Germany – Dem Volke Dienen: Combative Action Against the Festivities of German Imperialism

We hereby share an unofficial translation of an article published by Dem Volke Dienen on October 4.

A burned flag, four injured police, forty combative detainees, that is the short numerical summary of the powerful action of anti-imperialists in Bremen against the chauvinistic show, that the German imperialist State has organized.

As a part of their celebration of the annexation of the German Democratic Republic the rulers of the Federal Republic of Germany have put their plans of militarization and reactionarization on full display. All of Bremen was put under siege, mainly by police, but with the German, and even the US armies present within their “blue light area.”

Different forces have protested against this: On October 2, among other things, a relatively big demonstration was organized by the so-called “anti-German” and “anti-national” forces. On the night of October 2 to 3 some skirmishes took place in the neighborhood where the left scene of Bremen is concentrated. On the day of the central demonstration, some groups in the most positive spirit of the Spontis [translators note: Movement in West Germany in the 1970s and 80s] carried out a good action that received a lot of local media coverage. Other forces had info stands and more.

The action by Red League on this day also received a lot a media attention, especially due to the disproportional aggression by the goon squad in blue [translator’s note: reference to the uniforms of the riot police]. While not massive, a committed demonstration of anti-imperialists like Partizan, Seeds of Palestine and the Open Anticapitalist Meeting Oldenburg heeded the call of the Red League, which was described by the national medium Spiegel as follows:

“During a demonstration bordering the festivities for the Day of German Unity, four police officers have been lightly wounded. The police has stopped the manifestation. A speaker for the police has said, that the demonstration had been stopped around the Sankt-Jürgen-Street, after participants had burned a German flag. When the officers wanted to identify the participants they were, in some cases, attacked with flagpoles.”

The local media Buten un Binnen wrote:

“When the police wanted to identify the perpetrators the officers were attacked with flagpoles. Several people were detained. The manifestation was ended. The communist group ‘Red League’ had called for the demonstration. According to the Bremen Ministry of Interior the protest had been announced ‘against militarization and warmongering’.”

Also ruthless, reactionary megaphones like Apollo News announced:

“The manifestation took place at Sankt-Jürgen-Street and according to the Bremen Ministry of Interior was directed ‘against militarism and warmongering’. When the participants burned a German flag, the police stopped the manifestation. Afterwards, when the police wanted to identify the involved they were attacked with flagpoles. Four police officers were lightly injured. Several participants were detained, the manifestation was ended.”

Here the State let loose its goons. Several hundred cops surrounded the starting point and harassed the participants. But these were not intimidated by that, nor by the massive attacks on the demonstration only a few meters after the starting point. One of their State flags, with the German Eagle, went up in flames. During this the comrades made it clear in the streets, that this took place against German imperialism and its renewed plans of becoming a big power. It took place side by side with the class brothers and sisters in Latin America and Asia, who with their heroic struggles show that there is no “continuing as before” for imperialism. It took place as a part of the international week of action in solidarity with the Indian people, who for decades have been resisting the genocidal campaigns of the old Indian State.

The comrades were full of revolutionary optimism, proletarian internationalism and conviction. For hours slogans like “Long live international solidarity!”, “Lal Salaam!” and “Viva, viva Palestina!” could be heard on the place, with solidary passersby joining in. The International was sung. The hours of harassment could not weaken this.

While the fascist goon squads wanted to live out their black dreams, it was made clear that their rule will not last. A day of struggle is a beautiful day.