The Revolution Comes to Czernowitz - May Day 1917

WORKERS OF THE WORLD, UNITE!

LONG LIVE FREEDOM!

LONG LIVE PEACE AMONG THE NATIONS!

LONG LIVE THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC!

POWER THROUGH UNITY!

WE WILL FIGHT FOR OUR RIGHTS!

Czernowitzer Allgemeine Zeitung (CAZ) published a series of 8 articles, headlined "The Third Invasion of Czernowitz" between 28.08.1917 and 08.09.1917. History at first hand! CAZ reports on the May Day demonstration in Czernowitz on 29.08.1917 as follows:

"... As reported by the officers, Governor General Trepow, after receiving the news of revolution, suffered from a dead faint. The soldiers appeared on the streets, wearing red cockades, red flags were hoisted first on the magistracy, then on all public headquarters. The public meetings of the soldiers began. The May Day events are ranking among the most impressive demonstrations of the Russian Revolution in Czernowitz. About seventy thousand men from the Czernowitz garrison and from the adjacent military front were concentrated on the assault meadows [Sturmwiese] and on public places in order to celebrate the May Day. Subsequent to the meetings, the soldiers trekked for hours through Siebenbürgerstraße, Rathausstraße, Ringplatz, Bahnhofstraße and back to the assault meadows [Sturmwiese]. During the treks flags and banners were in evidence, displaying "Down with the war!", "Peace to all nations without annexations or contributions!", "Long live social democracy!", "Long live equality, liberty, fraternity!". The order kept by the trek without any previously implemented security measures was impressive. Several bands played La Marseillaise. The Ukrainians formed a separate unified trek. The Jewish group too, having flags with Hebrew writing, formed a particular division. About one thousand Chinese, who were in town, Kalmyk people, Kyrgyz people and other foreign people joined the trek. The lack of discipline increased day by day and became evident..."

28.08.1917: http://anno.onb.ac.at/cgi-content/anno?aid=cer&datum=19170828&seite=3&zoom=33
29.08.1917: http://anno.onb.ac.at/cgi-content/anno?aid=cer&datum=19170829&seite=3&zoom=33
30.08.1917: http://anno.onb.ac.at/cgi-content/anno?aid=cer&datum=19170830&seite=1&zoom=33
01.09.1917: http://anno.onb.ac.at/cgi-content/anno?aid=cer&datum=19170901&seite=1&zoom=33
02.09.1917: http://anno.onb.ac.at/cgi-content/anno?aid=cer&datum=19170902&seite=6&zoom=33
04.09.1917: http://anno.onb.ac.at/cgi-content/anno?aid=cer&datum=19170904&seite=3&zoom=33
07.09.1917: http://anno.onb.ac.at/cgi-content/anno?aid=cer&datum=19170907&seite=4&zoom=33
08.09.1917: http://anno.onb.ac.at/cgi-content/anno?aid=cer&datum=19170908&seite=1&zoom=33

By courtesy of Prof. Yvonne Hirdman, Swedish historian at Stockholm University and author of the book "Den röda grevinnan: en europeisk historia.", translated into German language "Meine Mutter, die Gräfin - Ein Jahrhundertleben zwischen Kommunismus und Bohème [My Mother, the Countess - A Centenary Life between Communism and Bohemianism].