Action fire sign

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Aktion Feuerzeichen was an initiative in the countercultural scene to distribute the alternative magazines and publications of the mini press fair in Germany from 1970 to 1974.

founding

In 1970 Hans Günter Lehmann founded “ Aktion Feuerzeichen ” in Hamburg to support and distribute German-language “underground literature” and alternative magazines. A loose association of various ideological individuals and groups who advocated a “ free, human society ” and operated under the name “ fire sign clan ”. In 1971 the first issue of the magazine “Feuerzeichen” appeared.

The term clan was meant ironically here, as were the leaflets and information circulars that were published with titles such as: " IN ", Kampfblatt gegen den Geistlichen und Moretlichen Decay (1972); " Motzmachine " (1973) and " Sippenbrösel ".

Since book and magazine publishers and wholesalers in the regular sales market did not include the publications, which were often self- published, in their range, the self-publishers and small publishers had to rely on their own distribution channels. The “Literary Information Center” with its book and magazine distribution by Josef Wintjes and the Ulcus Molle Info Service published by him and the Fire Sign campaign were the best-known distributors for the alternative press in Germany.

activities

The Feuerzeichen campaign and the Feuerzeichen magazine set themselves the goal: " We want to support the constructive alternative magazines and help to promote real solidarity among the left ". Through the distribution of leaflets and circulars, addresses of interested small publishers (self-publishers), rural and urban communities, mini-presses and politically left-wing groups of various ideologies were published (circular “ WIR ”, September / October 1973). In 1972 there were three fire signal communication networks ; in Hamburg, Darmstadt and Witten. According to a fire sign survey (Info No. 7, September 18, 1972), sixteen percent (16%) of the respondents wanted to actively participate; five percent (5%) were in favor of an anarchist; nine percent (9%) for a “friendly socialist”; one percent (1%) for a Marxist / Leninist and one percent (1%) for a left-liberal direction. In Info No. 9 of July 15, 1973 it was announced, " What we mean by this, we will discuss in peace ." Thus, Aktion Feuerzeichen kept the choice of several options open. The tendency of the Feuerzeichen clan was anarchist (all on a voluntary basis), the group was in its structure "free", in the sense of liberal and tolerance , without a fixed standpoint, for example that of anarchism , as it is from emerged from their circulars.

With the wide range of information materials, “ Motzmachine ” (1973); " Agit Group " (agitation groups to attract more "members"); the information sheet “ The Scene ” (1970); " Rot-Shop " book and magazine dispatch, the initiative reached many interested people nationwide and was known within the counterculture for its practical work. The contents of the magazine Feuerzeichen and the circular included leaving the church , working aids to found new communication centers, conscientious objection , classified ads, correspondence with inmates and calls to those interested in correspondence with inmates.

Around 1973 the communication centers Feuerzeichen in Darmstadt and Witten stopped their work. In 1974 HG Lehmann ended the publication of the magazine “Feuerzeichen” and also the initiative of the “Feuerzeichen-Kippe”; Lehmann had not found a successor.

literature

  • J.Wintjes /J.Gehret (eds.), Ulcus Molle Info Service. Born 1969 - 1974 . Reprint. Pages 325, 391, 398 Verlag Azid Presse, Amsterdam 1979. ISBN 90-70215-05-5
  • Klaus Bernd Vollmar, " Where there is fear, it goes long ". Jacobsohn-Verlag, Berlin 1977, and: “ Landkommunen in Amerika ”, Jacobsohn-Verlag, Berlin 1976. In both books, the author goes into more detail on the “Aktion Feuerzeichen / Feuerzeichen-Kippe”.
  • J. Gehret, Counterculture and Anarchism. Differences, opposites, contradictions . Pages 37 to 41. Verlag der Mackay – Gesellschaft, Freiburg / Br. 1978. ISBN 3-921388-20-1
  • " Kompost " magazine , publisher: Werner Pieper , December 1976 issue. B. Peinemann on the fire sign campaign

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ See: J.Wintjes / J.Gehret (eds.), Ulcus Molle Info-Dienst (reprint), pages 325 and 391
  2. ↑ See: J. Gehret, Gegenkultur und Anarchismus , page 40
  3. ↑ Online in the DNB .
  4. ↑ Online in the DNB .