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German Anarcho-Syndicalists and the Workers of the Ruhr (1919–1920): From the November Revolution to the Kapp Putsch
 
PIIS013038640011363-7-1
DOI10.31857/S013038640011363-7
Publication type Article
Status Published
Authors
Vadim Damie 
Affiliation: Institute of World History RAS
Address: Russian Federation, Moscow
Journal nameNovaia i noveishaia istoriia
EditionIssue 5
Pages76-97
Abstract

The coup attempted by conservative military circles in Germany in March 1920, known as the Kapp Putsch, was met with massive resistance from all currents of the country's labor movement. The general strike, which resulted in armed rebellion in various parts of the country, forced the rebels to capitulate. But workers in one of Germany’s main industrial regions, the Ruhr, were not content with restoring the constitutional regime. In fierce battles with the Reichswehr and the volunteer Freikorps, they took control of most of the Ruhr and held it for several weeks. Active participation in this movement was played by anarcho-syndicalist unions, for which the Ruhr was one of the main bastions.

The Syndicalist «Freie Vereinigung deutscher Gewerkschaften», which had a marginal influence before the First World War and actually ceased its activity during the war, began to grow rapidly after the November Revolution of 1918. In the Ruhr-Rhine region, it found massive support among workers, especially miners, builders, metalworkers, transporters, and communal workers. At the beginning of 1919, the syndicalists were in the forefront of the movement for the socialization of enterprises and in advocating for raising the standard of living of workers. Despite the strong repressions by the authorities, the syndicalists managed to restore and expand their influence by the fall of 1919, having united with a number of independent trade unions into the «Freie Arbeiter-Union Deutschlands (Syndikalisten)», with membership exceeded 100 thousand people. During the struggle against the Kapp Putsch, anarcho-syndicalists led labor resistance in several cities of the Rhine-Ruhr region, played an important role in the creation of the «Red Guard of the Ruhr», and initiated the socialization of a number of large industrial enterprises. However, the suppression of the uprising in the Ruhr was the beginning of the gradual decline of the anarcho-syndicalist movement in Germany.

The article focuses on the problem of the influence of the anarcho-syndicalists in the Ruhr after the First World War and the role they played in the March Revolution of 1920, – problem, which has been little studied in Russian historiography.

KeywordsAnarcho-syndicalists, General strike, Germany, Kapp Putsch, Ruhr uprising
Received13.07.2020
Publication date21.10.2020
Number of characters73960
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