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Josef Peukert | |
|---|---|
 Peukert ca. 1890 | |
| Born | (1855-01-22)22 January 1855 |
| Died | 3 March 1910(1910-03-03) (aged 55) |
| Occupation | Journalist |
| Known for | Anarchist activism |
Josef Peukert (22 January 1855 – 3 March 1910) was ananarchist known for his autobiographical bookMemoirs from the proletarian revolutionary labour movement (German:Erinnerungen eines Proletariers aus der revolutionären Arbeiterbewegung). The book provided a glimpse into the early days of the radicallabour movement in Austria, the start of the anarchist movement in Germany and the exile of the anarchists inLondon and America at the time ofSocialist Law (1878–1890). The accuracy of the book was questioned by fellow anarchist and historianMax Nettlau, who looked upon it in a "highly-skeptical" manner.[1] He was an ethnic German from Bohemia.
Peukert grew up poor atAlbrechtsdorf an der Adler in theKingdom of Bohemia, acrown land of theAustrian Empire. From the age of six, he worked for his father's company and the age of eleven he was taken out of school. At the age of 16 he left home and worked odd jobs inGermany. Peukert contributed tosocial democraticworkers' associations later becoming anAnarchist communist.[citation needed]
In exile in London, Peukert became involved in distributingFreiheit published byJohann Most, but became increasingly critical of Most as Social-Revolutionist as opposed to an anarchist. During this time he became even more radicalized and upon his return in the 1880s he became the leader of the radicalFraktion, who were believers in the concept ofPropaganda of the deed, which calls for the use ofterror against society civil rights.[citation needed]
In the early 1880s, Peukert became the editor ofDie Zukunft[2] (English:The Future), published byDer Rebell (English:The Rebel), from 1886 to 1893 he was the editor ofDie Autonomie (English:The Autonomy) and co-editor after 1889 ofDer Anarchist (English:The Anarchist).[citation needed]
A so-called civil war within theSocialist League began because of Peukert's friendship withTheodor Reuss.Victor Dave, head of a rival anarchist grouping in London, did not trust Reuss which led to tension with Peukert. In 1887, Peukert went with Reuss toBelgium, where Reuss passed information to the police leading to the arrest ofJohann Neve. Neve was arrested and sentenced to 15 years in prison. The episode severely damaged the reputation of Peukert, and also Dave. This incident is touched upon inJohn Henry Mackay'sDie Anarchisten.[citation needed]
From 1890 he worked withEmma Goldman for several years inNew York City.[citation needed]
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