The German-Dutch Communist Left - Libcom

THE NETHERLANDS
The Dutch communist left, born in 1907 around the review De Tribune, expelled from the SDAP in 1909, was
indeed at the origin of the German communist left (KAPD). Through its theoreticians Gorter and Pannekoek, it
shone forth far beyond the Netherlands, so much so that it was the ‘spiritual leadership’ of the whole
international council communist current.
a) Before 1918:
De Baanbreker, organ of the Utrecht SDP Section, 1910.
De Nieuwe Tijd (New Times), 1896-1921, organ of the Tribunists since 1908 in Amsterdam.
Het Socialisme, Amsterdam, 1907-1921, theoretical organ of the Dutch left. Many contributions by Gorter and
Pannekoek.
b) 1918-1940:
Actie, published by working groups of council communists, Amsterdam, without any dates. Jointly distributed
with Proletenstemmen, among the seamen and dockers of Amsterdam.
De Arbeidersraad (The Workers’ Council), 1933-37, orgaan van Kommunistische Arbeiders Groepen in
Nederland. Amsterdam. Published by the former members of the KAPN: the Korpers and Frits Kief. Contains
etchings of the artist Gerd Arnzt (1900-1988), who was militant of the KAPN. Council communist, later took on
an anti-fascist and semi-trotskyist view.
De Baanbreker (The Pioneer), “orgaan van de kommunistische Arbeiders-Jeugd”, 1922-25. Published by the
KAPH youth. Under the influence of Verduin and Luteraan (pseudonym: Baanbreker).
Discussie, 1935-1937, “organ der linkse arbeidersgroeperingen”, Leiden, split from the GIC.
De Internationale, organ of the opposition within the SPD, Amsterdam, 1918-19. This opposition, lead by
Gorter, Luteraan, Korper and Pannekoek, was to give birth to the KAPH.
Klasbatalo, “teoria kaj diskuta organo pri la problemoj de nova laborista movado” (in Esperanto), 1936-1939,
Nos. 1-17, published by the GIC as ‘council communist fraction’ within the SAT, Amsterdam, for Esperantists
of the whole world.
De Kommunistische Arbeider, organ of the KAPN, 1921-31. With the splits and the struggles of tendencies the
leadership and the location of its editorial offices changed.
De ongeldige Stem (nil vote), published by ‘anti-parliamentarist revolutionaries’; the introductory sentence goes:
“any parliamentary act gives help to the fascist reaction”. Published by independent ‘councilists’ 1936-37, Nos.
1-22.
PIC – Persdienst van de groep van Internationale Communisten, published monthly by the GIC from 1928 to
1938, Amsterdam. Subtitled: ‘all power to the workers’ councils! Production in the hands of factory
organisations!’ Seven (anonymous) contributions by Pannekoek.
PIK, Pressedienst der Internationalen Kommunisten-Holland, irregular German publication of the GIC, in 1933.
Proletarier, Amsterdam, 1933, organ in German of the GIC, one issue only. Articles by Korsch, Pannekoek.
Proletarier, Internationale Presse-Korrespondenz der KAPH, Rotterdam, 1932, published by Frits Kief and
former members of the KAPN (‘Korporatie’), in German.
Proletariër, around 1935, split from the GIC in The Hague.
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