There was a lot going on in Munich between 1918 and 1919: The monarchy was overthrown and the Free State of Bavaria was proclaimed.
But how much did that influence Freising?
Freising -
The historian Ralf Grabuschnig set out on a guided tour of the city under the motto “Imagine it's a revolution and nobody notices” on the search for traces of the local revolutionaries. November 7, 1918, the hitherto unimaginable succeeded in Munich: A group Left oppositionists around the independent Social Democrat Kurt Eisner overthrew the Bavarian King Ludwig III. All of this happened at the end of the First World War; the uprising went down in history as the November Revolution. Defined goal of the revolution: the immediate end of the world war and the promotion of a parliamentary democracy. In retrospect, this rather short and extremely unsettled period appears complex, because while the left was working towards a purely Soviet republic, militant right and conservatives opposed it.Paramilitary formations were formed - the Red Army on one side and the White Guards on the other.
With the murder of Kurt Eisner, the first Minister-President of the Free State on February 21, 1919, Bavaria sank into a bloody civil war.
It is estimated that around 1,000 people fell victim to the suppression of the Soviet republic in Munich.
What was of interest to Grabuschnig: What did cities that were in close proximity to the action actually notice of the political unrest at the time?
The reaction on site
According to his research, the administration in Freising, including Mayor Stephan Bierner, who held office from 1899 to 1933, adapted to the attempts at political reorganization. “There was little friction,” emphasized the historian. And this can also be clearly demonstrated: a workers' and soldiers' council was founded in Freising, but not a farmers' council. The meeting took place in the town hall and the Jäger barracks, today's Vimy barracks. Political tasks were not taken on by the councils, however. Grabuschnig speculates: It certainly failed because of the existing structures, because the councils had encountered a well-functioning administrative apparatus. It is also interesting that there was often a lack of communication: the latest information from Munich often only arrived days later.
It was completely different on April 7, 1919 - a telegram reached the cathedral city.
Reason for the express mail: the proclamation of the Soviet republic in Bavaria.
In Freising, this was done by the SPD city council and council chairman Ferdinand Zwack.
With bells ringing and red flags on the buildings, there was then a larger gathering of people, for which even the Colosseum (today's Woolworth) hall became too small and therefore had to be turned into the barracks.
The final
If the mood before the proclamation was tense due to Eisner's assassination, Zwack was probably afraid of the city being occupied by the Red Army after the further political unrest.
But things turned out differently: On April 26th, government troops, coming from Regensburg, marched into Freising without resistance.
On April 30, the troops moved on and violently put down the rule of the councils in Munich.
In Freising, Bierner took over the helm again as mayor, said Grabuschnig.
During the tour, there was also a reminder of Hans Unterleitner from Freising, who as Eisner's son-in-law experienced the Soviet Republic up close as Minister of State for Social Welfare.
This time was probably less up close for many of the Freising people.
“It was rather unspectacular here,” is the historian's summary.
Good to know
There is a history podcast by Ralf Grabuschnig.
More at https://ralfgrabuschnig.com/deja-vu-geschichte-podcast
Richard Lorenz
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