Heinrich Mann’s “The Loyal Subject”: Anatomy of an Authoritarian Society
When Heinrich Mann completed his novel Der Untertan (The Loyal Subject / Man of Straw) in July 1914, he had…
German Empire
Analyses and articles on political persecution in the German Empire (1871 to 1918)
Matthias Erzberger: The Murdered Pioneer of Democracy – Marked for Death by the Organisation Consul for the Armistice of Compiègne
Matthias Erzberger was one of the most prominent and controversial politicians of the German transition period from the German Empire…
Women of the Labor Movement: Courageous Resistance to Repression Under the Anti-Socialist Laws – A Major Step Toward Equal Political Rights in Germany
When Otto von Bismarck enacted the “Law Against the Publicly Dangerous Endeavors of Social Democracy” (the Anti-Socialist Laws) in 1878,…
The Anti-Socialist Laws: Bismarck’s State of Emergency Against Democracy
Between 1878 and 1890, the German Empire experienced a phase of state repression that is today considered a blueprint for…
The Persecution of Clara Zetkin: State Surveillance and Political Justice in the Weimar Republic
While official historical narratives frequently celebrate the Weimar Republic as a progressive, golden era of democratic awakening, a closer look…
Karl Liebknecht: The Lone Voice Against War and State Repression
In the historical section of politischeverfolgung.de, we look back at a key figure of political resistance: Karl Liebknecht. His fate…
Rosa Luxemburg: The “Red Rosa” in the Mills of Imperial Justice
Rosa Luxemburg (1871–1919) was one of the most influential leaders of the international labor movement. Her biography serves as a…
Friedrich Engels: The General in the Crosshairs of Prussian Justice
Friedrich Engels (1820–1895) was far more than just the “second man” alongside Karl Marx. As a radical journalist, revolutionary fighter,…
The Iron Fist of the Kaiser: Political Persecution in the German Empire
The unification of Germany in 1871 under Kaiser Wilhelm I and his “Iron Chancellor,” Otto von Bismarck, created a powerful…
The Political Persecution of August Bebel: Resistance and Resilience in the Kaiserreich
August Bebel (1840-1913) emerged as one of the most significant and persistent critics of the authoritarian structure of the German Empire,…