"The primary objective of nation-states are not moral crusades [...] the primary objective of nation-states is to consolidate and wield power." - Vincent Emmanuelle
On August 1st, 1944, the Polish underground resistance, also known as Home Army, led an armed insurrection in Warsaw against the Nazi occupation. In what would later come to be known as the Warsaw Uprising, the insurrection took place over a 63 day period and resulted in 15,000 insurgent and 150,000 civilian deaths. Despite being timed to coincide with the retreat of the German forces from Poland ahead of the Soviet advance (Blejwas 2004), the city eventually succumbed to Soviet rule.
This week we wished to compile articles, videos and podcasts not only about the Uprising, but those relating to resistance movements and fascism more generally (both throughout history and in modern day).
What we’re reading:
Sebba, A. (2016). The Forgotten Women of the French Resistance. Telegraph.
This week we’re reading an article examining women’s role in the French resistance during WWII. As Anne Sebba writes, of the thousand medals given to resistance heroes at the end of the war, only six were women— worse yet, French women were often cast as scapegoats for the German occupation. By revisiting the historical role of Parisien women during wartime, Sebba debunks the long-standing myths surrounding them.
Gittlitz, A.M. (2019). Anti-Anti-Antifa. Commune Magazine.
In “Anti-Anti-Antifa,” Gittlitz explores the main criticisms of the contemporary Antifa movement before offering a rebuke of them, as well as presenting a vision for a better future movement against the state and capitalism.
Emmanuelle, V. (2017). The Fetishization of Violence: Reflections on Charlottesville, WWII and Activism. Counterpunch.
In “The Fetishization of Violence,” Vincent Emmanuelle discusses how the normalization and fetishization of violence operate as a means for the state to uphold national interests and imperialism. After tracing three subjects and events— Charlottesville, WWII and left-wing movements such as Antifa or Black Bloc— Emmanuelle calls for a dismantling of the economic, cultural, social and psychological institutions and mechanisms that create the conditions for such violence.
What we’re watching:
Documentary: (2014). Warsaw Uprising.
This week we’re watching Warsaw Uprising (Powstanie Warszawskie), a documentary which tells the story of the 1944 uprising through the eyes of two young reporters. Made entirely of original archive materials that have been restored and colorized, the film is the first war-documentary of its kind.
What we’re listening to:
Podcast: (2019). Germania: Architecture for a Fascist Utopia. Nice Try!
A podcast series focusing on the quest for utopia throughout history, Nice Try dedicates this episode to exploring how architecture served as a means of reinforcing state power and ideology throughout the Nazi regime. Best expressed in the now discontinued Tempelhof Airport, city planning was one aspect of Hitler’s larger, destructive “utopian” vision.
For the month of August, A Weekly Correction will exceptionally be posted on a biweekly basis. Weekly posts will resume in September!