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Germany
Germany
Germany: Traffic-light coalition gives green light to more of the same-CounterBlast
The incoming government in Berlin has a new gloss but is offering Merkelism without Merkel, argues Sean Ledwith
1933: Warnings From History - book review
1933: Warnings From History
republishes an important contemporary analysis of how the powerful German working-class movement was defeated by Nazism, finds Chris Bambery
German election: In Merkel’s shadow
Continuity rather than real change is the most likely outcome of the election in Europe’s most powerful state, writes Sean Ledwith
Germany’s election: shattering the illusion of stability
As Germany prepares to go to the polls, Kevin Ovenden assesses the fragmentation of German politics
The Ratline and The Good Germans - book review
Lindsey German reviews two case studies of the Nazi period, which, from above and from below, reveal the class nature of the regime and the resistance to it
The Communist Movement at a Crossroads: Plenums of the Communist International’s Executive Committee, 1922-1923 - book review
The newly available records of the Comintern Executive Committee from 1922-23 show the importance of the organisation before its later Stalinisation, argues Chris Bambery
The fight against Trumpism: lessons of Hitler’s Munich Putsch
As far as historical parallels can be made, we must draw the lessons from the past in the fight against fascism, writes John Westmoreland
Rosa Luxemburg: an interview with Dana Mills
Katherine Connelly interviews Dana Mills, author of a new biography on Rosa Luxemburg, on her crucial contribution to revolutionary thought
From Golden Dawn to the AfD, the far right is being beaten back by a fighting left
The far right are not unstoppable, but neither is their decline inevitable; the radical left is key to the anti-fascist movements halting their march, argues Kevin Ovenden
If VE Day never came: It Happened Here - film review
On the 75th anniversary of VE Day, Tom Griffiths finds Brownlow and Mollo's alternative vision of Nazi-led Britain in the 1940s still resonates powerfully
Coronavirus: a test for Europe
The pandemic is proving to be a test for European solidarity and is adding strain to an already fragile EU, argues Alan McGuire from Madrid
Lockdown reading on revolution: some novels set in times of great upheaval
Lindsey German's pick of novels set in revolutionary times
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
A Socialist Defector: From Harvard to Karl-Marx-Allee - book review
An American socialist’s memoir of his life in East Germany overturns many standard assumptions about the contrasts of West and East, finds Dominic Alexander
Imperial calculations: why World War Two was declared 80 years ago today
Britain declared war on Germany not to fight fascism but to secure the interests of its own ruling class, writes Chris Bambery
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
Ten things they don't tell you about D-Day
As the commemorations of the 75 year anniversary of D-Day take place, Lindsey German reminds us of the truth about the end of the Second World War
A Deutsche Bank and Commerzbank merger spells trouble
The proposed merger of German banks is a disaster waiting to happen and exposes the weaknesses at the heart of European capitalism, argues Chris Bambery
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
Rosa Luxemburg, Karl Liebknecht and the 100 year revolution
One hundred years on from the murders of Rosa Luxemburg and Karl Liebknecht, their revolution still breathes, writes Evan Sedgwick-Jell
Rosa Luxemburg: a revolutionary for our times
Rosa's commitment to her class against the greatest of odds is an enduring inspiration, writes Dana Mills
Standing on the shoulders of a giant: Rosa Luxemburg and The Mass Strike
Marking the centenary of her assassination, Richard Allday looks at Rosa Luxemburg's
The Mass Strike
and the lessons it holds for revolutionary socialists today
Europe in turmoil: what to expect in 2019
Chris Bambery explores European political economy and what developments of the last twelve months can lead us to expect about the year ahead
A state of disunion: Europe after Brexit
Liberals lament Britain leaving the European Union, but the politics of the bloc is increasingly right wing and nasty, argues Vladimir Unkovski-Korica
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
Germany after Merkel: how the right can be beaten
With the departure of Angela Merkel, centrist hopes for maintaining the status quo are withering, while the left is at a strategic cross roads, argues Vladimir Unkovski-Korica
Aftermath: Art in the wake of World War One - review
Modern art was a way of actively willing war towards an end says Alistair Cartwright in his review of the Aftermath exhibition at the Tate
Why fascists hate trade unions
Fascists hate unions because they are a vehicle for working class power. The past can inform our fight today, argues Chris Bambery
France also: a cynical attempt to divide anti-racism in the service of the government right
Unite the left and anti-racist movements in a fight back against cynical right-wing disruption, argues Kevin Ovenden
Organised workers in Germany massively reject AfD
It is unity amongst the working class that can keep the far right at bay
The SPD, grand coalitions, and European social democracy
In Germany, the left is at a crossroads, and what path it takes depends on the strength of the movements, argues Evan Sedgwick-Jell
Social democratic suicide? What’s going on in Germany? Interview with Mark Bergfeld - podcast
As the SPD go into another 'grand coalition' with the CDU, Mark Bergfeld looks at the prospects for the left in Germany
Germany: why did the SPD membership vote for the coalition?
The decision to join the government throws up big questions for the left and for the movements
The SPD is dead: long live the grand coalition!
There has been much opposition to Groko. Still, another Grand Coalition looms in Germany. Evan Sedgwick-Jell examines the reasons why
Fighting fascism in the 1930s: Trotsky and the United Front - video
The strategy of the united front was central to Trotsky's politics and has been used many times since to fight fascism. Katherine Connelly discusses the history, what we can learn from it, and what it means for politics today.
Where is Germany heading?
The political crisis in Germany presents both dangers and opportunities for the European anti-capitalist left argues Evan Sedgwick-Jell
A life sentence of low wages and public sector cuts - weekly briefing
Despite dire forecasts for the economy and living standards, the Tories are continuing with more austerity. It can't go on argues Lindsey German
Now is the time to fight back - Counterfire Freesheet October 2017
Tories in crisis, Catalonia, German elections and more - Counterfire freesheet edition 21, October 2017
AfD breakthrough: the threat of fascism never went away
After the far-right party's success in the German election, we must look at the root causes of their rise, if we are to know how to fight back
The shock at Germany’s election result is sinking in across Europe
The centre has collapsed and the result is a serious advance for the far right. Hope is not lost, though, argues Kevin Ovenden
Corbyn's a winner, but this is only the beginning of the fight - weekly briefing
The left have cemented their position within Labour, but we must build strength as a wider movement if we are to take on vested interests and really change society
German elections: 'The first time in decades that a party with a fascist wing is going to enter parliament'
Mark Bergfeld talks to Counterfire about Merkel‘s popularity and the deeper roots of the rise of the right-wing AfD
Eyewitness account: G20 protests in Hamburg
Hamburg's G20 protests can provide immense inspiration, argues Marta Music
Working-Class Politics in the German Revolution
The Revolutionary Shop Stewards are a neglected part of the German Revolution of 1918-23, but the political lessons need clear understanding, argues Dominic Alexander
7 reasons anti-imperialists should vote for Lexit
Anti-imperialists must vote leave, argues Sean Ledwith
Sexual assault allegations exacerbate German racism
Sexism and racism have to be challenged without bowing to the far right, who are using sexual assaults to attack refugees, argues Kaveh Yazdani
Rosa Luxemburg on parliament and political power - key texts
Vladimir Unkovski-Korica introduces a chapter from
Reform or Revolution
by Polish revolutionary Rosa Luxemburg as part of our 'key texts' series
Refugees, solidarity and anti-racism
Tens of thousands of refugees have organised and triggered a wave of social solidarity which in some countries is unprecedented writes Kevin Ovenden
VE Day and the comic book history of World War Two
Celebrations to mark the 70th anniversary of the end of the Second World War are an opportunity for Western governments to re-write History argues Chris Bambery
Blockupy in perspective
Thousands of demonstrators converged on Frankfurt on Wednesday to disrupt the opening ceremony of the European Central Bank. Mark Bergfeld reports
Greece: reparations and the politics of austerity
The political symbolism behind Alexis Tsipras' speech on reparations is explored by Kevin Ovenden in his latest dispatch from Athens