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About Victor Grossman

Victor Grossman is a journalist from the United States now living in Berlin. He fled his U.S. Army post in the 1950s in danger of reprisals for his left-wing activities at Harvard University and in Buffalo, New York. He landed in the former German Democratic Republic (Socialist East Germany), studied journalism, founded a Paul Robeson Archive, and became a freelance journalist and author. His latest book, A Socialist Defector: From Harvard to Karl-Marx-Allee (Monthly Review Press), is about his life in the German Democratic Republic from 1949 to 1990, the tremendous improvements for the people under socialism, the reasons for the fall of socialism, and the importance of today’s struggles. His address is wechsler_grossman [at] yahoo.de (also for a free sub to the Berlin Bulletins sent out by MR Online).
  • A Patriot’s Fourth of July: Berlin Bulletin No. 213

    Victor Grossman

    Despite all doubts, despite fearful weaponry, at home or abroad, can we still call ourselves patriotic? In fact, is that a good thing to be?

  • Berlin Bulletin by Victor Grossman

    Brawling on the brink: Berlin Bulletin no. 211, June 7, 2023

    Victor Grossman

    “NATO—the U.S.-dominated global war machine—whose policy is ‘full dominance spectrum,’ contrary to its claims, is not a defensive organization. Its purpose has been to act as an instrument for U.S. world domination and to prevent all challenges to U.S. hegemony.” —Mairead Maguire

  • Berlin Bulletin by Victor Grossman

    Poetry politics and war: Berlin Bulletin no. 210, May 3, 2023

    Victor Grossman

    The fearful destruction, the displacement of families, above all the killing and maiming must be deplored, condemned and brought to an end. But the underlying reasons for this terrible war, concealed in the media, must also be mercilessly examined, regardless of well-orchestrated accusations of “Putin-friendship” or “left-over allegiance to a past Soviet Russia”.

  • Berlin Bulletin by Victor Grossman

    Child’s play?: Berlin Bulletin 209, March 26 2023

    Victor Grossman

    I recall a circle game from my childhood; after each round another chair was removed, leaving one more child out. We called it “Going to Jerusalem.” Last week Israeli boss Netanyahu arrived FROM Jerusalem. After two days he was out of the Berlin circle—one day too early.

  • Berlin Bulletin by Victor Grossman

    Despair and Joy: Berlin Bulletin 208, February 28, 2023

    Victor Grossman

    Were any flags of sympathy displayed when the people of Serbia, Iraq or Afghanistan were bombed? When drones exploded on hospitals and wedding processions—were there also calls for tribunals against Bush—or Obama?

  • Berlin Bulletin by Victor Grossman

    Animal crackers: Berlin Bulletin 207, February 5 2023

    Victor Grossman

    “Hey”, squeaked one furry lemming to another (in lemming-lingo, of course). “I saw you trying to slip away from the crowd! Do you want to betray us good lemmings. Maybe you’re a fox-lover, even a wolf-lover. You’d better keep in line till we reach our proper goal.” As lemming-lovers sadly know, that goal could be over the cliff into the sea.

  • Berlin Bulletin by Victor Grossman

    Blunders – Splits – War

    Victor Grossman

    Today the Linke is tragically split, on both political approaches and personalities.… [M]ost worrisome is the split about the present war. Some in the Left downplay the role of NATO, call for total condemnation of Russian imperialism and total military support for the Ukraine, in agreement with most media positions.

  • Berlin Bulletin by Victor Grossman

    German unity, war of peace: Berlin Bulletin 205, October 9, 2022

    Victor Grossman

    In 1990, on October 3rd, Germany could rejoice; unity at last, a single flag, a single anthem (“Deutschland über alles”), a single currency, a single foreign policy; in other words, freedom and democracy triumphant!

  • Berlin Bulletin by Victor Grossman

    Devils and the Ukraine: Berlin Bulletin 204, September 21, 2022

    Victor Grossman

    Am I mistaken in hearing echoes of grating radio voices from my childhood, in 1938, frightening even without translation, and omens of the giant tragedy which descended upon the world just one year later? Today’s tones are smoother, the words more circumspect, but I see election results in Spain, Italy, France, even Denmark, Sweden and the Netherlands, the wrecking of the Labour Party in England and news from many regions of the USA—and I grow fearful.

  • Flag of East Germany

    My seventy years and the departed GDR

    Victor Grossman

    It’s a momentous day! Not for the world–for which it’s nothing special. But for me!

  • Berlin Bulletin by Victor Grossman

    The war *Germany* the left: Berlin Bulletin No. 203, July 11, 2022

    Victor Grossman

    In 1307 in Switzerland, so goes the legend, the Habsburg rulers’ local bailiff, Gessler, stuck his hat on a pole and commanded every passerby to salute it. Wilhelm Tell refused. As fearsome punishment he had to shoot an apple from his own little boy’s head with his crossbow. His aim was sure, the boy was safe. But “Gessler’s hat” still means forced obeisance to some symbol. Or else!

  • Berlin Bulletin by Victor Grossman

    Berlin  Munich  Kyiv: Berlin Bulletin No. 202, June 13, 2022

    Victor Grossman

    The tide of public opinion in Germany is as overpowering–and changeable – as elsewhere: “Stop the Russian invasion!“ – “Defend Ukraine!”–“Send money”–“More, bigger, further-reaching weapons!”- “Defeat Russia!” Sustaining this tide is an all-encompassing media campaign.

  • Berlin Bulletin by Victor Grossman

    War and peace: Berlin Bulletin No. 201, May 2, 2022

    Victor Grossman

    I’ve been toiling on this Berlin Bulletin for weeks, altering it, agonizing, starting anew. Events are simply too complicated and bitter–in the world and in Germany, too. Most dreadfully in Ukraine.

  • Berlin Bulletin by Victor Grossman

    Nonsense and panic: Berlin Bulletin no. 198, January 30, 2022

    Victor Grossman

    Why do foolhardy spoilers insist on causing embarrassment? Why must out-of-step fools upset well-steered apple-carts? Why did German vice-admiral Kay-Achim Schönbach open his big mouth on Saturday in far-off Mumbai—and spill so many beans? Many or most U.S. media overlooked it—that is, buried it. Or emasculated it. In Germany they couldn’t fully ignore it—though unpleasant […]

  • Berlin Bulletin by Victor Grossman

    Shuffled cards: Berlin Bulletin No. 197, December 30, 2021

    Victor Grossman

    After the German elections on September 26th it took, as usual, weeks and weeks for the three coalition parties to agree on one program, full of compromises, pledges and promises (some of which may even been be kept) and to resolve quarrels over who gets which cabinet seat.

  • Berlin Bulletin by Victor Grossman

    A hard loss and a triumph: Berlin Bulletin No. 196, September 30, 2021

    Victor Grossman

    The most important election result is hardly discussed in the media—and when it is, then with satisfaction or joy. It is, in fact, a truly sad result. The Left (DIE LINKE) missed the red line level of 5%—but was miraculously saved by a special rule; if three or more delegates of a party win out in their own districts—with those first crosses—then their parties and their proportionate lists are saved, just as if they had reached 5%.

  • Berlin Bulletin by Victor Grossman

    Who with whom elections: Berlin Bulletin, no. 194, September 20, 2021

    Victor Grossman

    In German elections—like the coming ones, as always on a Sunday—all you have to do is present the registration paper mailed to every citizen, then make crosses on a paper  ballot. No trouble with the boss, no missing work, long lines or quarrels about fraud or discrimination.  It sounds easy.

  • Berlin Bulletin by Victor Grossman

    Berlin Wall and Kaiser Palace: Berlin Bulletin No. 194 August 10, 2021

    Victor Grossman

    Until 1989 that terrible Berlin Wall angered many an East German. The small part of Germany it helped preserve for 28 years was always the butt of anger, sarcasm, vituperation and resistance in one form or another.

  • Berlin Bulletin by Victor Grossman

    A happy warrior + Esther Bejarano + Presente: Berlin Bulletin No. 193 July 20, 2021

    Victor Grossman

    Esther Bejarano’s death hits hard, leaving a painful gap in Germany’s anti-fascist scene. Most media and many politicians voiced their praise and mourning—after almost totally ignoring her in life and attacking and trying to squelch organizations she was active in, as an avowed Communist.

  • Berlin Bulletin by Victor Grossman

    Jack and Jill tumble: Berlin Bulletin No. 192, July 3, 2021

    Victor Grossman

    After legally receiving a Christmas gift of 24,000 euros from her party, Annalena Baerbock somehow neglected to report it in her tax returns. No big deal, some might think, but after the scandals about Christian Democrats nobly enriching themselves when purchasing face-masks, and two far bigger scandals hanging over the head of the Social Democrats’ chancellor candidate Scholz (currently still Finance Minister), the squeaky clean reputation of the Greens had been a major asset. No longer!

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Also By Victor Grossman in Monthly Review Magazine

  • Germany’s Hidden Social Crisis April 01, 2019

Books By Victor Grossman

  • A Socialist Defector: From Harvard to Karl-Marx-Allee March 05, 2019

Monthly Review Essays

  • US Imperialism in Crisis: Opportunities and Challenges to a Global Community with a Shared Future
    Sam-Kee Cheng A late 1940s Soviet poster showing a US military service member lounging on top of a German factory, smoking a cigar. The text beneath reads DER DOLLARIMPERIALISMUS [dollar imperialism].

    1. Introduction The predominance of US economic, political and military power in the world was established at the end of the Second World War.1 With just 6.3 percent of global population, the United States held about 50 percent of the world wealth in 1948. As the only power which had used nuclear weapons on civilian […]

Lost & Found

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    Robert W. McChesney Bob McChesney on Saving Journalism

    Our job is to make media reform part of our broader struggle for democracy, social justice, and, dare we say it, socialism.

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