The Hard-Won Republic

Vienna, November 12, 1918: Hundreds of thousands gathered on the city’s Ringstraße to celebrate the end of the Habsburg Monarchy and a new democratic beginning. The Republic of German-Austria was declared on this day. The exhibition The Hard-Won Republic pictures the events in Vienna in order to show how the new state was created and investigates the consequences of the transitional period of 1918/19. 

Twelve dramatic months documented in fascinating historical photographs: The collapse of the Habsburg Empire and the end of the war, the return of the soldiers, hunger and hardship. Yet 1918/19 also marked the beginning of a new democratic era: Women received the right to vote, censorship and bans on public gatherings were lifted, the eight-hour day introduced. These achievements did not come out of the blue but were hard-won. The scene of the mass demonstrations and revolutionary protests was Vienna’s Ringstraße. 

For the first time, great political and social change took place right before the eyes of photojournalists. A broad public witnessed the events week after week in highcirculation illustrated magazines. The exhibition focuses special attention on the work of Viennese photographer Richard Hauffe (1878–1933) who created especially striking images of the young Republic. Part of his work has been preserved in the Wien Museum and is to go on public display for the first time

Curator:
Anton Holzer

Exhibition architecture:
Thomas Hamann

Graphic:
Bueronardin