glimpses of an alternative society

an encounter with the Spanish anarchists

Over the next couple of issues of Thr@ll we'll be featuring extracts from Werner Droescher's Towards an Alternative Society. In the extracts, Droescher, who lectured in the German Department at the University of Auckland in the 1960s, writes of his experiences in Spain during the Revolution and Civil War of 1936-9 and his encounter with the Spanish anarchists.

Werner Droescher wrote Towards an Alternative Society during the last years of his life. He had just retired from the University of Auckland and was living part-time outside Wilderland, a commune on the Coromandel Peninsula, which Droescher thought was similar to communes established in France in the 1930s. A German language version of the book was published in 1976 under the title Odyssee eines Lehrers (Odyssey of a teacher). Unfortunately, the English version was never published, although a typed manuscript was deposited in the Auckland University library, along with Droescher's papers.

The book covers Droescher's experiences growing up in Germany in the 1920s through to the rise of fascism in the 1930s and his involvement in the socialist and later anarchist movement in Spain during the Spanish Revolution. It was in Spain that Droescher first met his companion, Greville Texidor (referred to as G. in the manuscript). At the time, they were both living in Tossa, a small fishing village north of Barcelona. Today Tossa is a pleasant enough tourist trap, but back in the 1930s it was a popular hangout for Bohemians from throughout Europe. It was here that Salvador Dali (who was a fascist supporter) built a castle at the end of the beach. The English call them follies. At the outbreak of the revolution in 1936, Droescher moved to Barcelona and joined a column organised by the POUM (independent socialists). Droescher and Texidor decided to marry anarchist style, as companero and companera. They both fought together at the Aragon Front, first with the POUM and then as part of the anarchist centuria in La Zaida. It was here that they first met Emma Goldman.

As time went on, it became apparent that the revolution was not only besieged by the fascists, but also being sabotaged from within by the communists. Droescher and Texidor decided they might be of more use doing propaganda work back in England. However, Droescher was prevented from entering England and sent back to Germany. He remained there until the outbreak of World War Two. When Droescher eventually made it back to England, both he and Texidor were imprisoned. After some delicate negotiations, the pair were released and allowed to leave England. Droescher and Texidor arrived in New Zealand in May 1940. However, once again Droescher's movements were restricted. It was soon after his arrival here that Droescher met Ian Hamilton. Hamilton, a conscientious objector, wrote Till Human Voices Wake Us, which includes an account of his experiences in prison and an outline of his anarchist beliefs. The two men had plans to set up an alternative school in Kerikeri, but the plans were scuttled when Hamilton was sent to prison.

Droescher went on to study German at the University of Auckland, and later joined the teaching staff there. Droescher and Texidor were living on Auckland's North Shore, where they become friendly with Frank Sargeson and other members of the North Shore "intelligentsia". Texidor wrote a series of short stories, which were eventually published in 1987 (long after her death) by Victoria University Press.

Droescher remained a committed anarchist until his death in 1978. In 1976 he attended meetings organised by an anarchist group in Auckland, and the group had plans to publish a pamphlet he wrote called The Little Red and Black Book of Anarchy. Unfortunately, some of the group's members objected to the pacifist content of the pamphlet, and it was never published. The only original copy that we know of was lost.