A Question For Anti-Fascist Historians

I am currently reading, and greatly enjoying, Diary of a Man In Despair by Friedrich Reck-Malleczewen. Regarded as the classic Conservative critique of Nazi Germany, the diary runs from the 1930s through to 1944, a few months before the author's execution in Dachau.

One particularly intriguing line raises an interesting nugget for those with an interest in anti-fascist history. On 9 September 1937, Fred Reck wrote of Munich:

"The outlying districts of Haidhausen and Giesing, Munich's lively and alley-filled versions of Whitechapel, have for some time been made unsafe by a group of adolescents banded together under the sign of the 'Red Anchor', who have launched a campaign of terror against all wearing Nazi uniforms. Providing one does not break the taboo against speaking north German dialect here, he can with a quiet heart traverse Giesing wearing a fur coat and top hat, and he will not be troubled - the 'Red Anchor' lays hands only on uniformed Nazis, and especially members of the SS. All this is in no wise to be dismissed as harmless rowdyism, since the 'Red Anchor' is said to be responsible for a number of killings". (p.65).

I have never heard of the Red Anchor. Such a description may fit with the Edelweiss Pirates, but the timescale is not really correct. Does anyone have any further information on anti-fascism in Munich in this period, and the Red Anchor in particular?

 

Comments

[Internationalist]

Paul

Most German big cities seem to have had "Meuten" - gangs of anti-nazi youths.

The book you should read is "Inside Nazi Germany: Conformity, Opposition and Racism in Everyday Life" by Detlev J.K. Peukert. Though I cannot find an explicit reference to the Red Anchor in it. The only such gang referred to in Munich is the "Blasen".

Anyhow, as the title of the book indicates, it reveals how there was a very wide spectrum of views and attitudes to the regime in Nazi Germany, and the different ways in which opposition manifested itself. It undermines the anglo-saxon assumption of a nation of automatons in awe of the Fuehrer.

[Internationalist]

BTW I saw you link on the Edelweiss Pirates.

If they have been "co-opted" by Zionism, it is a great shame.

That is not what the Edelweiss Pirates were about.

Have you seen the 2004 film? Probably not released in the UK?

http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edelwei%C3%9Fpiraten_(Film)

[james walsh]

I think a great deal of what communist youth did has been co-opted by the liberal world. These people wouldn't have viewed them selfs at 'anti-fascist' but as Communists ;
which of couse is anti-fascist- which is why it's co-opted with too much ease.

It reminds me of the John Heartfield exibition I saw in London years ago- which almost tried to give the impression of a concerned liberal.