43 lines
2.0 KiB
Markdown
43 lines
2.0 KiB
Markdown
**Red Week** or **Troelstra's Mistake** was an attempted socialist
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[revolution](List_of_Revolutions "wikilink") in the
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[Netherlands](Netherlands "wikilink") in
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[1918](Timeline_of_Libertarian_Socialism_in_Western_Europe "wikilink"),
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part of a [wider wave of socialist revolutions in
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Europe](Revolutions_of_1916_-_1923 "wikilink").
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## Backgrou
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Aever
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Troelstra's Mistake was a futile appeal for a socialist revolution in
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the Netherlands in November 1918. The name is taken from the essential
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role played by Pieter Jelles Troelstra during the attempted revolution.
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The attempt lasted almost a week, from November 9 to November 14, which
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was then called De Roode Week. \[2\]
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The call for revolution was the result of the economic malaise after the
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First World War and several other revolutions that played out, such as
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the German November Revolution and the Russian Revolution, and was
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prompted by the recent mutiny in the army camp De Harskamp. These events
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were the source of inspiration and the conviction that radical social
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changes could also be brought about in the Netherlands.
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At the time, the various movements within the socialist movement had not
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yet profiled themselves strongly. The question of whether to pursue a
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"violent overthrow" of capitalist society or a gradual transition "by
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peaceful and parliamentary means" would lead to a sharp division of
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minds between the communists and revolutionary socialists on the one
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hand and the social democrats on the other.
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Troelstra believed that the socialist revolution could also take place
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in the Netherlands, as there was a great deal of unrest in politics. He
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was mistaken about this. Although there was commotion about the person
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of General Snijders, this did not have the character of a constitutional
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crisis. Due to a lack of organization and the fact that a
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countermovement that was well organized soon arose, the attempt to
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revolution fizzled out.
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## References
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[Wikipedia](Wikipedia "wikilink") (Dutch) - [Red
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Week](https://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vergissing_van_Troelstra) |