Von: jsnyder@feist.com (Joan Snyder) Datum: 08.07.98, 20:33:51 Betreff: Re: 1848-49 REVOLUTION Part II Germany Before 1848 The American Revolution had widespread and catastrophic consequence to the old order throughout western Europe. First, the ancien regime in France was toppled and followed by the Napoleonic years. In Germany, Napoleon's conquests and his reorganization of the petty principalities loosened the hold of reigning dynasties in place for centuries; old, strict class barriers were weakened; new notions of political organization and personal liberty became widely disseminated. During the 1830's there were several attempts at reform in most of the German principalities, but the reactionaries of the century, mainly nobles, were still powerful, and reform suffered defeat. In 1848, following the Paris revolution in February, the discontents of the German middle and artisan classes became acute. Revolt broke out in several principalities. In Prussia the unrest was put down quickly, but in the weaker states of southwestern Germany revolt was not so easily quelled. In the Grandduchy of Baden almost the entire army defected; the reigning Grand Duke went in to hiding, and a revolutionary government was founded. After a number of months, Prussian troops entered the Grandduchy, and the revolutionists were forced to flee for their lives. The reaction which set in under the iron fist of the Prussians was especially harsh; many persons, particularly the military personnel of Baden, were tried and executed for treason. Many civilians--even those having taken but minor part in the revolt--founded themselves under official ban. The principal activists, usually persons of education and prominence, fled immediately after the overthrow of the revolutionary government, and many of them eventually found their ways to America, either via Switzerland or France. According to the official registers, as cited by Veit Valentin, Geschichte der deutschen Revolution von 1848 - 1849 (Berlin: Verlag Ullstein, 1931). P.552, emigration from Germany, as a consequence of the revolution, was as follows: 1851 112,547 1852 162,301 1853 162,568 1854 300,000 ca, In 1848 the population of Germany was about 46 million. From 1849-1854 an estimated 1.1 million emigrated, the equivalent loss of a large war. Valentin believes that, in addition to the official emigration, from 20% to 25% should be added for those who emigrated illegally. It is also likely that emigration as an indirect consequence of the revolution continued many years after 1854, however. A father or uncle who had fled to America was likely to have been followed by other family members years later, a matter to be considered by genealogical researchers. The Revolution in Baden A timetable for the revolution, as it unfolded in the Grandduchy of Baden, may be of interest to the genealogical researchers finding an ancestor listed among the revolutionists hereinafter: 1847 Dec -- Opening of the new Landtag (parliament) in Baden 1848 Feb -- Bankruptcy of factories in Baden and socialist protest against the bailing out of the capitalists by the government of Baden 1848 Feb 27 People's meeting in Mannheim 1848 Feb 29 People's meeting in Mannheim 1848 Feb 29 People's meeting in Heidelberg; uprising of the farmers of the Odenwald and Schwarzwald. 1848 Apr 13 Friedrich Hecker's revolutionary force marches into Baden from Konstanz; proclamation of the German Republic; General Freidrich von Gagern appointed commander of Baden divisions to quell the revolt. 1848 Apr 20 Battle of Kandern, during which General Von Gagern was killed 1848 Apr 23 Georg Herwegh's German Legion crosses the Rhein 1848 Apr 24 Battle near Freiburg in Breisgau 1848 Apr 26 - 27 Tumult in Mannheim; invason of Baden by troops from Hesse and Bavaria 1848 Apr 27 Battle near Dossenbach 1848 Sept 20 Friedrich Hecker takes ship at Southampton for the Untied States 1848 Sep 21 Gustav von Struve proclaims the German Republic in Loerrach 1848 Sept 24 Battle near Staufen 1848 Sep 26 Proclamation of martial law in Baden 1849 May 12 Outbreak of troop mutiny in Baden 1849 May 13 Flight of the geigning Grand Duke from Karlsruhe 1849 June 10 Inauguration of the constitutional assembly in Baden 1849 June 15 Occupation of Mannhelm by Prussian troops 1849 June 15-25 Battles at Ladenburg, Wiesenthal, Waghaeusel, and Burlach; capitulation of the revolutionary government in Karlsruhe 1849 July 23 Capitulation of Rastatt Baden Police Records Genealogical researchers interested in tracing the political careers of German revolutionists have a uniq ue record available to them. Police records in Generallandesarchiv, Karlsruhe, often shed considerable light on the lives of these individuals before they arrival in America. It is probable that similar plice records were also generated in other German states as well, although these have not yet been located and analyzed by American researchers. Genealogical Research Monograph Number 25 lists the names of over 5,000 individuals of interest to the Baden police authorities. Places of origin (not always in Baden), professions, and frequently dates of emigration from Europe to America are given. In most cases this information is supplemented by citations to record groups within the Generallendesarchive, Karlsruhe, from whence the names of revolutionists have been taken. The monograph represents tranlation, merging, and revision of material on microfilm roll 1180368 available from the Genealogical Society of Utah. Upon finding a name of interest, even though there is no indication in the German police record that the revolutionist migrated to America, genealogical researchers should automatically check the muster rolls and pension claims of the Civil War period, because many of the revolutionists were active participants a few years after their arrival in the United States. In particular, Cincinnati, Chicago, and St. Louis, as well as Belleville, Illinois, were favorite places of settlement for the refugees. Researchers will also find obituaries of some of the revolutionists among these translated in the following monograhp: Clifford Neal Smith, Ninetheenth-Century German Pioneers in Ohio (Mainly Cincinnati and Evirons), Kentuckey, and Other States. German-American Genealogical Research Monograph No.k 20 (McNeal, Az: Westland Publications, 1984, an ongoing subseries published in several parts. Ron Waters wrote: > Does anyone have information on the Baden-Wurttemberg Revolution of > 1848-49. I'm curious about how this may have affected emmigration. > Any information would be helpful. > > I'm researching Hofele, Humel and Hoellriegel from the Schwabisch Alb > area of Wurttemberg. > > Thank you, > Jeanne Waters