Federico Krutwig
Encyclopedia
Federico Krutwig Sagredo (1921–1998) was a Spanish Basque
writer and politician, author of several books.
Along with Felix Likiniano
, he tried to create some resistance to the Francoist regime after the Spanish Civil War
. The thought of both authors, melding Basque nationalism
and Anarchism gave birth to a minor political current known as Anarkoabertzalism
(Anarcho-nationalism), which eventually merged within the hybrid of Marxism
and Anarchism known as Autonomism.
He was born in 15 May 1921 in Getxo
, the son of a bourgeois family of German origin. He taught himself the Basque language.
He joined the Basque-Language Academy
in 1943, where he favoured the standardisation of Basque around the Labourdine dialect of the first printed books in Basque, and with an etymological orthography. However, the Academy preferred the Guipuscoan dialect as the basis of Unified Basque. Krutwig's Basque language standardisation proposal was not to be applied beyond the members of the Jakintza Baitha ("House of Knowledge") Hellenophile society.
In 1952, after rejecting Luis Villasante joining the Basque-Language Academy
, and after his criticisms to the position of the Catholic Church in reference to the Basque language, he went into exile in France.
Once in Donibane-Lohitzune
he contacted members of the movement Jagi-Jagi. In 1963 he edits the book Vasconia, where he questions part of the traditional Basque nationalism of Sabino Arana
and proposes a new Basque nationalism
.
He collaborates with ex-militants of EGI
and theorizes about the use of violence for political purposes. In 1964 is expelled from France
and moves to Brussels
(Belgium
). Here he starts to make contact with members of ETA
. He elaborates some memoramdums for ETA's V at Guethary
, and puts ETA in contact with the Czech weapon industry.
In 1975 he abandoned ETA and established his residency back in Spain
in Zarauz, to dedicate himself exclusively to literary production.
His main writings are:
He spoke and read several ancient and modern languages.
He translated into Basque works of Goethe and Mao Zedong
.
He died in Bilbao in 1998.
released an album Garaldea featuring collaborations with Canarian musicians.
Basque people
The Basques as an ethnic group, primarily inhabit an area traditionally known as the Basque Country , a region that is located around the western end of the Pyrenees on the coast of the Bay of Biscay and straddles parts of north-central Spain and south-western France.The Basques are known in the...
writer and politician, author of several books.
Along with Felix Likiniano
Felix Likiniano
Felix Likiniano , Liki, was a Basque anarchist.In the Spanish Civil War, he took a leading role in the defense of St. Sebastian in the hours after the fascist uprising, cutting the rebel advance through Urbieta street into the center of the city...
, he tried to create some resistance to the Francoist regime after the Spanish Civil War
Spanish Civil War
The Spanish Civil WarAlso known as The Crusade among Nationalists, the Fourth Carlist War among Carlists, and The Rebellion or Uprising among Republicans. was a major conflict fought in Spain from 17 July 1936 to 1 April 1939...
. The thought of both authors, melding Basque nationalism
Basque nationalism
Basque nationalism is a political movement advocating for either further political autonomy or, chiefly, full independence of the Basque Country in the wider sense...
and Anarchism gave birth to a minor political current known as Anarkoabertzalism
Abertzale
Abertzale in the Basque language means "patriot", and it is mainly used to mean "Basque nationalist". It comes from the fusion of aberri with the suffix -zale .Although the term is synonym of "patriot", its common use...
(Anarcho-nationalism), which eventually merged within the hybrid of Marxism
Marxism
Marxism is an economic and sociopolitical worldview and method of socioeconomic inquiry that centers upon a materialist interpretation of history, a dialectical view of social change, and an analysis and critique of the development of capitalism. Marxism was pioneered in the early to mid 19th...
and Anarchism known as Autonomism.
He was born in 15 May 1921 in Getxo
Getxo
Getxo is a town located in the province of Biscay, in the autonomous community of the Basque Country, in the north of Spain.It is part of the metropolitan area of Bilbao , and has about 83,000 inhabitants...
, the son of a bourgeois family of German origin. He taught himself the Basque language.
He joined the Basque-Language Academy
Euskaltzaindia
Euskaltzaindia is the official academic language regulatory institution which watches over the Basque language. It carries out research on the language, seeks to protect it, and establishes standards of use...
in 1943, where he favoured the standardisation of Basque around the Labourdine dialect of the first printed books in Basque, and with an etymological orthography. However, the Academy preferred the Guipuscoan dialect as the basis of Unified Basque. Krutwig's Basque language standardisation proposal was not to be applied beyond the members of the Jakintza Baitha ("House of Knowledge") Hellenophile society.
In 1952, after rejecting Luis Villasante joining the Basque-Language Academy
Euskaltzaindia
Euskaltzaindia is the official academic language regulatory institution which watches over the Basque language. It carries out research on the language, seeks to protect it, and establishes standards of use...
, and after his criticisms to the position of the Catholic Church in reference to the Basque language, he went into exile in France.
Once in Donibane-Lohitzune
Saint-Jean-de-Luz
Saint-Jean-de-Luz is a commune in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department in south-western France.Saint-Jean-de-Luz is part of the province Basque of Labourd and the Basque Eurocity Bayonne - San Sebastian .-Geography:...
he contacted members of the movement Jagi-Jagi. In 1963 he edits the book Vasconia, where he questions part of the traditional Basque nationalism of Sabino Arana
Sabino Arana
Sabino Arana Goiri, self-styled as Arana ta Goiri'taŕ Sabin, , was a Spanish and Basque writer. He was the founder of the Basque Nationalist Party and father of Basque nationalism....
and proposes a new Basque nationalism
Basque nationalism
Basque nationalism is a political movement advocating for either further political autonomy or, chiefly, full independence of the Basque Country in the wider sense...
.
He collaborates with ex-militants of EGI
Euzko Gaztedi
Euzko Gaztedi Indarra-EGI is the youth wing of the Basque main nationalist political party, the Basque Nationalist Party . Their presence is in the Basque Country, in the Basque Autonomous Community, Navarre and in the Northern Basque Country...
and theorizes about the use of violence for political purposes. In 1964 is expelled from France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
and moves to Brussels
Brussels
Brussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union...
(Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
). Here he starts to make contact with members of ETA
ETA
ETA , an acronym for Euskadi Ta Askatasuna is an armed Basque nationalist and separatist organization. The group was founded in 1959 and has since evolved from a group promoting traditional Basque culture to a paramilitary group with the goal of gaining independence for the Greater Basque Country...
. He elaborates some memoramdums for ETA's V at Guethary
Guéthary
Guéthary is a commune in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department in south-western France. It is located in the traditional Basque province of Labourd, the town traditionally standing on the northernmost coastal linguistic boundary of the Basque language....
, and puts ETA in contact with the Czech weapon industry.
In 1975 he abandoned ETA and established his residency back in Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
in Zarauz, to dedicate himself exclusively to literary production.
His main writings are:
- VasconiaVasconiaVasconia is an historical name derived from the ancient tribe of the Vascones and used in different times, specially in the Middle Ages, to refer to the Basque territories...
(1963) published initially under the pseudonymPseudonymA pseudonym is a name that a person assumes for a particular purpose and that differs from his or her original orthonym...
of Fernando Sarrailh de Ihartza, where he describes an ideal Greater Basqueland comprising all the supposedly historical territories, from the GaronneGaronneThe Garonne is a river in southwest France and northern Spain, with a length of .-Source:The Garonne's headwaters are to be found in the Aran Valley in the Pyrenees, though three different locations have been proposed as the true source: the Uelh deth Garona at Plan de Beret , the Ratera-Saboredo...
to the EbroEbroThe Ebro or Ebre is one of the most important rivers in the Iberian Peninsula. It is the biggest river by discharge volume in Spain.The Ebro flows through the following cities:*Reinosa in Cantabria.*Miranda de Ebro in Castile and León....
rivers. It is inspired by the Algerian independentism and anti-colonialism and proposes armed combat against Spain and France, taking Basque nationalism beyond the traditional views of Sabino AranaSabino AranaSabino Arana Goiri, self-styled as Arana ta Goiri'taŕ Sabin, , was a Spanish and Basque writer. He was the founder of the Basque Nationalist Party and father of Basque nationalism....
. This book was clandestinely published with a limited circulation. The Francoist police believed that it was an inspiration for ETA, which was not the case, but police questioning stirred the interest of many members and sympathizers of the armed group, giving some fame to Krutwig. The intellectual and former ETA member Jon JuaristiJon JuaristiJon Juaristi Linacero is a Spanish poet, essayist and translator in Spanish and Basque, as well as a self-confessed former ETA militant...
narrates that, during reminiscences, fellow member Juan María Bandrés once commented "So you are the one who actually read it!".
- La Nueva Europa ("The New Europe", 1976). In this essay he extends his ideas on Greater Vasconia to Western EuropeEuropeEurope is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
, claiming and hoping for an internal decolonizationDecolonizationDecolonization refers to the undoing of colonialism, the unequal relation of polities whereby one people or nation establishes and maintains dependent Territory over another...
of the continent and proposing what could be grossly taken as the Europe of the Regions.
- Garaldea: Sobre el origen de los vascos y su relación con los guanches. ("Garaldea: On the origin of Basques and their relation to Guanches", 1978). In this, maybe his most scientific and serious essay, he studies the origins of the Basques and explores a hypothetical Garaldea (land of "we are" or land of the flame), extending at some time in the past through all Western Europe and the Mediterranean basin. In the annexes, he analyzes transcriptions of GuancheGuanchesGuanches is the name given to the aboriginal Berber inhabitants of the Canary Islands. It is believed that they migrated to the archipelago sometime between 1000 BCE and 100 BCE or perhaps earlier...
(native CanarianCanary IslandsThe Canary Islands , also known as the Canaries , is a Spanish archipelago located just off the northwest coast of mainland Africa, 100 km west of the border between Morocco and the Western Sahara. The Canaries are a Spanish autonomous community and an outermost region of the European Union...
) and PictishPictsThe Picts were a group of Late Iron Age and Early Mediaeval people living in what is now eastern and northern Scotland. There is an association with the distribution of brochs, place names beginning 'Pit-', for instance Pitlochry, and Pictish stones. They are recorded from before the Roman conquest...
inscriptions, concluding that their two extinct languages are not just related to Basque but that they are the very same tongue. This daring claim has not been corroborated by anyone so far, and nearly all specialists in the subject consider it erroneous.
- La Nueva Vasconia ("The New Vasconia", 1979), a substantially enlarged re-edition of Vasconia, after the death of Franco.
He spoke and read several ancient and modern languages.
He translated into Basque works of Goethe and Mao Zedong
Mao Zedong
Mao Zedong, also transliterated as Mao Tse-tung , and commonly referred to as Chairman Mao , was a Chinese Communist revolutionary, guerrilla warfare strategist, Marxist political philosopher, and leader of the Chinese Revolution...
.
He died in Bilbao in 1998.
Influence
The Basque folk group OskorriOskorri
Oskorri is a folk band formed in the Basque Country in 1971. It is one of the most renowned folk groups in the Basque Country, with songs such as Euskal Herrian Euskaraz becoming popular in the region...
released an album Garaldea featuring collaborations with Canarian musicians.