The German-Dutch Communist Left - Libcom

For the archives of the social democracy, which contains exchanges of letters with the future tribunist leaders
(Gorter, Pannekoek):
Archives Kautsky; Archives Troelstra; Archives Van der Goes; Archives Wibaut; Archives Saks; Archives
SDAP (All these Archives at the IISG of Amsterdam.)
The left socialist currents, which left the Sneevliet tendency, see: Archives RSV, OSP, RSP, RSAP. For the
inventory of the Archives of the IISG, see: Atie VAN DER HORST, Inventaris van de archieven van het
Revolutionair-Socialistisch Verbond (RSV), de Revolutionair Socialistische Partij (RSP), de Revolutionair
Socialistische Arbeiders Partij (RSAP) in enkele afdelingen, gewesten en federaties van RSP, RSAP en
Onafhankelijk Socialistische Partij (OSP), 1928-1940; working paper, Amsterdam: IISG, 1991.
With regard to the study of Tribunism and left communism, in the IISG of Amsterdam:
Henk CANNE-MEIJER (1890-1962) archives: incorrectly called ‘Radenbeweging’ (councils’ movement); they
deal above all with Gorters KAPN, the KAPD and the KAI Essen tendency. Very important political
correspondence between left communists of Germany, Bulgaria, Great Britain, the Netherlands, Denmark, etc.
The documents are in German, Dutch, and even in French. See: Inventaris Canne Meijer, Henk 1916-1938
(1944-1945) [‘Collectie Canne Meijer’], list of the papers of Canne Meijer, by B. A. Sijes, Amsterdam: IISG,
Nov. 1964, and J. M. Welcker, Feb. 1973.
Anton PANNEKOEK archives: catalogued (1964) by B. A. Sijes, they contain many unpublished works by the
main theoretician of council communism. His memoirs were published as: Herinneringen: herinneringen uit de
arbeidersbeweging, sterrenkundige herinneringen; met bijdragen van B.A. Sijes en E.P.J. van den Heuvel;
samengesteld en verzorgd door B.A. Sijes, J. M. Welcker, J. R. Van Der Leeuw, Amsterdam: Van Gennep,
1982. Pannekoek’s letters are waiting to be published. An fire during the war (Arnhem, 1944) destroyed most of
the written correspondence of the inter-war period.
Herman GORTER archives: the Gorter-Archive in Bussum (where Gorter lived) includes some unpublished
works and manuscripts, both political and literary. It includes letters to Kautsky, Pannekoek, Van Ravesteyn,
Wijnkoop, etc. Gorter destroyed many letters (including some from Lenin) in the twenties.
Gerrit D. JORDENS (1877-1957) archives: engineer, KAPN treasurer in the twenties, till 1925; Jordens
collected internal papers, congress minutes, correspondence and financial statements. These archives are
particularly important for knowledge of the KAPN’s history.
Barend LUTERAAN (1878-1970) archives: a member of the SPD from its foundation, representing the
internationalist youth at the Bern conference in 1915, holding a position of responsibility in the KAPN, a born
organiser. Gorters friend, Luteraan left important archives at the IISG. They are not yet catalogued. They contain
numerous letters by Gorter and Pannekoek. They are important with regard to the epoch of the split in the Dutch
CP (1918-1920).
Gerrit MANNOURY (1867-1956) archives: philosopher, mathematician, SDAP member, Tribunist, left the CPH
in 1929. Founder of a Dutch Artists’ and intellectuals’ Comitee in 1933, he was one of the leaders of the Comité
against the capital punishment in 1946. Correspondence with Trotsky and Henriëtte Roland Holst.
Willem VAN RAVESTEYN (1876-1970) archives: ‘Tribunist’ then ‘Communist’ before his resignation in 1926
from the Dutch CP, Van Ravesteyn left a correspondence with Gorter and Pannekoek before the split, as well as
numerous documents from the communist left.
Hendricus J.F.M. SNEEVLIET (1883-1942) archives: For the description of his archives at he IISG, see: Atie
van der Horst, Inventaris van het archief van Henk Sneevliet (1883-1942), working paper, Amsterdam: IISG,
1997; 112 p.
Frits KIEF (1908-1976) archives: of German descent, Kief played a prominent role within the Dutch Left until
the Second World War. His archives are catalogued. (See the web site of the IISG.)
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