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