On our own behalf - On the publication dispute between ID Verlag and the publisher immergrün

2. Statement “The end of the project,The Grapes of Wrath?”

Dear people, 

Thank you very much for all the positive feedback and encouragement! In addition, we also received feedback, some of which surprised us and made us wonder what the authors' concerns were. We would therefore like to address the key points here.

Tact and decency 

It is true that we did not seek discussions with the publisher ID-Archiv in advance. So we can certainly be accused of a lack of decency - we can live with that. In a reply to our statement it was said that the distances would have been short since we are both based in Mehringhof. True, but this argument ignores the fact that it would still have been possible for ID Verlag to talk to us instead of formulating a written refrain from reprinting it.

Reprint and copyright 

Why a reprint at all? Because there is a lot of interest in the texts in paper form. The decision to reprint was also based on recognition of the work that comrades did at the time. The emphasis would have been the paper appreciation of this work.

The fact that this is not necessary, since the texts are available on the Internet, seems strange in times when websites, blogs, etc. are switched off. (At the time the decision was made, it was possible to purchase the double volume antiquarian for 80 euros).

In addition, we share the stance of rejecting civil law copyright. We find ourselves in the basic anarchist attitude that property is theft.

Mention of names

However, we can accept the criticism that we should not have published the real names of the people associated with the publisher. Although it is easy for every Peter and every Petra to find out the full names of the GbR owners of ID-Verlag in the imprint or contact, our approach was unnecessary. We have therefore subsequently corrected this and apologize for this unnecessary nature.

Criticism and debate

As for our planned appendix to critically examine the behavior of some of these groups towards the judiciary...well...we think this is the crux of the defensive behavior. Of course, it is necessary for us as a left-wing radical movement to deal with this all-too-common chapter of left-wing radical politics. And that is also quite critical. It doesn't matter whether this happened five weeks ago or 50 years ago. We also believe in the ability of each of us to look at people and groups in a differentiated way, i.e. I can criticize behavior without finding the person/group shit as a whole - to put it bluntly. We should always pay attention when criticism and debate are to be prevented or do not take place. Or criticism is only allowed to certain people or is not allowed to most of us.

Finally, we would like to emphasize that we can only respond to criticisms to the extent that we can be responsible for doing so in terms of the vigilant judiciary. In certain cases that means – not at all.

What next?

The originally planned reprint of the book has died for now. Difficulties have arisen during the debate that we must now discuss and discuss in detail. If we have come up with our own solutions, you will notice. That's all we can say at this point.

09/26/2026

Publisher evergreen and activists

For documentation purposes, here is our first statement and the second letter from ID Verlag. Further information (such as the first letter from ID Verlag) see:https://verlag-immergruen.de/in-igener-sache/

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First opinion

Who owns the story?

New edition of “The Grapes of Wrath” affected by publication ban.

In 1993, the annotated edition of many texts from the Revolutionary Cells and Rote Zora was published by ID-Archiv, later ID-Verlag, which has not published any books for 20 years. The “Grapes of Wrath” has been out of stock for just as long.

Today, the militant story and its texts, especially those by RZ and Rote Zora, are only partially known and activists therefore wanted to publish an expanded new edition by the Immergrün publishing house - a political decision, not a commercial one. However, Immergrün now received a letter from ID-Verlag GbR, which only exists as a legal shell, in which, with reference to their former “co-editorship” and “editorial work” on the RZ texts, any reprinting and use of the book title “The Grapes of Wrath” is prohibited.

Instead of justifying never republishing the book, the owners of ID Verlag want it to remain out of print. Civil copyright law is of course on your side. But who owns the story? Also those of the Revolutionary Cells and the Red Zora? Certainly not former left-wing radicals who want to screw a lid on it. Rather, it belongs to today's activists who have to find ways to further develop emancipatory politics in the fight against repression and reaction.

One of the owners of the ID-Archiv publishing house, the taz culture editor Andreas F., published almost at the same time as his letter to Immergrün an interview with the former RZ member Thomas K., who saved himself from going to prison through statements in court and a deal with the federal prosecutor's office. Fun fact: In the planned Evergreen edition of “The Grapes of Wrath”, the disreputable behavior of some RZ activists towards the judiciary should also be discussed in an appendix because it played a role in the end of the RZ. It is conceivable that this could be unpleasant for some people. Also that they want to suppress publication of this aspect of their story with the help of acquaintances who can bring copyright to justice.

What now? Fortunately, some of the Rote Zora texts contained in the “Fruits” have been republished by Unrast Verlag, although without addressing the behavior of some Red Zora activists in court - ID Verlag did not take action.

A publication solution must and will be found for the texts of the Revolutionary Cells, which as such do not fall under ID-Verlag's copyright, and for a critical and solidarity-based review.

09/06/2026

Immergrün publisher and activists

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