“Red Terror“, General Strike and Military Review, April 1919

Munich's second Soviet government sought to establish a communist dictatorship. Through a series of arbitrary acts it attracted the deep abhorrence of the Munich population; massive fears of the establishment of a Bolshevik system spread. The communist rulers used means of state terror ("red terror") and indiscriminately threatened, intimidated and held members of the bourgeois camp hostage or put them under preventive arrest. In addition, cash holdings were confiscated, safe-deposit boxes were opened and the freedom of the press was blocked. New revolutionary tribunals were set up to eliminate counterrevolutionary activities. These actions were criminal in nature, but they were also massively exaggerated by enemy propaganda.

As a further measure, back on 13 April the new Soviet government had declared a general strike, the last day of which it announced on large posters as 22 April. For this day, it organised a series of major events in Munich to demonstrate the mass mobilisation of workers and soldiers to the "bourgeoisie". Members of the "Red Army", which had only recently been set up, gathered on this morning in front of the War Ministry in Ludwigstrasse for a "military review", to be observed on the photo presented here. Several events were planned for the afternoon in bierkellers and concert halls. The participants then moved to Theresienwiese for a "rally". From there a protest march started in the direction of the Siegestor and Wittelsbach Palais.

To the digitised copy of the announcement of the final day of general strike

To the digitised copy of the fotography by Red Army Military Review in Ludwigstrasse, Munich