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The Library Modern Records Centre

War and struggle in Germany

This sequence of slides looks at revolutionary German history from 1914-1934, focusing particularly on the period between 1918-1924. It contains images of key individuals (including Karl Liebknecht and Rosa Luxemburg) and events (including opposition to the First World War, the Spartakusbund (Spartacus League) rising, and the Red Army in Germany during the early 1920s). It concludes with images of Nazis and Nazism. Henry Sara's archive collection includes some of the photographs used to produce these slides [document reference: MSS.15B/6/4], possibly purchased during his visit to Germany in 1924.

Captions have been produced using Henry Sara's notes for this talk and captions on the reverse of the photographs.

Reproduction for any purpose (publication, exhibition, web display, commercial use, etc.) is only permissible with the consent of the Modern Records Centre. Please contact us for more information.

  • Title slide: War and Struggle in Germany
    Title slide: War and Struggle in Germany
  • Title slide: War and Struggle in Germany
    Title slide: War and Struggle in Germany
  • Title slide: War and Struggle in Germany
    Title slide: War and Struggle in Germany
  • Karl Marx
    Karl Marx
  • Ferdinand Lassalle
    Ferdinand Lassalle
  • August Babel
    August Babel
  • Edward Bernstein and Karl Kautsky
    Edward Bernstein and Karl Kautsky
  • Eduard David and Philipp Scheidemann
    Eduard David and Philipp Scheidemann
  • Declaration of war situation, 31 July 1914
    Declaration of war situation, 31 July 1914
  • War prayer outside the Reichstag, 2 August 1914
    War prayer outside the Reichstag, 2 August 1914
  • 'The workers have no fatherland!'
    'The workers have no fatherland!'
  • The Kaiser, Generals and Social Democrats mix
    The Kaiser, Generals and Social Democrats mix
  • Contrast of Houses lived in by officers and those of soldiers
    Contrast of Houses lived in by officers and those of soldiers
  • Behind the lines - and further behind the lines
    Behind the lines - and further behind the lines
  • Transport of soldiers and of generals
    Transport of soldiers and of generals
  • Behind the lines - first treatment at the sand dunes
    Behind the lines - first treatment at the sand dunes
  • 'You are the apple of my eye' – after the days work
    'You are the apple of my eye' – after the days work
  • Damage by the fire
    Damage by the fire
  • Wilhelm Liebknecht - imprisoned 1871 for opposing war with France
    Wilhelm Liebknecht - imprisoned 1871 for opposing war with France
  • Karl Liebknecht as a young man
    Karl Liebknecht as a young man
  • Karl Liebknecht as a young man
    Karl Liebknecht as a young man
  • Rosa Luxemburg: Polish prisoner
    Rosa Luxemburg: Polish prisoner
  • Leo Jogiches: young
    Leo Jogiches: young
  • Franz Mehring
    Franz Mehring
  • Clara Zetkin
    Clara Zetkin
  • Karl Liebknecht attending court for trial
    Karl Liebknecht attending court for trial
  • -
    -
  • Karl Liebknecht as labour pioneer
    Karl Liebknecht as labour pioneer
  • Signatures at Zimmerwald Conference, 1915
    Signatures at Zimmerwald Conference, 1915
  • Prison of Karl Liebknecht at Lindau
    Prison of Karl Liebknecht at Lindau
  • Imprisonment of Rosa Luxemburg and Clara Zetkin – Social Democrats at Headquarters
    Imprisonment of Rosa Luxemburg and Clara Zetkin – Social Democrats at Headquarters
  • Publication of 'Spartacus' Letters
    Publication of 'Spartacus' Letters
  • Place of publication and printing
    Place of publication and printing
  • The Spartacus rising
    The Spartacus rising
  • Surrender of the barracks of the 'Life Guard Ulans' to the Workers and Soldiers Council: banner - 'Brother do not shoot!'
    Surrender of the barracks of the 'Life Guard Ulans' to the Workers and Soldiers Council: banner - 'Brother do not shoot!'
  • Spartacus demonstration
    Spartacus demonstration
  • Karl Liebknecht speaking in the Tiergarten, Siegessäule
    Karl Liebknecht speaking in the Tiergarten, Siegessäule
  • Karl Liebknecht speaking in the Tiergarten, Siegessäule
    Karl Liebknecht speaking in the Tiergarten, Siegessäule
  • 'The Red Soldier' ('Der Rote Soldat') advertised
    'The Red Soldier' ('Der Rote Soldat') advertised
  • Demonstration of Spartacus supporters before the Berlin army museum, 8 December 1918
    Demonstration of Spartacus supporters before the Berlin army museum, 8 December 1918
  • Police Headquarters in Berlin damaged by attack
    Police Headquarters in Berlin damaged by attack
  • Barracks of the 'Life Guard pioneers' in Berlin after the attack of revolutionary forces, 7 January 1919
    Barracks of the 'Life Guard pioneers' in Berlin after the attack of revolutionary forces, 7 January 1919
  • 'Forward' offices damaged, Berlin
    'Forward' offices damaged, Berlin
  • Barricade of old copies of 'Forward' for Spartacus fighters
    Barricade of old copies of 'Forward' for Spartacus fighters
  • Demonstration with Karl Liebknecht as speaker
    Demonstration with Karl Liebknecht as speaker
  • Karl Liebknecht speaking in front of the German Imperial Palace, Berlin, 5 November 1918
    Karl Liebknecht speaking in front of the German Imperial Palace, Berlin, 5 November 1918
  • Hotel Eden, Berlin, 1919
    Hotel Eden, Berlin, 1919
  • Hotel Eden, Berlin, 1919
    Hotel Eden, Berlin, 1919
  • Outskirts of Berlin, where Karl Liebknecht was murdered
    Outskirts of Berlin, where Karl Liebknecht was murdered
  • Karl Liebknecht in the mortuary
    Karl Liebknecht in the mortuary
  • Karl Liebknecht: lying in state
    Karl Liebknecht: lying in state
  • Funeral of Karl Liebknecht
    Funeral of Karl Liebknecht
  • Rosa Luxemburg
    Rosa Luxemburg
  • Canal Bridge over which was thrown the body of Rosa Luxemburg
    Canal Bridge over which was thrown the body of Rosa Luxemburg
  • Banner showing Rosa Luxemburg portrait being carried in later years
    Banner showing Rosa Luxemburg portrait being carried in later years
  • Graves of both German socialist leaders
    Graves of both German socialist leaders
  • Leo Jogiches' death and funeral
    Leo Jogiches' death and funeral
  • Eugen Levine in the Munich Soviet
    Eugen Levine in the Munich Soviet
  • Ernst Toller who likewise participated in the Munich Soviet
    Ernst Toller who likewise participated in the Munich Soviet
  • Friedrich Ebert
    Friedrich Ebert
  • Troops occupy the Reichstag, 13 January 1920
    Troops occupy the Reichstag, 13 January 1920
  • Berlin, March 1920: Troops with cannon
    Berlin, March 1920: Troops with cannon
  • April 1920
    April 1920
  • April 1920
    April 1920
  • Brandenburg Gate, Berlin
    Brandenburg Gate, Berlin
  • Westphalian Red Army
    Westphalian Red Army
  • Red Army in Westphalia and Rhineland after reactionary plot of Kapp
    Red Army in Westphalia and Rhineland after reactionary plot of Kapp
  • April 1920 in Saxony
    April 1920 in Saxony
  • The resumption of railway service after strike in Berlin, April 1920. Spartacist 'troops' in Westphalian town before leaving for the front.
    The resumption of railway service after strike in Berlin, April 1920. Spartacist 'troops' in Westphalian town before leaving for the front.
  • Ebert and Seeckt at a parade. Seeckt reactionary general. Stinnes and Ebert 'his most reliable manager' 'We shouldn’t disturb him at his work. The Socialists might praise him as one of their greatest.'
    Ebert and Seeckt at a parade. Seeckt reactionary general. Stinnes and Ebert 'his most reliable manager' 'We shouldn’t disturb him at his work. The Socialists might praise him as one of their greatest.'
  • March 1921: a demonstrator is arrested
    March 1921: a demonstrator is arrested
  • April 1921
    April 1921
  • Arthur Crispien and Otto Wels, 1922
    Arthur Crispien and Otto Wels, 1922
  • Anti-fascist demonstration, Berlin, 1 May 1923
    Anti-fascist demonstration, Berlin, 1 May 1923
  • Anti-fascist demonstration in the Lustgarten, Berlin, August 1923
    Anti-fascist demonstration in the Lustgarten, Berlin, August 1923
  • September 1923: How Fascists drilled on outskirts in early hours
    September 1923: How Fascists drilled on outskirts in early hours
  • Propagandist in the army (in army for 3 years). Found posting up notices in streets. Shot 3 May 1924. Name: Koennike.
    Propagandist in the army (in army for 3 years). Found posting up notices in streets. Shot 3 May 1924. Name: Koennike.
  • Searching in Hamburg, October 1923
    Searching in Hamburg, October 1923
  • Paving stones as barricades in Hamburg, October 1923
    Paving stones as barricades in Hamburg, October 1923
  • Hamburg, October 1923: food shops looted, dead lying in streets
    Hamburg, October 1923: food shops looted, dead lying in streets
  • Dresden anti-fascist demonstration, August 1923
    Dresden anti-fascist demonstration, August 1923
  • Dresden anti-fascist demonstration, September 1923
    Dresden anti-fascist demonstration, September 1923
  • Dresden, October 1923: Storm troops [Reichswehr]
    Dresden, October 1923: Storm troops [Reichswehr]
  • Troops and armoured cars entering Dresden, wiping out democratic government, October 1923
    Troops and armoured cars entering Dresden, wiping out democratic government, October 1923
  • Puny efforts of the workers at resistance
    Puny efforts of the workers at resistance
  • Carrying away injured victim in the demonstration, October 1923
    Carrying away injured victim in the demonstration, October 1923
  • Cologne, December 1924: replacing and blessing bells previously melted down for ammunition
    Cologne, December 1924: replacing and blessing bells previously melted down for ammunition
  • [The Anti-War Museum, Berlin]
    [The Anti-War Museum, Berlin]
  • The respectability of Social Democracy
    The respectability of Social Democracy
  • Communist demonstration
    Communist demonstration
  • Mussolini's arrest at Rome in 1915
    Mussolini's arrest at Rome in 1915
  • Hitler with youth
    Hitler with youth
  • Some of his supporters have got hurt
    Some of his supporters have got hurt
  • Adolf Hitler
    Adolf Hitler
  • Hermann Goering
    Hermann Goering
  • Anti-Jewish propaganda
    Anti-Jewish propaganda
  • Nuremburg, September 1934
    Nuremburg, September 1934
  • The graves of the dead Karl Liebknecht and Rosa Luxemburg
    The graves of the dead Karl Liebknecht and Rosa Luxemburg

[Document reference for this set of slides: MSS.15B/5/1/15]