Mountain Camaraderie: A Story of an Anarchist Meeting in Germany
From avtonom.org
December 23, 2024
A subscriber sent a story about an anarchist meeting in Germany.
The outstanding mountaineer David Lama said that joint ascents are based on similar ideas about routes, tactics and willingness to take risks. Where extreme conditions mercilessly expose hidden personal qualities, camaraderie takes on a special role.
Armed with this knowledge, a group of anarchists from the Äppelwoi Komitee traveled to the mountains of Saxon Switzerland for a weekend of exchanging experiences and networking for the sixth time. The winter and the road did not prevent two dozen comrades from gathering in a hut on the edge of a hill overlooking the mighty Elbe. By collective efforts the house was heated, a grill was organized in the yard, German and Uzbek dishes in vegan interpretation were cooked on the stove (we will not get tired of thanking those responsible, the food, as always, was on the level of Michelin restaurants).
Fed and warmed, the participants discussed the following topics:
- A trade union activist told how to unite on specific issues without building rigid structures like parties
- An information security specialist introduced new threats to activists in the digital environment and taught how to protect themselves.
- An anarchist from the Czech Republic shared his experience of helping anti-fascists in Ukraine.
- The director held a think tank on building circles of dreamers to develop a vision of the future
- Comrades shared a report on their trip to Cologne for the November forum of left-wing anti-war emigration.
The program of the meeting was varied. In the afternoon, the group set out to conquer the Elbe Sandstone Mountains to enjoy the magical scenery and a historical excursion about the anti-fascist resistance, because of which these places were proudly called the “Red Kingdom” back in the 1920s. After a fascinating haiku, the anarchists warmed up in the lodge with tea and mulled wine and wrote postcards to political prisoners.
One participant prepared a prison koryak, which turned out delicious and incredibly sweet (less sugar next time, please!), and an unexpected guest organized a distro so that everyone left dressed in the most fashionable clothes. And, of course, everyone gathered engaged in intense conversations. Sometimes the degree of discussion rose too high, some of the team members opened up from a new side (let's remember that alcohol is a bad companion, especially in difficult conditions), but, one way or another, the participants left the meeting in Saxony with deep and strong impressions.
Mountains don't get lower when you climb them with your comrades. The difference lies in the quality of the experience - whether success or failure. If you share the defeat with your comrades, it becomes less; if you share the joy, it increases. It's like real magic, and it's never enough. So look forward to more Äppelwoi Komitee meetings - more details on instagram and by emailing appelwoiKomitee@riseup.net.
The Äppelwoi Komitee, a discussion club for emigrants from Belarus, Russia, and Ukraine, has already held six meetings outside the major cities. The program includes lectures, workshops, and networking with comrades from Germany, the Czech Republic, Serbia, France, and Poland. It’s a place to talk through issues, support each other, and take action together to find solutions and build a stronger community. In the discussions, participants try to figure out who they are as emigrants and what they want.
The main goal from September 2023 is to build support networks for anti-authoritarian activists forced to emigrate, who value the principles of direct democracy. Isolation can lead to people becoming less active over time. By sharing experiences and knowledge, we can keep the community connected and growing, building resources and influence.
