Freiheit

Freiheit (German for Freedom) was a long-running anarchist journal established by Johann Most in 1879. It was known for advocacy of attentat, or propaganda of the deed—revolutionary violence that could inspire people to revolution. Most began the German-language journal in London, aiming it at expatriate Germans and Austrians. He brought the publication with him when he immigrated to the United States just a few years later in 1882. Freiheit, and Most, were not shy about criticizing fellow anarchists, and work published in Freiheit often fomented controversies in anarchist circles. For instance, Most and Benjamin Tucker carried out a well-publicized disagreement in the pages of their respective journals, and although Tucker championed Most's revolutionary philosophy later, the schism never healed. Some years later, Emma Goldman and Alexander Berkman became involved with the Freiheit group, only to leave after conflicts with Most arose. When Berkman, inspired by Most's theory of the attentat, was imprisoned for the attempted assassination of Henry Clay Frick, Most criticized Berkman's action. Goldman was infuriated and publicly took a horse-whip to Most at his lecture, demanding a proof or a retraction.