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German History in Documents and Images
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"Proletarians of the World, Unite!" (1889)
This color woodcut is based on a drawing by Walter Crane (1845-1915). It appeared as an illustration in 1889, after May 1 had been chosen as the international day of workers’ solidarity. The global reach of this message is emphasized here. In Germany, preparations for May Day began early in 1890. When the Socialist Law was not renewed by the Reichstag in January 1890, authorities feared what might happen on May 1: a general strike, a political protest, possible violence? Instead, when the day arrived, Socialists throughout Germany gathered mainly for peaceful demonstrations and after-work socializing.