Offenburg during the Revolution of 1848
Not only was Offenburg one of the starting points of the revolutionary events in Baden which occurred between 1847 and 1849, but it remained at its centre right into the year 1849. It is assumed that numerous factors were decisive for this. For one thing, a liberal spirit predominated in Offenburg this being characterised by the lawyer Gustav Rée being elected as mayor in 1845, him being supported by a local council which was also democratically minded. This "man of the political progress" enabled young democrats and revolutionary persons such as Carl Heinrich Schaible and Franz Volk to become politically involved and to stand up for their ideals.
Furthermore, due to its position in the centre of Baden, Offenburg was ideal as a meeting point for rallies. It had a pronounced celebratory culture, was situated close to the city of Strasbourg and was connected to the Grand Duchy of Baden State Railway. All of this led to Offenburg being the scene of three important political events.
The gathering of the "Resolute Friends of the Constitution" from 12th September 1847 which took place in the Salmen inn was the starting point of the democratic movement in Baden and Germany. The 13 demands of Offenburg (amongst others, freedom of the press, freedom of conscience, freedom of religion, a general right to vote, fair taxation, compensation between work and capital) for the first time formulated the most important basic rights which were later included in the democratic constitution.
On 19th March 1848, 20,000 people participated in the Offenburg public meeting, its program mainly reinforcing the demands from 1847. New was the desire to from peoples associations which had the aim of organising the democratic movement throughout the country and to introducing it on a wide basis within the population.
The Land congress of the people's associations held on 12th and 13th May 1849 was the third large rally. More than 30,000 people met in Offenburg and were here surprised by the proclamation of the revolution here. The programme content of this important meeting gave the events in Baden decisive impulses before in the summer of 1849, the German state troops, especially those from Prussia, suppressed the uprising in Baden.
