,:Y WAS ! ,G]MAN ,PROLET>IAT ,SIL5T 9 ! ,JULY ,DAYS8 

,PEOPLE 3 

,AU?OR 3 ,ALEX&RA ,KOLLONTAI 

,TEXT 3 

,S\RCE3 ,ALEX&RA ,KOLLONTAI3 
,SELECT$ ,>TICLES & ,SPEE*ES1 ,PROGRESS ,PUBLI%]S1 #a#i#h#d2 
,FIR/ ,PUBLI%$3 ,KOMMUNI/ ,SWITZ]L&1 ,NOS4 #a-#b1 #a#i#a#e1 PP4 #a#e#i-#a#f#a2 
,TRANSCRIB$3 ,SALLY ,RYAN = M>XI/S4ORG1 #b2 
,PRO($3 & CORRECT$ BY ,*RIS ,CLAYTON #b#f4 

,MANY PEOPLE /ILL CANNOT UND]/& H[ OR :Y IT C\LD BE ?AT 
! ,G]MAN PROLET>IANS W]E SUDD5LY TRANS=M$ FROM CLASS 
FI<T]S 9TO AN OB$I5T H]D GO+ ) HEADS B[$ TO C]TA9 
DEA?4 ,= MANY PEOPLE IT IS /ILL A MY/]Y :Y !SE 
MASSES - & WE >E TALK+ ( ! BROAD MASSES & NOT ! 
LEAD]S - DID NO?+ TO DEF5D !IR PREVI\S POSITIONS ( 
PR9CIPLE :5 ! GUNS BEGAN TO RO> 9 ,EUROPE1 BUT GAVE UP 
!IR WORK] =TRESSES TO ! CLASS 5EMY )\T A 
/RUGGLE4 ,ANY PROTE/1 ANY OPPOSITION MI<T HAVE BE5 SUPPRESS$ 
FROM ! V]Y />T1 BUT :Y DID DISCONT5T NOT SEE! & BOIL 
AMONG ! PEOPLE1 LEAD+ TO SPONTANE\S DEMON/RATIONS & MASS 
RESI/ANCE8 ,WAS NOT ! $UCATION ( ! WORK]S ( ,G]MANY 
GUID$ BY A POLITICAL P>TY :I*1 9 ITS !ORETICAL S*OOL+1 
S]V$ AS ! MODEL = ! PROLET>IAT ( ! :OLE WORLD8 ,DOES 
?IS MEAN ?AT SOCIALI/ $UCATION DOES NOT YIELD ! FRUIT WE 
>E 5TITL$ TO EXPECT8 

,?US QU]Y ! SKEPTICS4 ,O!RS1 9CLUD+ C]TA9 ,RUSSIAN SOCIAL-*AUV9I/S1 G]MANOPHILES1 >E READY TO SEE ?IS AS AN EXAMPLE ( ! 'POLITICAL AW>5ESS' ( ! ,G]MAN WORK]S3 ! MASSES REALIZ$ 9 TIME ?AT IT WAS A QUE/ION ( ! FUR!R UNIMP$$ DEVELOPM5T ( ! PRODUCTIVE =CES ( ,G]MANY1 :I* CLOSELY AFFECTS ! SUCCESS ( ! WORK]S' MOVEM5T1 & DECID$1 9 ! 'NATIONAL 9T]E/'1 NOT TO H9D] ! VALIANT WORK ( ,G]MAN >MS4 

,H[EV]1 BO? ?OSE :O 9 PA9 & CONFUSION CRITICIZE ! 
,G]MAN WORK+ MASSES1 & ?OSE :O HA/5 TO !IR DEF5SE >E 
BO? ALIKE SL&]+ ! MASSES4 ,!Y >E LOOK+ ONLY AT ! 
VISIBLE RESULT & OV]LOOK+ ! FUNDAM5TAL1 9T]NAL CAUSE 
( ! SIL5CE & 9ACTIVITY ( ! MASSES 9 ! HI/ORIC DAYS 
( ,JULY & ,AUGU/4 ,! 9ACTIVITY ( ! MASSES AT ?AT 
CRITICAL MOM5T CAME AS A SURPRISE ONLY TO ?OSE :OSE KN[L$GE 
( ! ,G]MAN WORK]S' MOVEM5T IS BAS$ ON ! IMPRESSIVE 
FIGURES QUOT$ 9 ITS ANNUAL REPORTS1 ON ITS 'WORK]S PALACES'  
& ! GR[+ NUMB] ( WORK]S :O >E DEPUTIES 
9 LOCAL & C5TRAL GOV]NM5T4 ,= ?OSE :O W]E FAMILI> ) ! 'EV]YDAY LIFE' ( ! ,G]MAN MOVEM5T1 ?IS SIL5CE & 9ACTIVITY ON ! P>T ( ! BROAD MASSES WAS NOT UNEXPECT$4 ,H[EV]1 IT IS NOT ! MASSES :O >E TO BLAME4 ,! CAUSE GOES F> DEEP] & IS TO BE F\ND 9 ! NATURE1 ! SPIRIT ( ! ,G]MAN WORK]S' MOVEM5T OV] REC5T YE>S4 

,IF ! WORK+ MASSES >E TO BE ABLE NOT ONLY TO UND]/& ! 
POLITICAL EV5TS TAK+ PLACE1 BUT ALSO ACTIVELY RESPOND TO !M 
)\T WAIT+ TO BE TOLD BY !IR LEAD]S1 ! PROLET>IAT 
MU/ BE ACCU/OM$ TO PUBLIC ACTION1 MU/ HAVE FAI? 9 ITS [N 
=CES1 MU/ HAVE ?AT :I* IS CALL$ 'REVOLUTION>Y 
EXP]I5CE'4 ,H[EV]1 ?IS WAS PRECISELY ! K9D ( EXP]I5CE 
?AT WAS AVOID$ 9 ,G]MANY4 ,! P>TY RESEMBL$ A TEA*] ( 
! OLD S*OOL3 ON ! ONE H& IT DEVELOP$ CLASS ?9K+1 BUT 
ON ! O!R IT DID ALL IT C\LD TO RE/RA9 & BRAKE ANY 
MANIFE/ATION ( REVOLUTION>Y WILL1 ( MASS ACTIVITY444 ,! 
WORK]S W]E TAU<T H[1 9 !ORY1 TO RECOGNIZE & UND]/& 
! SIGNIFICANCE & B5EFIT ( REVOLUTION>Y /RUGGLE4 ,!IR 
HEADS W]E FILL$ ) HI/ORICAL EXAMPLES1 ) FACTS444 
,H[EV]1 ?AT ! WORK]S %\LD BE GIV5 ! OPPORTUNITY 
TO MEASURE !IR /R5G? AGA9/ ?AT ( !IR CLASS 5EMIES1 
TEMP] !IR SPIRIT & WILL BY EXP]I5C+ ! VAG>IES & 
SACRIFICES ( MASS ACTION & REVOLUTION>Y /RUGGLE1 WAS 
SOME?+ ?AT !IR 'SOB]-M9D$' LEAD]-GU>DIANS DID NOT 
WI% TO P]MIT4 

,TAKE ! SPH]E ( TRADE UNION /RUGGLE4 ,! DIZZY SUCCESSES A*IEV$ BY ,G]MAN 9DU/RY OV] ! PREVI\S #b YE>S HAD CREAT$ AN ATMOSPH]E CONDUCIVE TO ! PURSUIT ( COMPROMISE TACTICS4 ,9 ORD] TO AVOID OP5 CONFLICT1 :I* IS (T5 DAMAG+ = ! CAPITALI/ & ALWAYS FRAU<T ) CONSEQU5CES1 ! EMPLOY]S WILL+LY TOSS$ SOPS TO ! WORK]S1 & ! TRADE UNION C5T]S EAG]LY SEIZ$ !M & 5T]$ 9TO TALKS ) ! BOSSES TO F9D A 'PEACEFUL COMPROMISE'4 ,IS IT NOT *>ACT]I/IC ( ! SITUATION ?AT1 :ILE ! ABSOLUTE NUMB] ( CONFLICTS IS RIS+1 ! RELATIVE NUMB] ( CONFLICTS ?AT RESULT 9 A /RIKE IS DECREAS+4 ,MANY SEE 9 ?IS PRO( ?AT ! P[] & IMPORTANCE ( TRADE UNION ORGANIZATIONS >E 9CREAS+4 ,! MASSES CAN /AY 9ACTIVE1 ! MASSES MAY CONFID5TLY 5TRU/ !IR 9T]E/S TO !IR C5T]S - !SE C5T]S KN[ H[ TO F9D A WAY \T ( EV]Y CONFLICT1 KN[ H[ TO 9FLU5CE ! BOSS6444 

,H[EV]1 IF ONE CONSID]S ?AT ! MAJORITY ( ! CONFLICTS 
RESOLV$ )\T ! P>TICIPATION ( ! MASS ( ! WORK]S1 
)\T /RIKE ACTION1 5D ) A COMPROMISE1 &1 MOREOV]1 A 
COMPROMISE 9 FAVOR ( CAPITAL RA!R ?AN 9 FAVOR ( LABOR1 
ONE IS OBLIG$ TO TAKE A DIFF]5T VIEW ( ?IS 
PH5OM5ON444 

,H[ (T5 HAVE ! WORK]S & !IR LEAD]S CLA%$ ON ?IS V]Y ISSUE6 ,ONE HAS ONLY TO RECALL ! /RIKE BY ! ,HAMBURG IRON & /EEL WORK]S1 :I* WAS SABOTAG$ BY !IR [N C5T]S4 

,9 ASSESS+ SIMIL> PH5OM5A ) REG>D TO ! ACTIVITY ( 
,5GLI% TRADE UNIONS 79 P>TICUL> UP TO ! WAVE ( MASS 
/RIKES 9 #a#i#a#a-#a#i#a#b71 REVOLUTION>Y ,M>XI/S ALWAYS PO9T$ TO 
! DANG] SU* OPPORTUNI/ TACTICS PRES5T = ! 
REVOLUTION>Y WORK+-CLASS MOVEM5T4 ,H[EV]1 FEW ( ?OSE 
LOOK+ ON FROM \TSIDE NOTIC$ ?AT1 9 !IR ME?ODS ( 
SOLV+ CONFLICTS BY 'PEACEFUL MEANS'1 ! ,G]MAN TRADE UNIONS 
\TDID EV5 !IR ,5GLI% TEA*]S4 

,NOT ONLY ! TRADE UNIONS1 H[EV]1 'S9N$' 9 ! S5SE ( L[]+ ! ACTIVITY ( ! BROAD WORK+-CLASS MASSES4 ,! POLITICAL P>TY ALSO TROD ! SAME PA?4 ,ONE W\LD HAVE ?\<T ?AT A P>TY :I* BASES ITS TACTICS ON ! PR9CIPLE ( ! REVOLUTION>Y CONQUE/ ( POLITICAL P[] %\LD /RIVE TO USE EV]Y OPPORTUNITY = POLITICAL /RUGGLE 9 ORD] TO DEVELOP & TE/ ! REVOLUTION>Y 5]GY ( ! MASSES & ACCU/OM !M TO MASS ACTION4 

,9 PRACTICE1 H[EV]1 P>TICUL>LY OV] REC5T YE>S1 ! 
C5T]S ( ! P>TY MOVEM5T HAVE BE5 CONC]N$ TO DO JU/ ! 
OPPOSITE444 ,?IS WAS PO9T$ \T QUITE CATEGORICALLY BY ! LEFT 
OPPOSITION ELEM5TS )9 ! P>TY1 BUT !IR VOICES W]E 
DR[N$ BY ! RECOGNIZ$ AU?ORITIES1 BY ! REPRES5TATIVES ( 
! UPP] E*ELONS4 ,:E!R IT WAS ! /RUGGLE AGA9/ ! 
RIS+ CO/ ( LIV+ OR ! QUE/ION ( A*IEV+ RI<TS = 
WORK]S 9 ! ,PRUSSIAN ,L&TAG1 ! P>TY S\<T LEGAL ME?ODS 
( /RUGGLE :]EV] POSSIBLE4 ,IF IT WAS SUGGE/$ ?AT ! 
/RUGGLE MI<T BE TAK5 \TSIDE CLOS$ MEET+S & GIV5 A MORE 
ACTIVE1 MORE REVOLUTION>Y *>ACT]1 ! C5T]S ?REW UP !IR 
H&S 9 FE>4 

 ',EXP]IM5T8 ,GOD =BID 6444 ,WE >E /ILL NOT /RONG 5\<4 ,WE /ILL DO NOT HAVE 5\< P>TY WORK]S4 ,DEFEAT W\LD LEAD TO 5ORM\S LOSSES 9 ! NEXT ELECTIONS4' 

 ',NUR IMM] LANGSAM VORAN6' ,! MORALE ( ! MASSES CRUMBL$2 
! MASSES GREW ACCU/OM$ TO PASSIVITY2 ! REVOLUTION>Y WILL 
( ! MASSES /AGNAT$2 ! 9ITIATIVE ( ! 
MASSES WAS NOT DEVELOP$1 & !Y NEV] DEVELOP$ ! HABIT ( RESPOND+ ACTIVELY TO EV5TS )\T WAIT+ = ! ORD] FROM !IR LEAD]4 

,IS IT SURPRIS+1 !RE=E1 ?AT 9 ,JULY #a#i#a#d1 AT A MOM5T :5 
HI/ORY DEM&$ ?AT IT BE UNCOMPROMIS+ & CAPABLE ( 
REVOLUTION>Y ACTION1 ! ,G]MAN PROLET>IAT1 TAU<T TO RESPECT 
ONLY 'PEACEFUL'1 LEGAL ME?ODS ( /RUGGLE1 PROV$ 9CAPABLE ( 
AN 9DEP5D5T1 ACTIVE RESPONSE TO EV5TS8 ,! MASSES TRU/+LY 
AWAIT$ ! WORD 'FROM ABOVE'1 BUT ?OSE ABOVE1 PO9T+ TO ! 
9ACTIVITY ( ! MASSES1 %RUGG$ !IR %\LD]S HELPLESSLY 
& JUMP$ TO ! CONCLUSION ?AT ! MASSES1 CLE>LY1 W]E = 
W>6 

,!Y DID NOT SEEK TO V]IFY ?IS CONCLUSION EI!R BY A REF]5DUM 7A MEASURE ?AT ! MU*-VAUNT$ ORGANIZATION ( ! P>TY BY NO MEANS R5D]S IMPOSSIBLE71 OR BY A CALL = DECISIVE REVOLUTION>Y OPPOSITION TO ! PLANS ( ! CLASS AU?ORITIES4 ,! UPP] E*ELONS1 ! C5T]S1 DID NOT APPEAL TO ! MILITANCY ( ! WORK]S1 DID NOT TURN TO P>TY DEMOCRACY = SUPPORT 9 DET]M9+ !IR TACTICS ON AN ISSUE ?AT WAS NOT ONLY A QUE/ION ( LIFE & DEA? = HUNDR$S ( ?\S&S1 = MILLIONS ( !IR COMRADES1 BUT ALSO A QUE/ION ( VITAL IMPORTANCE = ! :OLE ( ! WORK]S' ,9T]NATIONAL4 

,! LEAD]%IP1 LEAV+ ! MASSES TO !IR [N FATE1 SIMPLY 
L[]$ ! REVOLUTION>Y BANN] )\T RESI/ANCE OR BATTLE444 
,H[ MANY CONSCI\S WORK]S W]E ?R[N 9TO CONFUSION BY 
! BEHAVIOR ( ! LEAD]%IP6 ,ACCU/OM$ TO FOLL[ !IR 
C5T]S OB$I5TLY1 )\T CRITICISM1 ! WORK]S CA/ ASIDE OR 
SMO!R$ ! D\BTS ?AT TORM5T$ !M4 

 ',\R ELECT$ REPRES5TATIVES >E VOT+ = W>1 ,VORW>TS ADVISES US NOT TO GIVE WAY TO \R EMOTIONS & NOT TO DO ANY?+ RA% ?AT W\LD S]VE AS A PRETEXT = EXCESSES444 ,CLE>LY !Y1 \R ELECT$ REPRES5TATIVES1 SEE & KN[ ?AT :I* ESCAPES \R UND]/&+8' ,& ! WORK]S1 ?OSE :O WORK$ AMONG ! MASSES1 W5T TO !IR BATTLE PO/S1 W5T TO C]TA9 DEA?1 CONV9C$ ?AT !IR LEAD]S KNEW = :AT !Y W]E TO SACRIFICE !IR LIVES444 

,W\LD SU* AN ABNORMAL1 DAMAG+ PH5OM5ON HAVE BE5 POSSIBLE 
IF ! MASSES HAD BE5 TAU<T TO RESPOND ACTIVELY & 
9DEP5D5TLY TO EV5TS1 IF ! P>TY HAD NOT C>EFULLY 
EXT+UI%$ EV]Y SPONTANE\S PROTE/1 EV]Y MANIFE/ATION ( 
POPUL> IMPLACABILITY8 ,IF ! MASSES REMA9$ SIL5T AT A MOM5T 
( MOM5T\S HI/ORICAL IMPORTANCE1 ! BLAME LIES 5TIRELY ) 
?OSE :O1 9 !IR DEF]5CE TO PEACEFUL MEANS1 TO LEGAL 
ME?ODS ( /RUGGLE1 9 !IR HATR$ ( ALL ?AT IS 
REVOLUTION>Y1 PR9CIPL$ & UNCOMPROMIS+1 HAD = YE>S BR\<T UP ! WORK]S 9 ! SPIRIT ( 'PEACEFUL GR[?'1 HAD = YE>S SOO!D ! 5]GETIC1 CREATIVE UPSURGES ( CLASS REBELLI\SNESS4 ,ILLEGAL APPEALS1 MANIFE/OES1 UNAU?ORIZ$ MEET+S 9 WORK%OPS1 ON /REETS & SQU>ES1 ! REVOLUTION>Y CALL3 ',ONTO ! /REETS 9 ! BATTLE AGA9/ W>6' - ALL !SE MEANS ( SELF-DEF5SE1 ALL !SE ME?ODS ?AT EM]GE SPONTANE\SLY 9 ! UPSURGE ( REVOLUTION>Y F]VOR1 LAY1 DUR+ ! DAYS ( ,JULY1 BEYOND ! REA* ( A WORK+ CLASS BR\<T UP 9 ! FRAMEWORK ( /RICT LEGALITY & UNQUE/ION+ SUBORD9ATION TO ITS [N LEAD]%IP4 ,! APPROA*+ M5ACE ( WORLD W> WAS NOT TO BE AV]T$ BY ! CU/OM>Y DEMON/RATIONS SUP]VIS$ BY ! POLICE OR !ORETICAL DISCUSSIONS ( ! CAUSES & ! SIGNIFICANCE ( W>4 ,! 'GOD ( W>' W\LD GIVE WAY ONLY BE=E ! 'R$ SPECT]'1 >\S$ 9TO 5]GETIC ACTION444 

,H[EV]1 ! HABIT ( US+ ONLY LEGAL ME?ODS1 ONLY 
 'P]MISSIBLE'1 PEACEFUL MEANS ( SELF-DEF5SE1 B\ND ! ,G]MAN 
PROLET>IAT H& & FOOT & TOSS$ IT ?US B\ND UND] ! 
:EELS ( ! *>IOT ( W>4 

,?IS LESSON WILL NOT GO UNHE$$ BY ! PROLET>IAT ( ! WORLD4 ,?IS BLOODY AGE1 ?IS AGE ?AT REVEALS ALL ! ILLS HIDD5 )9 9DIVIDUAL1 SOCIALI/ P>TIES1 CLE>LY %[S ?AT ! !ORY ( 'ADAPTATION' BY ! WORK]S' MOVEM5T TO ! CAPITALI/ SY/EM ( ITS [N C\NTRY1 ! !ORY ( 'PEACEFUL /RUGGLE' = CLASS SUPREMACY1 IS ONE ( ! GREATE/ DANG]S FAC+ ! 9T]NATIONAL1 REVOLUTION>Y-CLASS LIB]ATION MOVEM5T ( ! WORK]S4 

,LET ?OSE :O CONDEMN ! ,G]MAN WORK]S = LACK ( ACTION1 & 
?OSE :O SEE 9 ?IS 9ACTION ! PRO( ( !IR 'POLITICAL 
MATURITY' REMEMB] ?AT ! MASSES WILL BE ABLE TO F9D !IR 
VOICE 9 MOM5TS ( HI/ORICAL IMPORTANCE ONLY :5 ! 
PROLET>IAN VANGU>D1 ! SOCIALI/ P>TIES 9 EV]Y C\NTRY1 
HAV+ ?R[N (F ! B5UMB+ %AKLES ( SOCIAL-RE=MISM1 
BOLDLY ADVANCE EV]Y MEANS1 EV]Y WAY1 EV]Y ME?OD ( /RUGGLE 
PROMPT$ BY REVOLUTION>Y CREATIVITY444 

,FROM 3 ,M>XI/S4ORG4 

,*RONOLOGY 3 
,M>* #d1 #bba 3 ,:Y WAS ! ,G]MAN ,PROLET>IAT ,SIL5T 9 ! ,JULY ,DAYS8 -- ,ADD$4 
,JANU>Y #h1 #bbb 3 ,:Y WAS ! ,G]MAN ,PROLET>IAT ,SIL5T 9 ! ,JULY ,DAYS8 -- ,UPDAT$4 

 FILE G5]AT$ FROM 3  
HTTP3_/_/REVOLTLIB4COM_/