Die Aktion

Die Aktion, meaning “The Action,” is a German literary and political periodical associated above all with its founder and editor Franz Pfemfert. Established in Berlin in 1911, the magazine became one of the most important early platforms for German Expressionist literature and art. It combined literary experimentation with a forceful political orientation, initially presenting itself as a magazine for liberal politics and literature before moving toward increasingly explicit revolutionary socialism, council communism, and anarcho-syndicalism. The magazine emerged from Pfemfert’s experience in the radical press. He had worked with Der Kampf, Das Blaubuch, and Demokrat, where he encountered writers, artists, and political activists who would later contribute to Die Aktion. A dispute over the removal of a planned article by Kurt Hiller from Demokrat convinced Pfemfert that he needed an independent publication. The first issue appeared on 2 February 1911. Kurt Hiller and Anselm Ruest were among its early collaborators, while the magazine quickly established links with the literary circles surrounding Der Neue Club and the Berlin Expressionist scene. During its early years, Die Aktion published poetry, prose, criticism, political commentary, and visual art. It helped introduce or strengthen the reputations of numerous modernist writers, and it issued special numbers devoted to poetry and individual authors, including Georg Heym. From 1914 onward, Expressionist woodcuts and other artwork became increasingly prominent. The periodical’s design also reflected its modernist ambitions: it moved from blackletter to Antiqua in 1912, generally appeared in quarto format, and often placed an Expressionist image on its cover. The First World War placed the magazine under severe censorship pressure. Pfemfert reduced overtly political contributions to prevent a ban, but used literary material, correspondence, poetry from the front, and writing from countries opposed to Germany to sustain an anti-militarist position. The magazine also supported political causes beyond literary criticism, including efforts connected with the release of Austrian psychoanalyst and sexologist Otto Gross. After the German Revolution of 1918, Die Aktion shifted decisively toward revolutionary politics. It became associated first with the Antinational Socialist Party, then with the Spartacist movement and the Communist Party of Germany. When the KPD changed course and marginalized syndicalist and left-communist tendencies, Pfemfert moved toward the Communist Workers’ Party of Germany and later toward the anarcho-syndicalist Free Workers’ Union of Germany. This political evolution distinguished Die Aktion from a conventional literary review and made it an outlet for a broad, sometimes contentious spectrum of anti-authoritarian and revolutionary thought. The magazine’s finances were persistently fragile. Pfemfert refused advertising and declined some outside financial assistance in order to preserve editorial independence. Revenue came from sales, special luxury editions, public events, and associated book and art activities. Circulation reportedly reached about 7,000 copies at its height, but inflation, political repression, declining revolutionary momentum, and Pfemfert’s deteriorating health weakened the publication. Its frequency declined from weekly publication to fortnightly publication after 1919 and then to sporadic issues. The final original issue appeared in August 1932. Publication resumed in 1981 through Edition Nautilus. The revived Die Aktion has appeared irregularly and has retained the title’s association with politically engaged literature, historical avant-garde culture, and radical criticism. The brand therefore spans two related but distinct periods: the original 1911–1932 magazine, which was central to German Expressionism and revolutionary journalism, and a later Edition Nautilus publication that reactivated the name for a modern literary and political context.

Die Aktion was founded in Berlin by Franz Pfemfert after his work in the radical periodical press. Pfemfert had edited or contributed to publications including Der Kampf, Das Blaubuch, and Demokrat, where he developed contacts with modern writers, artists, and political groups. His break with Georg Zepler at Demokrat, prompted by the removal of a planned Kurt Hiller article, led him to establish an independent magazine. The first issue was published on 2 February 1911. Initially presented as a magazine for liberal politics and literature, Die Aktion rapidly became an important vehicle for German Expressionism. Pfemfert cultivated ties with Kurt Hiller, Anselm Ruest, the Der Neue Club circle, and other young writers and artists. The magazine published poetry, prose, criticism, political essays, and visual art, and helped create visibility for authors who were then entering the modernist literary scene. Special issues focused on poetry and individual writers, including Georg Heym. Its visual identity evolved from blackletter to Antiqua in 1912, while later issues became known for expressive woodcuts and art-oriented covers. The First World War transformed the editorial environment. Censorship made direct political writing dangerous, so Pfemfert emphasized ostensibly literary contributions while preserving the magazine’s opposition to militarism through poems, fiction, letters, criticism, and writing associated with countries at war with Germany. Die Aktion also gave space to political and social causes, including advocacy connected with Otto Gross. From 1915 Pfemfert was involved with clandestine anti-national socialist politics, further reinforcing the magazine’s radical orientation. After the German Revolution of 1918, Pfemfert abandoned his earlier confidence in Expressionism as a sufficiently oppositional movement. He believed that many Expressionist writers had become absorbed into the commercial publishing system. Die Aktion consequently moved toward direct political publishing. It supported revolutionary socialism, the Russian Revolution, the Spartacist movement, and eventually the Communist Party of Germany. When the KPD excluded or marginalized syndicalist and left-communist positions, Pfemfert redirected the magazine toward the Communist Workers’ Party of Germany. In the 1920s he moved closer to the Free Workers’ Union of Germany and published texts associated with anarcho-syndicalist politics. The magazine’s economic model was difficult to sustain. Pfemfert rejected advertising and sought to preserve independence from outside sponsors, while revenue depended on circulation, special editions, events, and related publishing activity. A luxury edition printed on deckle-edged paper was sold at a much higher price, and Aktion books began appearing in 1916. In 1917 Alexandra Ramm-Pfemfert operated an associated book and art dealership in Berlin-Wilmersdorf, providing another source of support. Die Aktion was published weekly in its early period, became fortnightly after 1919, and appeared only intermittently from 1926. Inflation, political setbacks, declining revolutionary energy, and Pfemfert’s worsening health all contributed to the decline. The subtitle changed again in 1929 to identify the magazine with revolutionary communism, but only a few issues appeared thereafter: three in 1929, one in 1930, two in 1931, and the final original issue in August 1932. The title was revived in 1981 by Edition Nautilus. The renewed publication appears irregularly and connects the historical legacy of Die Aktion with later literary, political, and avant-garde publishing. The magazine’s enduring significance rests on the combination of Expressionist cultural activism, anti-war journalism, editorial independence, and uncompromising engagement with radical left politics.

• 1981

  Edition Nautilus revival

  [1]Die Aktionen.wikipedia.org

  Edition Nautilus resumed publication under the Die Aktion name, with issues appearing irregularly.

• 1932

  Original run concludes

  [1]Die Aktionen.wikipedia.org

  The last issue of the original series appeared in August.

• 1929

  Subtitle changes to revolutionary communism

  [1]Die Aktionen.wikipedia.org

  The title adopted a subtitle identifying it as a magazine for revolutionary communism, although publication was already severely diminished.

• 1919

  Publication frequency reduced

  [1]Die Aktionen.wikipedia.org

  The magazine shifted from weekly to fortnightly publication.

• 1918

  Political orientation becomes explicitly revolutionary

  [1]Die Aktionen.wikipedia.org

  After the German Revolution, the magazine adopted a revolutionary socialist orientation and published material connected with several radical left organizations.

• 1917

  Associated book and art dealership established

  [1]Die Aktionen.wikipedia.org

  Alexandra Ramm-Pfemfert founded and managed Aktion’s book and art dealership in Berlin-Wilmersdorf.

• 1916

  Aktion books begin

  [1]Die Aktionen.wikipedia.org

  Books were published alongside the periodical, extending the Die Aktion publishing program beyond magazine issues.

• 1914

  Anti-war publishing adapts to censorship

  [1]Die Aktionen.wikipedia.org

  The editorial team relied more heavily on literary forms and indirect criticism to continue opposing militarism during the war.

• 1913

  Poetry and author special issues expand

  [1]Die Aktionen.wikipedia.org

  Die Aktion issued special numbers devoted to poetry and individual writers, including Georg Heym.

• 1912

  Subtitle and typographic identity change

  [1]Die Aktionen.wikipedia.org

  The subtitle emphasized politics, literature, and art, while the magazine changed from blackletter to Antiqua in keeping with its modernist profile.

• 1911

  First issue published

  [1]Die Aktionen.wikipedia.org

  Franz Pfemfert launched Die Aktion in Berlin on 2 February as a periodical combining politics and literature.

A politically independent, avant-garde literary and cultural periodical combining modernist art and literature with anti-war, revolutionary socialist, communist, and anarcho-syndicalist perspectives.

• Literary and political periodical · 1911

  Die Aktion magazine, original series

  The core product was a German-language periodical founded in 1911 and edited by Franz Pfemfert. It published literary works, political essays, criticism, correspondence, and visual art. Its editorial profile moved from Expressionist cultural activism toward anti-war writing, revolutionary socialism, left communism, and anarcho-syndicalism. The original series ran until August 1932, changing from weekly to fortnightly and eventually sporadic publication.

• Literary and art special issue · 1913

  Expressionist special issues

  Special issues concentrated on poetry and individual authors and helped establish Die Aktion as a major platform for German Expressionism. The magazine also increasingly featured expressive woodcuts and other artwork, making the physical issue an important part of its cultural presentation rather than merely a container for political and literary text.

• Books and literary editions · 1916

  Aktion books

  Beginning in 1916, books were issued alongside the magazine. These publications extended the Die Aktion imprint into standalone literary and political works and formed part of Pfemfert’s attempt to create a broader, financially self-supporting publishing operation without relying on advertising.

• Literary and political periodical · 1981

  Die Aktion revival

  Edition Nautilus resumed publication under the Die Aktion name in 1981. The revived periodical has appeared irregularly and preserves the title’s association with politically engaged literature, historical avant-garde culture, and critical publishing.

• 1914Anti-war editorial program

  Germany

  During World War I, Die Aktion used literary publication, front-line poetry, letters, criticism, and writing from enemy countries to maintain opposition to militarism under censorship conditions.

  Outcome. The magazine avoided an outright wartime ban and continued publishing anti-militarist material in indirect and literary forms.

  Source
• 1911Expressionist literary promotion

  Germany · German-speaking literary networks

  Pfemfert positioned Die Aktion as a counterweight to commercially oriented liberal journalism and used it to promote new Expressionist writers, artists, and ideas.

  Outcome. The magazine became one of the leading media platforms for German Expressionism before shifting toward more direct revolutionary politics.

  Source
• 1911Otto Gross freedom campaign

  Austria · Germany

  Die Aktion supported efforts connected with freeing Austrian sexologist and psychoanalyst Otto Gross after his arrest and institutional commitment by his father.

  Source

• 1981

  Revive the Die Aktion titleProduct launch

  Background

  The historic magazine had ceased publication in 1932, but its literary and radical cultural legacy remained available for later publishing.

  Action taken

  Edition Nautilus resumed publication under the Die Aktion name.

  Aftermath

  The title returned as an irregular literary and political publication.

  Source

• 1919

  Reduce publication frequencyStrategy

  Background

  Economic instability and the weakening of the revolutionary political environment made the original weekly schedule increasingly difficult to maintain.

  Action taken

  The magazine changed from weekly to fortnightly publication and later became sporadic.

  Aftermath

  The reduced schedule preceded the eventual end of the original series in 1932.

  Source

• 1918

  Move from Expressionist advocacy to revolutionary politicsStrategy

  Background

  Pfemfert concluded that Expressionism had lost some of its rebellious force as writers became more integrated into commercial publishing.

  Action taken

  The magazine increasingly concentrated on political texts and supported revolutionary socialist, communist, left-communist, and later anarcho-syndicalist positions.

  Aftermath

  Die Aktion became a more explicitly political organ, although its shifting affiliations reflected divisions within the radical left.

  Source

• 1914

  Shift political opposition into literary channelsStrategy

  Background

  Wartime censorship threatened the magazine’s continued existence and made direct political publication more vulnerable.

  Action taken

  Pfemfert published more ostensibly literary material while using poetry, letters, criticism, and foreign literature to preserve an anti-militarist message.

  Aftermath

  Die Aktion continued publishing throughout the war without abandoning its oppositional identity.

  Source

1. 1Die Aktionen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Die Aktion, Edition Nautilusedition-nautilus.de