Red Youth (Netherlands)
Encyclopedia
Red Youth was a revolutionary organization in the Netherlands
. It originated in the group around the periodical Rode Jeugd, which had been started by the pro-China
Rode Vlag
-grouping in 1966. In October 1967 the group around Rode Jeugd broke away, and formed their own organisation, Red Youth.
Lucien van Hoesel (born 1950) became the national secretary of Red Youth. Inside Red Youth two wings emerged. On one side stood the 'terrorists', who were inspired by the Red Army Faction
(Rote Armee Fraktion) and who saw the strategy of urban guerrilla warfare as a path to follow to overthrow capitalism
, and on the other the 'economists', who wanted to focus on socioeconomic struggles.
After the Red Youth congress in July 1971 the 'economists', based in the Red Youth branches in Amsterdam
and Kampen, broke away and formed the Red Youth (marxist-leninist)
. At the same time two other Red Youth branches broke away, Rotterdam
and Nijmegen.
After the splits the Red Youth was in the hands of those who wanted to develop urban guerrilla. Red Youth members received military training in South Yemen from RAF
instructors. They carried out a number of actions, including bomb attacks. Most of their bomb attacks were in Eindhoven. However, no-one was ever killed in any of their actions.
In 1972 they blew up the car of the Eindhoven police commissioner and the residence of the mayor. Nobody was injured in these attacks. After these attacks Van Hoesel was arrested and sentenced to two years in jail for possession of weapons and illegal explosives.
Red Youth set up front organizations such as Rode Hulp (Red Aid), giving assistance to prisoners, and Rood Verzetsfront (Red Resistance Front). Through the latter Red Youth conducted protest actions in support of RAF prisoners.
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
. It originated in the group around the periodical Rode Jeugd, which had been started by the pro-China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
Rode Vlag
League of Dutch Marxist-Leninists
League of Dutch Marxist-Leninists was a communist organisation in the Netherlands.By the time of the 21st party congress of the Communist Party of the Netherlands in 1964 two pro-China fractions existed inside the party. One was the Marxist-Leninist Centre in Rotterdam...
-grouping in 1966. In October 1967 the group around Rode Jeugd broke away, and formed their own organisation, Red Youth.
Lucien van Hoesel (born 1950) became the national secretary of Red Youth. Inside Red Youth two wings emerged. On one side stood the 'terrorists', who were inspired by the Red Army Faction
Red Army Faction
The radicalized were, like many in the New Left, influenced by:* Sociological developments, pressure within the educational system in and outside Europe and the U.S...
(Rote Armee Fraktion) and who saw the strategy of urban guerrilla warfare as a path to follow to overthrow capitalism
Capitalism
Capitalism is an economic system that became dominant in the Western world following the demise of feudalism. There is no consensus on the precise definition nor on how the term should be used as a historical category...
, and on the other the 'economists', who wanted to focus on socioeconomic struggles.
After the Red Youth congress in July 1971 the 'economists', based in the Red Youth branches in Amsterdam
Amsterdam
Amsterdam is the largest city and the capital of the Netherlands. The current position of Amsterdam as capital city of the Kingdom of the Netherlands is governed by the constitution of August 24, 1815 and its successors. Amsterdam has a population of 783,364 within city limits, an urban population...
and Kampen, broke away and formed the Red Youth (marxist-leninist)
Red Youth (marxist-leninist)
Red Youth was a revolutionary organization in the Netherlands.Red Youth originated from the Red Youth organization...
. At the same time two other Red Youth branches broke away, Rotterdam
Rotterdam
Rotterdam is the second-largest city in the Netherlands and one of the largest ports in the world. Starting as a dam on the Rotte river, Rotterdam has grown into a major international commercial centre...
and Nijmegen.
After the splits the Red Youth was in the hands of those who wanted to develop urban guerrilla. Red Youth members received military training in South Yemen from RAF
Red Army Faction
The radicalized were, like many in the New Left, influenced by:* Sociological developments, pressure within the educational system in and outside Europe and the U.S...
instructors. They carried out a number of actions, including bomb attacks. Most of their bomb attacks were in Eindhoven. However, no-one was ever killed in any of their actions.
In 1972 they blew up the car of the Eindhoven police commissioner and the residence of the mayor. Nobody was injured in these attacks. After these attacks Van Hoesel was arrested and sentenced to two years in jail for possession of weapons and illegal explosives.
Red Youth set up front organizations such as Rode Hulp (Red Aid), giving assistance to prisoners, and Rood Verzetsfront (Red Resistance Front). Through the latter Red Youth conducted protest actions in support of RAF prisoners.