BACKGROUND

In 1847 the Prussian provincial parliaments called a "United Parliament" in Berlin. At the time people were calling for this parliament to create a united liberal constitution for Prussian Citizens.

Berlin went into economic recession.

"In the greater Berlin area existed around 40 machine works, as many spinning shops and associated enterprises, 35 silk factories, 22 calico-printing works, 95 cloth factories and a considerable number of chemical, carpet and oilcloth factories as well as no fewer than 31 breweries. Around 40,000 factory workers, 10% of the population, lived in Berlin, of whom around 20,000 were apprenticed of various trades and who, given the general crisis in artisan trades and the transition to mechanical mass production, had only miserable proletarian subsistence to look forward to." (There were also 20,000 poorly paid servants.) "Mass poverty was growing apace; during the 1840's the number of Berlin's inhabitants rose by 30%, but the numbers receiving poor relief rose by more than 60%. Almost half of the urban proletariat was already poverty-stricken; nearly a quarter of the capital's population lived below the officially defined poverty line, yet Berlin was still a magnet drawing in the impoverished sub-peasantry from all over eastern Germany."1

"Berlin, the largest industrial city in Germany, already rivaling Vienna with her population of 400,000 citizens, was absolutely quite (when disturbances were heard in Italy, France and Munich) - 204 policemen sufficed to keep the peace and maintain order. "1

"The forces of reaction subsequently claimed that the Revolution could never have broken out in Berlin, or indeed anywhere, had not the spring been so lovely and come so early." (Wilhelm Angerstein)1

Crowds of people entered the streets, the lady, beggar, dandy, student, businessman, officer, councilor, whore, nurserymaid, nanny, gentlemen, burgher, etc. would all share streets together.

"... the upper middle classes met in salons or wine parlours, the less well-off patronized the coffee houses... cake shops.. The lower classes... artisans, workers and servants, used to frequent tobacco shops, where smoking was allowed, a practice prohibited in public.."1

The unpopular King, Friedrich Wilhelm IV had a romantic relationship with 'his people', even seeing himself closer to God and loving his people in the tradition of Emperors. While he was dreaming of unity between himself and his people, he didn't believe he would consider allowing middle class involvement in the governing process and believed he would never again allow a United Parliament to take place.

February 29th

An uprising in Paris proclaimed the Republic and driven out Louis Philippe.

History had taught Berliners the success of foreign revolutions had an impact in their country. Excitement and rumours began.

The Monarchy also panicked. One artillery division and "the Potsdam hussars and Uhlans" were ordered to standby.

March (first few days)

Borsig, the largest machine works in Prussia, let go 400 workers.

March 4

A few artisans were accused of reading the illegal communist newspaper "Gospel of a Poor Sinner" propagating uprisings against the government.

March 6

In a panic and a year late, King Friedrich now allowed the United Parliament to convene and the Prussian state credit bank notes became devalued at the Berlin stock exchange.

Between the Brandenburg Gate, near the "Zelte" (tents, where the usual beer houses and concerts were attended), students and other attendees tried to organize to draft a list of concerns (a mild step toward writing a constitution).

March 7

On "Shrove Tuesday" 600 people attended the continued youth discussion drafting "Address by the Youth" and planned to submit it to the King. The "March Demands" were similar to what other German cities had been requesting freedom of the press and public speech and assembly; amnesty for political prisoners; equal rights for all citizens; independent judges; reduction of the army; and the citizen right to bear arms; and above all "more rights for the National Assembly and the convening of a German National Parliament".

The "Employment Information Institute" opened, and 7,000 people sought its services.

March 8

Hearing the rumours, King Friedrich declaired a freedom of the press unless it was misused.

March 9

An estimated 4,000 people were gathering around the Brandenburg Gate/Zelts area including peddlers as well as speakers; discussions were around how to deliver the demands to the King (post, town councilors - who met daily in the Cölnische Rathaus on Gertraudenstrasse, - Police President (von Minutoli ) as Parliament official refused "to play postman").

March 11

The "dignitaries" assembled in a public meeting deciding to deliver the peoples demands to the King via the magistrates and town councilors. The text was edited while hundreds of spectators watched the public process. The issue of "protection commission" was passed, an enactment of citizen volunteers forming "unarmed patrols to prevent looting and to intervene in altercations between the military and demonstrators" (this was successful during the potato famine during the previous year). The objective was that civilians could be arrested for basic disobediences (such as smoking in public) without starting a revolution. The spectators began to uproar a failed demand that the citizen patrols this time be armed.

March 13

Monday was the day off for trade apprentices. Rumours heard that the military was not going to defend its' boundaries of an anticipated French attack in the west, but troops would instead remain in Berlin.

In Vienna, students had demanded the retirement of Prince Metternich.

In Berlin, tension was growing on all sides. Brewery workers would light pipes, "sing mocking songs, blow smoke in soldiers faces (smoking was prohibited) and throwing stones" in front of the Brandenburg Gate.

Artisans and workers were out shouting each other on public podiums at the Zelte, while a new address was being written for the King constituting a social revolution.

A higher ranking officer is reported to have said around the streets of Berlin that "If the King gives the order, we will shoot, and gladly."

The Police President von Minutoli had announced troops to stand by and occupy the areas around the Brandenburg Gate, the Schloss, the jail and the state prison and "at 7pm, cavalry units were to proceed through the Tiergarten" to ensure peace. (During the potato famine the year before he had called his troops too late to ensure peace).

Minutoli entered the Zelte and proclaimed all the peoples needs would be met if everyone "conducted themselves peacefully."

When soldiers met and herded in the crowds the people began to hiss, escalating to calling "the soldiers must go away." The situation became worse until people were trampled beneath the military horses hooves and a man was stabbed. Some artisans began to create barricades on Grünstrasse and others "tried to storm the armories."

March 14

King Frederick William IV publicly summoned the United Parliament for April 27th. Privately, the king ordered a constitution be drawn toward the reorganization of a national Germany with independents states. A ministry would politically link the distinct governments to the crown.

A repeated antagonistic crowd grew louder in front of the Brandenburg Gates. Those who jeered were now being named individually.

"Several elderly burghers deemed it sensible to go home and were just turning out of the Schlossplatz into Brüderstrasse when a squadron of Kurassiers burst out from the other end of the street, galloping wildly towards them and shrieking as if demented, spurring on their horses so savagely that some fell over, striking the front doors with their swords and finally slashing at the people (the burghers) coming toward them. Two heavily and eight slightly wounded burghers were left lying in the street, all of them respected, elderly and inoffensive men."

The Police President von Minutoli declared the raid offensive; but also said that the crowds will revolt and it was only a matter of time.

March 15

A repeat antagonism between crowds and soldiers came with more fierceness. Barricades of cobblestones were again created. Soldiers were provoked into a march driving people from the Schlossplatz with "bayonets and gun butts." In Breitenstrasse some determined artisans were trying to break into a gun-shop. "They were driven back by a burst of gunfire; the soldiers also let off their guns as they stormed the barricades. One dead man and 15 with bullet wounds were handed over to the palace guard at midnight."

March 16

Two battalions of the 1st Regiment of the Guard were moved to Berlin from Potsdam.

City officials unarmed "protection commissions" was in place. Approximately 100 burghers wore white armbands and appeared on the streets.

Responding to over zealousness protection commissions' had provoked students to calling them "pallbearers with ball-bats."

March 17

Three battalions from Frankfurt an der Oder and Halle; as well as two battalions from Stettin arrived in Berlin.

With the announcement of the fall of Austrian Prince Metternich, "Austria was apparently finished", King Friederich Wilhelm believed the ancient claim to an Imperial German Reich throne was now possible. "The fall of Metternich... was a kind of liberation for the Prussian government as well. Prussia now wants to pursue this new course openly and energetically - everything with Germany and everything for Germany!" In the Kings mind, the revolution had to be diffused.

To fulfill this dream, a United Parliament was summoned for April 2 and legislation was passed to removing censorship in the press; but this information was held upon the opposition of the Kings brother Prince Wilhelm.

No rioting occurred, many areas held discussions with the dominating theme on the urgent removal of military. The most important meeting was in a pub called "Kemperhof" in the Tiergarten. The police commissioner (in plain clothes) tried to break up the meeting, but instead stayed to listen. The meeting would be continued later that day, with more defined demands.

August Theodor Woeniger, a university doctor, lawyer, and editor of "Der Staat" a liberal newspaper, spoke at the later meeting in the pub on Köpenickerstrasse. He advocated a peaceful demand of the "withdrawal of the army from Berlin, the organization of an armed civil guard, the concession of 'the freedom of the press, which has been unconditionally guaranteed us for a generation now', and the summoning the United Parliament." He proclaimed that the protection commission would deliver their demands. Because of the ultimatum tone of Dr. Woenigers not unreasonable demands, the artisans and workers even in the suburbs (as well as the Police President von Minutoli) heard the rumours that "Tomorrow's the day, tomorrow will be decisive."

March 18

In the morning Berlin was "bathed in spring sunshine."

The King personally and publicly announced that freedom of the press was granted and the summoning of the United Parliament. He also announced the desire to draw a national constitution, and a German flag. He requested the crowd disperse and he withdrew. Because of the enormous size of the crowd, tens of thousands of people could not hear the King. They only saw the King withdraw and the Soldiers remaining. "'Solders - out!' they shouted, and the cry was finally taken up and chanted by the entire swaying mass of people. A new surge of anger was aroused when a Prussian black and white flag was unfurled from the balcony of a house opposite the palace. The crowd took this for a provocative gesture and they raised the cry for the black, red and gold standard."

The King ordered General von Prittwitz that the square be emptied by his cavalry. "von Prittwitz, riding at the head of his squadron of dragoons, came out of the North gate and swerved into the Stechbahn. The General was forced apart from the other riders by a furious crowd, an action (a) major .... (believed) his superior to be in mortal danger... The Major sent a platoon against them (the yelling people waving sticks), and as the soldiers marched, guns cocked, towards the bridge, two shots issued from their ranks.

The crowd believed they were trapped and cried "Treachery! they're shooting at us" even the burghers revolted in disgust.

"the town seethes like an earthquake: cobbles are ripped up, arms shops are plundered, houses are stormed, hatchets and axes are fetched out...twelve barricades rise up in Königstrasse made of 'droschkas, omnibuses, woolsacks, beams and of demolished pumphouses - excellent, exemplary built barricades. Roofs are stripped, house by house...everyone is armed with pitchforks, swords, lances, pistols, with planks, ... baskets of big stones (were brought) onto the roofs.."

Arms shops were plundered (most weapons were returned later). "People equipped themselves with boards, cudgels, pitchforks, hammers, even clearing out the theatre's stock. Firearms of all sizes and epochs were brought along....marbles and coins serving for shots."1

A notice was printed and distributed explaining the accidental nature of the shots in hopes to preserve peace.

Three men carried banner across the Schlossplatz saying "A Misunderstanding! The King wants the Best [for you]!"

The King believed his people had betrayed him and ordered to storm the barricades. (In a momentary second thought the king tried to delay this order but it was too late).

Civilians included armed and unarmed women, boys and men without uniforms. Night was approaching, revolutionaries were poorly equipped without training; but unlike the soldiers, they were equipped with enthusiasm and anger. While soldiers were enormously equipped, they were psychologically unprepared to fight their own people, especially those untrained war tactics, without uniforms. As well, women children and the elderly were in the streets, some fighting, some getting out of the way. The soldiers were, however, ordered to attack the barricades one by one head on.

Mother Schmidecke's apple vending cart on the Friederichstrasse accross from the Polish Apothecary was toppled over as the cornerstone for a barricade by the angry crowds making their way westward (from the barricade of the Oberwallstr. and Jagerstr.) to the corner of the Taubenstr. and Friederichstr. The Barracade held it's ground until early hours of the morning when confronted by one of the non-Berlin Batallions (Frankfurt a/Oder or Stettin) until only two boys were left. Wilhelm Glasewaldt, a 19 year old who just received his locksmith certificate and his buddy, 17 year old Ernst Zinna still a locksmith apprentice, were the last to stand at the Friedrichstrasse barricade fighting dozens of rifles with merely stones. Wilhelm fell first to a bullet and later died, while Ernst chose to charge the brigade even though he faced a multitude of bullets, he was shot in the stomache before finding a safe place to die. Because of their age and circumstance, Ernst and Wilhelm were widely known as heros of the revolution.

"...night was falling and the officers could no longer hold their men on a firm leash. This led to encroachments and excesses; when the Cöllnische Rathaus was finally stormed by the soldiers of the 1st Guards Regiment, after long drawn out return fire from its defendants, the revolutionaries, who had long ago surrendered, were summarily executed." and according to one of the military witnesses " ... the soldiers excitement and bitterness reached an excessively high degree, almost beyond restraint."1

At midnight, the King ordered that possession be held and fighting to cease.

March 19

At dawn the King proclaimed an apologetic leaflet and asked "his people" for peace, only to be mocked by the revolutionaries.

Against military advice, the King ordered the withdrawal of the troops. In his mind, it was not a defeat, but offering the people what they had requested in their demands and what he had promised.

"The shame of this retreat was never to be forgotten by the officer corps; their most deeply wounding realization, that the king appeared to pursue the interests of absolute monarchy less single-mindedly than did the army, led to that increasingly political and ideological self-isolation of the Prussian military which was to have such far-reaching consequences for the history of Germany."1

Soldiers were hiding their uniform under civilian clothes.

The soldiers, the Kings entourage, and the Queen was present while the men removed their caps and helmets as the barricade fighters brought in the bodies from night "Corpse after corpse was placed before the royal couple, their bearers telling them "Fifteen years old, my only son... (another) ..Slaughtered unmercifully, after he had surrendered... (another) ..The father of five small children...(etc.)" The crowd sang "In Jesus is my Trust" while Queen Elizabeth murmured to King Friederich "all that's missing now is the guillotine."

All demands were promised, including public smoking.

Anyone who could prove they were a citizen of Berlin "was immediately issued with a rifle from the arsenal.

The Civil Guard was now cheered by the crowds. That night every window in Berlin was lit in celebration.

March 20

A festival holiday brought Berliners back to the streets. The city was cleaned at the states expense, as well all citizens were provided with small favours at the states expense.

Political prisoners, including a popular Polish hero, were released.

The King appeared and waved at a famous Polish revolutionary prisoner.

March 21

Celebrations continued with citizens in German national colors and national declarations of the official beginning of Prussia being merged with Germany.

1. "The Course of German Nationalism From Frederick the Great to Bismark 1763-1867" by Hagen Schulze Cambridge University Press 1991.

2. "Friedrichstrasse"