Dachau06
Dachau06

(Top) "The flood of revolution sweeps away the royal crowns" caricature by William Schulz for the "Simplicissimus" December 3, 1918

Calls for a stronger parliamentary role, for democratic reforms, and a limit on monarchical powers had been expressed already in the prewar era, but intensified during the war. The transition to a government supported by the Reichstag (parliamentarianism) at the beginning of October 1918 was unable to restrain the evolving events. Under the pressure of the defeat of war and the first revolutionary uprisings in the Reich, the Kaiser abdicated on November 9, 1918.

(Middle) Film poster "All Quiet on the Western Front", 1930

The popular anti-war novel by Erich Maria Remarque (1898 - 1970) was made into a film in 1930. German Nationalists and National Socialists protested against the pacifist message of the film and in the same year managed to have its showing banned.

(Bottom) NSDAP Election Poster, 1932 "A front-line soldier votes for Adolf Hitler"