet and published several volumes of travel wri ...
, ''Anarchism: A History of Libertarian Ideas and Movements'' (2004)
"Lights Out in the City of Light" -- Anarchy and Assassination at the Pan-American Exposition
University of Buffalo Library exhibition. *
Sharon Rudahl Sharon Rudahl (born 1947) is an American comic artist, illustrator and writer. She was one of the first female artists who contributed to the underground comix movement of the early 1970's. In 1972, she was part of the women's collective that fou ...
, ''A Dangerous Woman'' * Frank Harreck-Haase, ''Der Agitator – Das Leben des Johann Most, 1. Band – Der Sozialist'', Chemnitz, 2017, (in German) * Frank Harreck-Haase, ''Der Agitator – Das Leben des Johann Most, 2. Band – Der Anarchist'', Chemnitz, 2019, (in German)


See also

*
List of anarchist periodicals Current publications The following is a chronological list of noteworthy anarchism, anarchist periodicals that are still being published. Defunct The following is a chronological list of noteworthy anarchism, anarchist and proto-anarchist perio ...
{{DEFAULTSORT:Freiheit Anarchist periodicals published in the United Kingdom Defunct political magazines published in the United Kingdom Defunct German-language magazines Magazines published in London Magazines established in 1879 Magazines disestablished in 1910 Non-English-language mass media in the United Kingdom German-language magazines published in Europe Anarchist periodicals