Heiner Lindner: "Um etwas zu erreichen, muss man sich etwas vornehmen, von dem man glaubt, dass es unmöglich sei". Der Internationale Sozialistische Kampf-Bund (ISK) und seine Publikationen (In order to achieve something, one must undertake what one thinks to be impossible. The Militant Socialist International and its Publications) Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung, History Discussion Group, No. 64, ed. by Dieter Dowe, 270 pages, 15 illustrations, Bonn 2006.
Available free of charge from the Historisches Forschungszentrum der Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung, Godesberger Allee 149, D-53175 Bonn.
E-mail: , Tel.: 0228/883473.
At the beginning of 2006, the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung will place on the internet *) an online edition of the journal Renaissance, which the Militant Socialist International (Der Internationale Sozialistische Kampf-Bund / ISK) published in 1941 during its London exile. In 2008, this will be followed by two series of reports by press correspondents in English, Germany speaks and Europe speaks, which the ISK likewise published in London in 1940 and 1942-1947. The periodicals will appear in 2006 unabridged, with all extra editions, and elucidated by detailed comments on persons, newspapers and organisations.
An extensive brochure will appear parallel to the online edition under the title "Um etwas zu erreichen, muss man sich etwas vornehmen, von dem man glaubt, dass es unmöglich sei", which will provide information not only about the ISK, its problematic ideology, its resistance against National Socialism and its publishing activities, but also about the editorial idea and substantial focal points of those activities. This will constitute the first detailed study of ISK publications.
The Militant Socialist International, founded in 1925 by the Göttingen philosopher Leonard Nelson (1882-1927), saw itself as a cadre school for the prospective leaders of a coming social order under the 'rule of the morally and intellectually best people'. It aimed at ascientifically-founded ethics and politics in accordance with the principles of liberal socialism, but categorically rejected democracy as a form of government. After the death of Nelson, the leadership of the ISK was assumed by his secretary Willi Eichler (1896-1971). To him fell the difficult task of preparing the ISK for its illegal work during the Nazi period. Members and sympathisers of the ISK fought in the resistance against the National Socialist regime, often at the cost of their lives, not only within Germany but also in exile - whether by smuggling leaflets and publications into Germany or by publishing writings abroad that were intended to enlighten the rest of the world about the "other, better Germany".
One of the major achievements of the ISK consisted in the development of a network of couriers and informants, which was organised by the Swiss member René Bertholet (1907-1962). Among the Allies, information from the ISK enjoyed the reputation of being superior to that of their own intelligence services. ISK couriers collected information (e.g., from resistance circles) and brought it to Bertholet, who from Switzerland sent it to Eichler, living in exile in Paris and later in London. There Eichler processed and published the information in, for instance, the three previously mentioned periodicals. Renaissance published four issues, coming altogether to 96 pages; Germany speaks and Europe speaks approximately 91 issues, coming altogether to 573 pages. During almost their entire period of publication, Eichler was the sole editor of the three periodicals. He determinedtheir conception, decided what should be published, and wrote the most important articles.
Moreover, he edited the texts in such a way that their authors could not be identified by Nazi spies. In the course of these activities, he proved the truth of the motto that has been adopted as the title of the present brochure: "In order to achieve something, one must undertake what one thinks to be impossible".
*) Internet address: library.fes.de/isk/
Dr. Ruediger Zimmermann
Bibliothek der Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung
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