''Freiheit'' (German for ''Freedom'') was a long-running anarchist journal established by Johann Most in 1879. It was known for advocacy of ''attentat'', or

propaganda of the deed Propaganda of the deed (or propaganda by the deed, from the French ) is specific political direct action meant to be exemplary to others and serve as a catalyst for revolution. It is primarily associated with acts of violence perpetrated by pro ...

—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 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 anarchist political activist and writer. She played a pivotal role in the development of anarchist political philosophy in North America and Europe in the first half of the ...

and Alexander Berkman 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, 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 :1881: Frank Kitz :1881: Victor Dave :1884: Johann Most :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. anarchist movement's most notable figures – Emma Goldman, Alexander Berkman, and J ...

: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 the ...

Footnotes

Other sources consulted

, ''Living My Life'' *

Wendy McElroy Wendy McElroy (born 1951) is a Canadian individualist feminist and voluntaryist writer. She was a co-founder along with Carl Watner and George H. Smith of ''The Voluntaryist'' magazine in 1982 and is the author of a number of books. McElroy ...

"The Schism Between Individualist and Communist Anarchism"
''Journal of Libertarian Studies'', v.15, n.1 (Fall 2000). * George Woodcock, ''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 Frank or Franks may refer to: People * Frank (given name) * Frank (surname) * Franks (surname) * Franks, a medieval Germanic people * Frank, a term in the Muslim world for all western Europeans, particularly during the Crusades - see Farang Curre ...

, ''Der Agitator – Das Leben des Johann Most, 1. Band – Der Sozialist'', Chemnitz, 2017, (in German) *

, ''Der Agitator – Das Leben des Johann Most, 2. Band – Der Anarchist'', Chemnitz, 2019, (in German)

Editors

Footnotes

Other sources consulted

See also