Title: GroBe Mai-Demonstration in Ost-Berlin 1.Mai 1960
Photographer(s): Hierl Bubertus
Writer(s): Alfred Keck
Designer(s):
Publisher(s): Edition daniel/media nova München, Germany
Year: 2017
Print run:
Language(s): German
Pages: 57
Size: 22 x 28,5 cm
Binding: Softcover
Edition:
Print:
Nation(s) and year(s) of Protest: Germany,1960
ISBN: 9783940896544
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In 1960, the 19-year-old gymnasium student took part in a class trip to Berlin. He had the opportunity to be present at the big May Day demonstration in East Berlin on 1 May with his Leica. He took some impressive photographs. This documentary is named after the photo of a group of men and women carrying a banner with the slogan: Work, learn and live socialist!.
1 May was an annual mass cult of homage to 'those over there' for 'those up there'. It was orderly, highly organised and increasingly became an instrument of discipline, control and public surveillance for the organs of power of the SED regime. According to its original meaning, 1 May was supposed to advocate 'demilitarisation'. The demand was: 'Work socialistically, learn socialistically and live socialistically'.
Every May Day demonstration was a 'show of strength and combative determination of the working class'. The enthusiastic youth, dressed in dark blue skirts, white nylon blouses and blue neckerchiefs, were used and abused for this purpose. The Free German Youth (FDJ) was to be the SED's best 'fighting reserve'.
Proletarian internationalism' was demonstrated everywhere. The 'world proletariat' under Moscow leadership was always mentioned as a goal in manifestos and slogans. The 'fraternal greetings' to the CPSU (Bolsheviks) were a 'communist prayer'. The DDR wrote on its banners: 'To learn from the Soviet Union is to learn to win'.