Counterfire
log in
Home
Join
About
Conferences
Groups
Constitution
Contact
Sitemap
News
Events
Features
Analysis
Opinion
History
Book Reviews
Book extracts
Video
Paper
Podcast
Theory
Authors
In order to provide you with the best online experience this website uses cookies.
By using our website, you agree to our use of cookies.
I agree
World War I
World War I
The Austrian Revolution - book review
The history of the 1918 Austrian revolution by the social-democratic leader of the time, Otto Bauer, despite itself shows why the revolution was lost, argues Chris Bambery
Under the Socialist Banner: Resolutions of the Second International 1889-1912 - book review
The resolutions of the Second International are a revealing way of uncovering the contradictions in the pre-1914 workers’ movement, finds Chris Bambery
Free Speech and the Suppression of Dissent during World War I - book review
A history of repression during World War I shows the importance of defending civil rights, but free speech always needs to be seen in its political context, argues Dominic Alexander
Government and opposition: all in it together? – weekly briefing
Lindsey German on Covid-19, Labour collusion, the dictates of capital and remembering WW2
The Easter Rising in words, music and film
Lindsey German rounds up some of the writing, music and film inspired by the revolutionary Easter Rising of 1916
A People’s History of the German Revolution 1918-19 - book review
William Pelz’s
People’s History of the German Revolution
is a vivid and accessible introduction to socialism’s greatest lost revolution, finds Tom Whittaker
What the government wants us to forget on Remembrance Day
Poppies must not distract us from the Tories' contempt for the working class, writes Mona Kamal
The Treaty of Versailles 1919: a peace pregnant with war
The Treaty of Versailles was the continuation of the First World War by other means, finds Dragan Plavšić
1919: When British soldiers went on strike
The Folkestone strikes of 1919 should remind us that the organised working class can effect huge change in this country, argues John Westmoreland
Rosa Luxemburg, von Trotta's 1986 film, receives digital restoration - review
In this moving biopic, Rosa Luxemburg emerges as a vibrant, sensual, intellectually brilliant, morally and physically courageous woman, whose legacy proves timeless, writes Tom Lock Griffiths
Westminster's first woman, 100 years on
Constance Markievicz was the first woman MP at Westminster - Jacqueline Mulhallen marks the centenary of her election
The politics of Remembrance
Remembrance is about the present and the future, not just the past, argues Alex Snowdon in this repost of his 2015 article
A hundred years after WW1, what are we remembering?
The establishment makes a big display of remembering fallen WW1 soldiers while justifying today's wars. We should remember those who fought hard to stop war, argues Lindsey German
World War One was stupid, tragic and futile
World War One was a brutal and unnecessary waste of human life and sowed the seeds for the second war, argues Chris Bambery
The sailors that ended the First World War
As Remembrance Day approaches, John Westmoreland highlights the vital role played by revolutionary sailors
The War? The Suffragettes? How did women win the right to vote?
On the centenary of women winning the right to vote, Katherine Connelly explores how they fought for their rights and resisted war
Shock and remembrance: how not to commemorate war
We cannot let our histories become grist for the bosses’ war drive, argues Mick Wattam
War and remembrance: the poppy and the butcher
The stark horrors of World War I cannot be cleansed to serve the interests of our rulers, past and present, argues Chris Bambery
Fire and Blood: The European Civil War, 1914-1945
Fire and Blood
brilliantly recounts the European civil war of 1914-45, which brought the idea of capitalist progress to an end, argues Chris Bambery
Why Remembrance is a political issue
Remembrance is about the present and the future not just the past, writes Alex Snowdon
Zimmerwald 1915: A new socialist resistance against war
John Riddell on how a small gathering held in Switzerland 100 years ago, on September 5-8, 1915, marked a turning point in the world socialist movement
Fatal Fortnight: Arthur Ponsonby and the Fight for British Neutrality in 1914
Duncan Marlor in
Fatal Fortnight
shows that Britain’s rulers took the country to war in 1914 through deceit and manipulation, finds Dominic Alexander
Friends of Alice Wheeldon
Alice Wheeldon was an anti-war activist during World War I who was unjustly imprisoned by a vindictive and repressive government, writes Jacqueline Mulhallen
Gramsci the revolutionary, in his own words
Gramsci is claimed by many different left currents, but a new volume of his letters shows his commitment to revolutionary politics pursued through united mass action, argues Chris Nineham
Review of Conflict, Time, Photography, at Tate Modern
A thought-provoking exhibition at
Tate Modern
uses photography to remember 150 years of our war-torn past. Review by Mike Quille
Sylvia Pankhurst's Christmas parties for peace
Katherine Connelly tells of how the radical Suffragette gave East End kids a glimmer of hope in the depths of World War I
Football V War: new film marks 1914 Christmas Truce Centenary
A new film by Philosophy Football explores the potential for sport as resistance. Featuring Grace Petrie, Jimmy Ross, Finlay Allison, Kate Smurthwaite, Simon Munnery and Musa Okwonga
Greatcoats for goalposts: celebrating the Christmas Truce of 1914
Mark Perryman of
Philosophy Football
considers different ways of marking the centenary of World War One
Failing the red poppy loyalty test
Lindsey German explains why she won't be intimidated by the mania which sees wearing a red poppy as a test of loyalty, a definition of Britishness
Ten lies told about World War I
Dominic Alexander debunks ten myths used to justify the slaughter of the First World War
The Darkest Days: The Truth Behind Britain’s Rush to War, 1914
A new account of the weeks before the outbreak of World War I explodes the myth that Britain played an in any way commendable role in the events that led to the catastrophe of August 1914, finds Dominic Alexander
Wear a white poppy to honour the dead on Remembrance Day
People buy the red poppy to support soldiers returning from war, but the best way to protect their interests is to stop sending them into these disastrous conflicts
A People’s History of Scotland: World War I and Protest
In this final extract from
A People’s History of Scotland
, Chris Bambery reveals the range of protests during and opposition to the First World War that erupted in Scotland
WWI: Imperial carve up, industrialised killing the truth about Gove's 'Great War'
Historian Neil Faulkner takes on the revisionist myths about the causes of World War One - part of the Dangerous Times Festival at east London's RichMix
Video: The women who fought against WWI
A presentation and group discussion from Katherine Connelly, author of '
Sylvia Pankhurst Suffragette, Socialist and Scourge of Empire
'
The Shadow of Recent Wars: Historians and the Origins of World War I
In denying imperialism as the cause of wars, works by recent mainstream academic historians effectively feed into the justifications of wars past and present
Video: No Glory - the real history of World War One
Presented by 'Remembering The Real World War 1'. Bristol's campaign to commemorate the real World War 1
The debate that never was: the BBC and the first world war
Journalist Max Hastings thinks the first world war was a "necessary war". Historian Niall Ferguson says Britain should have kept out of it. The BBC's gave each a documentary to make their case. Chris Nineham was not impressed by either of them
How to stop the commemoration of World War One becoming a justification for future wars
The more the dead and injured of the First World War are forgotten in a rush of chauvinistic nostalgia, the more likely it is that dead will pile up in future conflicts
Jeremy Paxman's BBC history of the First World War is shallow, banal, and cliché-ridden
Paxman accepts the war was awful and nothing to celebrate in 2014, but he clearly believes that the war was necessary and that its million or so British victims died in a worthy cause
Lions and donkeys: Dan Snow's 10 myths about World War One debunked
Historian Dan Snow says there are ten myths used to portray the First World War as uniquely horrific that are historically false. Lindsey German from
No Glory in War
thinks he is wrong
How should World War I history be taught in schools?
Should we emphasise the heroism and courage of a 'just war' in a 'noble cause', as education secretary Gove wants, or highlight imperialist war as the worst form of barbarism?
Battle of the Somme: the horrific epitome of the first world war
Thousands of men who went over the top that morning thought they would meet little resistance. 57,000 were dead or wounded by the end of the day
World War One and the rehabilitation of slaughter
Damaged by Iraq, ground down in Afghanistan, defeated over Syria, the jingoistic right are determined to rewrite the history of the First World War in an effort to rehabilitate imperialist war in the early 21st century
Their history and ours: the first world war that won't be commemorated in 2014
Max Hastings and Michael Gove say we should should blame the Germans for World War I and celebrate the victory for 'freedom' and 'democracy'. Archaeologist Neil Faulkner disagrees
No Glory - remembering World War One in music and poetry
Video of the recent No Glory in War event held at St James's Church, Piccadilly featuring Billy Bragg
Events That Changed The World: The First World War
In this short TV programme, Dan Poulton looks at the causes and consequences of the First World War
The government is using next year's centenary to justify World War One
The pro-war voices on David Cameron's first world war committee co-ordinating next year's centenary events are getting louder and more shrill
To End All Wars: How the First World War Divided Britain
In 1914, a war supposedly against authoritarian rule unleashed the carnage of World War I, so do not let it happen again in 2013, argues Lindsey German
World War One: All Germany's fault? Neil Faulkner debates Max Hastings
Cameron's plans to celebrate WWI are coming under fire - Neil Faulkner debates Max Hastings on the
Jeremy Vine Show
A Marxist History of the World part 69: The First World War
Neil Faulkner looks at how capitalism plunged humanity into an abyss of carnage, destruction, and waste without precedent, as mass production methods produced industrialised slaughter.