(THIS ARTICLE IS MACHINE TRANSLATED by Google from Norwegian)
MODERN TIMES met anarchist Ralf G. Landmesser in his own step-by-step A-Laden (the anarchist shop), which abounds with all kinds of A-literature, books, magazines and anarchist newspapers in the center of Berlin.
Landmesser says that in the seventies he was close to being prosecuted under Penal Code 129a of the German Penal Code (for the formation of a criminal association) because he had borrowed a quote from the RAF (Rote Armee Fraktion) from the German newspaper TAZ and published this in the red-black almanac KalendA.
Land fairs were called on the carpet by the decade's top terrorist hunter in Berlin, Hans-Jürgen Przytarski. The Supreme Court judge tried to get Landmesser on the glue stick by asking complicated questions, but failed. When the meeting was over, Przytarski strongly warned him against publishing similar quotes; they could encourage people to do stupid things, he thought. "Listen, Mr. Przytarski," answered Landmesser. “In this German state of injustice, there are still post-fascist structures, while our capitalists cooperate with any deceitful dictatorship! As long as this goes on, I stick to my opinion. ”The case was closed.
The tire on his car was punctured, but only halfway, so only a little air leaked out.
However, a directory on Landmesser was created at the German Federal Police. A random cop later trusted him when Landmesser on one occasion demonstrated against building nuclear power plants. Landmesser states in the same breath that he already had a strong feeling that he was being monitored, but that it was almost a matter of course to count for those who "leaned a little too far out the window politically".
Political sabotage
At the same time, he is very curious about how many times spies and political provocators were actually planted on him by the authorities. As an example, he mentions that the 1991 almanac could only be released in February of that year, and his gut feeling strongly suggests that the German intelligence service was actively behind the delay.
He explains that at that time he was a central communication hub for anarchist activities in Germany and internationally, long before the Internet existed. It was natural that the secret services were trying to sabotage this activity.
A few years ago, someone tried to kill Landmesser. The tire on his car was punctured, but only halfway, so that only a little air leaked out of it. On the highway, it could have quickly had fatal consequences if the tire cracked or punctured. There were brand new tires, so Landmesser had the tires inspected at a workshop without them being able to find anything there. A few months later, another tire had suddenly punctured. It could not possibly be a coincidence.
He went to another workshop, and they found stabbing injuries on both tires done with a pointed and sharp object. Five or six years ago, the central screw on the brake anchor plate for the rear brake on Landmesser's motorcycle had been removed. Coincidence? He reported the sabotage attempts as murder attempts to the police, but the police would only accept notification as damage to property.
The property damage case was closed after two weeks because no perpetrator was found. Landmesser strongly objected to this decision and explained in depth the entire causal relationship, after which a female police officer agreed to report the case as a serious interference in public traffic. Landmesser would thereby achieve that the case was publicly documented and registered, in case such sabotage should hit him in the near future. In addition, his car was crushed and the rear window shattered, even though the car was not parked far from a police station. Land fairs assume that either the Nazis or the police were behind the attacks.
[ntsu_box title = ”Black-red almanac” style = ”soft” box_color = ”# fac842 ″ title_color =” # fffffb ”radius =” 10 ″] On the back of one of the pocket almanacs called there KalendA (with the last A letter circled in a circle as a symbol of anarchism) published by Berlin resident Ralf G. Landmesser from 1983 to the year 2000, is the poem "On the water wheel" by Bertolt Brecht from 1932/33. There it is called (Ach wir hatten viele Herren…, [translated by the undersigned])(Alas we have had many bosses some like tigers, others hyenas some eagles, some pigs just as fully fed we one and the other some better, some worse but a boot will fall time a boot it kicks to people you understand: I mean we no new bosses need no one at all!)
The poem aptly describes the essence of anarchism, which has as its overriding aim to establish a social order completely without power and system hierarchy. The Almanac was indispensable for anyone active in the anarchist scene in the Old Federal Republic and the former West Berlin, later also in the reunited Germany. Where the KalendA almanac was an important tool for today's activists in a revolutionary and often frustrating everyday life. It was necessary to plan and remember meetings, "but not the conspiracies!", As it once said in one of the almanacs. Between the texts, it was packed with tiny little cartoons by Seyfried, © TOM and many others from the left and the left-hand side, quotes from revolutionary classics, from punk songs or current demonstration passages, as well as numerous historical data.
Contact addresses
Above all, the black-red KalendA provided relevant contact addresses: about anarchist and other radical leftist initiatives / initiatives, archives, newspapers, information stores, companies, anti-AKW (anti-nuclear power plant movement), antifa (anti-fascists), trade unions and nature conservation groups. The 1996 almanac lists hundreds of addresses. As the Internet at that time entered their children's shoes, such extensive mailing lists were rare. Just as in all previous editions, the 1996 edition presented content-rich articles focusing on the history of anarchism in the Czech Republic and Slovakia. The almanac told of various groups such as "the Black Cyclists", "the Office of Anarchist Discussions" and "the initiative Die FREIe HEIDe". It also contained an overview / guide of all the anarchist newspapers and magazines / magazines. The almanac's official name was "Schwarz-roter Kain-KalendA" (black-red non-calendar). The name alternates on the Cain calendar of the anarchist writer Erich Mühsam which was published for the years 1912/13.
Fewer radicals
If you look at the almanac today, you get a strong sense of what political battles were fought and with what breadth and diversity the anti-capitalist resistance of the left was organized. It is clear that much of this is missing today, there are fewer who are radical and who are at the same time willing to dig into the roots of anarchism.
The almanac is no longer released. KalendA nevertheless stood for a typical feeling of life, a special political quality of life. Much of the activity has today been moved to the Internet. The 1996 almanac can still be purchased for a femeuro note, which can be sent to Ralf G. Landmesser. Then you will receive a genuine 1996-Calendar in return.
You can book here: Ralf G. Landmesser, Rathenower Str. 23, 10559 Berlin, Germany
A-Laden, Brunnenstrasse 7, 10119 Berlin, Germany
Open every Thursday at 18.00-22.00 (or by appointment)
