Campaign: Archiv Aktiv

In Germany, nonviolent activism has tended to be the preserve of the young, who have few contacts with the people who worked for peace and justice in the `50s and `60s. Many know more about Gandhi and King than about comparable struggles near home. Archiv Aktiv in Hamburg is attempting to "reconstruct" the history of the movement in Germany, with newspapers, newsletters, handbooks, pamphlets, minutes, and position papers of the nonviolent movement. The documents--which also include interviews with nonviolent activists--are mainly in German but also in English and French. Wolfgang Hertle of Archiv Aktiv writes "For the older generation, it is quite novel to be asked about their activities in the `50s and `60s. The younger people are often surprised that there has been a nonviolent movement for so long.

"For instance, the story of the island of Heligoland is nearly forgotten today. Evacuated of its inhabitants after 1945, it was used by the Royal Air Force as a bombing range and would have been destroyed totally had it not been for a group of students who occupied the island in December 1951. Finally, the British military withdrew and in 1953 civilians were able to move back to the island.

"Another way of learning from experience are the excursions organised by Archiv Aktiv to areas which have been or are still involved in nonviolent struggles, such as Larzac in France or Gorleben in Germany".

Archiv Aktiv would like to get in touch with archives, projects, or individuals who do similar work, for information exchange and possible future cooperation. Bibliographies or booklists would be very welcome as well. Archiv Aktiv, Sternschanze 1, D-20357 Hamburg, Germany (tel +49 40 430 2046; fax 433923).