Ted Grant Collected Writings Vol. 2: The Inferno (1943-45)

This collection brings together the writings of one of the 20th century’s most significant revolutionaries. In the decades following Leon Trotsky’s death in 1940, Ted Grant applied and developed the Marxist method to analyse emerging political phenomena. His theoretical contributions preserved the method of Marxism, and are of first-rate importance for revolutionaries today.

This volume spans the final years of the Second World War, from 1943–45. As the imperialist slaughter reached new levels of devastation, and the conflict shifted decisively to the Eastern Front, the war became a titanic clash between the Soviet Union and Nazi Germany.

By this time, the Workers’ International League (WIL) had emerged as the leading Trotskyist organisation in Britain. Its cadres were preparing for the momentous events ahead: the impending collapse of the Axis powers and the revolutionary upheavals expected to shake Europe and the wider world. The formation of the Revolutionary Communist Party (RCP) in early 1944 marked the culmination of years of patient work by Ted Grant and the WIL, expressing their determination to advance from hundreds to thousands of members.

This volume offers a vivid picture of some of the most consequential years of the 20th century – years that would reshape the economic and political order for decades to come. The clarity of analysis on events in Europe and Britain, together with the debates within the Trotskyist movement, show Ted Grant reaching new heights as a revolutionary Marxist theoretician. The method and insights contained here form an invaluable resource for the struggle for socialist revolution today.

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  1. Acknowledgements
  2. Preface
  3. Introduction

Part 1 War and Revolution

  1. Aid Red Army With Lenin’s Weapon
  2. The Need for the International
  3. The Rise and Fall of the Communist International
  4. Second Front Will Not End Fascism
  5. Fascism Collapsing – Europe’s Revolution Has Begun
  6. The Italian Revolution and the Tasks of British Workers
  7. How Mussolini Came to Power
  8. Aid the Italian Revolution!
  9. Anglo-US Strategy Weaken Russia!
  10. Rift Widens in Allied Camp
  11. Churchill’s Speech Marks a New Stage in the War
  12. Italian Workers Had Control
  13. Fascist Butchers Now in Allied Camp
  14. The Moscow Conference Plans Post-war Reaction
  15. Lebanon Clash Bares de Gaulle-Churchill Aims
  16. Allied Talks Plot World Carve-up
  17. Stalin Scraps ‘Internationale’
  18. Stalin Recognises Badoglio
  19. Second Front and the Tasks of the Working Class
  20. Churchill Preparing Peace of Revenge
  21. Germany – What Next? Behind the Generals’ Revolt
  22. Leon Trotsky
  23. Capitalists Fear Armed Paris Workers
  24. The Allies Fear Fraternisation
  25. National Question – Rough Draft
  26. The Coming German Revolution
  27. Why Hitler Came to Power
  28. Indian Troops Join ELAS
  29. British Labour Betrayed Greek Workers
  30. Crimea Decisions Kept From Masses
  31. The Changed Relationship of Forces in Europe and the Role of the Fourth International

Part 2 The Home Front

  1. Open Letter on Repression in Northern Ireland
  2. Coalition Cracking Labour to Power
  3. The Beveridge Report
  4. ILP Conference and Tasks of the Left
  5. The ILP in Transition
  6. Labour Party Endorses Truce
  7. Labour Leaders Back Vansittartism
  8. ‘Appeal’ is in Danger
  9. Internationalism and Centrism
  10. Churchill’s Support Crumbling
  11. ILP Conference
  12. Bevin Defends His Anti-labour Laws
  13. Labour Leaders Fear Conference
  14. The Attack on Our Party
  15. Perspectives in the ILP
  16. Statement to Members From the Political Bureau
  17. Tories Riding High
  18. TUC Helps Goebbels
  19. Communist Party Conference Prepares Post-war Sell-out
  20. Redundancy – A Criticism of the November Editorial in the ‘Industrial Bulletin’
  21. Statement of the Political Bureau on Redundancy
  22. Labour Party Conference – Labour Lefts Sell Out
  23. Tory Post-war Plans
  24. The ILP at the Crossroads
  25. CP Leaders Want Post-war Coalition With the Tories

Part 3 British Trotskyism and the Fourth International

  1. Correspondence: May – November 1942
  2. A Criticism by the RSL of the WIL Pamphlet ‘Preparing for Power’
  3. Correspondence: December 1942 – January 1943
  4. Statement of the PB on the Expulsion From WIL of G Healy
  5. Correspondence: February – June 1943
  6. Reply of WIL to the RSL ‘Criticism of ‘Preparing for Power’’
  7. Correspondence: June – September 1943
  8. Reply to Comrades Cooper and Stuart
  9. Our Tasks in the Coming Revolution
  10. The World Revolution and the Tasks of the British Working Class
  11. WIL Conference Resolution on International Affiliation
  12. Fusion Conference of WIL and RSL
  13. Open Letter to SWP Members
  1. Bibliography

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