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We want to preserve the right of housing and employment

Poster
1990 (designed and printed)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This is a campaign poster issued by the 'Bündnis 90' (Alliance 90) and 'Initiative für Frieden und Menschenrechte' (Initiative for Peace and Human Rights) for the first and only free parliamentary elections ('Volkskammerwahl') in East Germany (GDR-German Democratic Republic) on the 18th of March 1990. The elections took place between the fall of the Berlin Wall in November 1989 and the reunification of East and West Germany.

The poster shows a picture of Marianne Birthler, who was the representative for Youth Affairs. The text states: 'Wir sind für Erhaltung des Rechts auf Arbeit und Wohnung', meaning 'we want to preserve the right of housing and employment' and 'Ein Rechtsstaat braucht soziale Sicherheit', meaning 'the rule of law needs social security.'

Alliance 90 came together for the People’s Chamber elections. It consisted of different groups emerging out of the Citizen's Movement. These were: 'Neues Forum' ('New Forum'), 'Initiative für Frieden und Menschenrechte ('Initiative for Peace and Human Rights') and 'Demokratie Jetzt' ('Democracy Now'). Later on the Bündnis 90 became a political party. On 14th May 1993 it aligned with the party 'Die Grünen' ('The Greens) to become 'Bündnis 90/Die Grünen' ('Alliance 90/The Greens').

The Alliance did not do well at the elections for the People's Chamber, although it had been representatives from these groups who managed to provide the moral and intellectual basis for the 'Wende' ('turnaround), often by overcoming state repressions. They were the negotiators at the 'round tables' and provided the basis which led to overthrow of the GDR-system and ultimately the GDR itself.

Alliance 90 could therefore run the campaign using the names of personalities whose political aims and message were well known. There was, nevertheless, no great trust in Alliance 90 to manage the desired reunification because the groups within the Alliance were initially formed to reform the GDR, rather than join West Germany.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Titles
  • We want to preserve the right of housing and employment (generic title)
  • Pro-democracy Poster Collection (named collection)
Materials and techniques
Colour offset lithograph on paper
Brief description
Poster, lithograph, 'We want to preserve the right of housing and employment', issued by the 'Alliance 90' along with the 'Initiative for Peace and Human Rights' for their campaign for the first free parliamentary elections in the German Democratic Republic (GDR), GDR, 1990
Physical description
Poster
Dimensions
  • Height: 81.15cm
  • Width: 57.3cm
Marks and inscriptions
  • Entscheiden Sie sich am 18. März für Ihre rechte als Bürger!
  • Ein Rechtsstaat braucht soziale Sicherheit
  • Marianne Birthler, Jugendreferentin
Object history
This object is part of a group of graphics inspired by the pro-democracy movement in East Germany in 1989 and 1990, which saw popular demonstrations result in the overthrow of the Communist government, led by Egon Krenz, culminatinng in the free elections of 18 March 1990. All the material, which covers a wide range of the political parties and movements that took part in these events, was gathered by V&A Curator Margaret Timmers in East Berlin in the week preceding these elections.
Historical context
Poster issued by Bündnis 90 [Alliance 90] and Initiative fuer Frieden und Menschenrechte [Peace and Human Rights Initiative] for the East German Election of 18th March 1990 with the image of the candidate Marianne Birthler.
Production
Poster issued by Bündnis 90 [Alliance 90] and Initiative Friedom und Meuschenrechte [Peace and Human Rights Initiative] for the East German Electiosn of 18 March 1990
Summary
This is a campaign poster issued by the 'Bündnis 90' (Alliance 90) and 'Initiative für Frieden und Menschenrechte' (Initiative for Peace and Human Rights) for the first and only free parliamentary elections ('Volkskammerwahl') in East Germany (GDR-German Democratic Republic) on the 18th of March 1990. The elections took place between the fall of the Berlin Wall in November 1989 and the reunification of East and West Germany.

The poster shows a picture of Marianne Birthler, who was the representative for Youth Affairs. The text states: 'Wir sind für Erhaltung des Rechts auf Arbeit und Wohnung', meaning 'we want to preserve the right of housing and employment' and 'Ein Rechtsstaat braucht soziale Sicherheit', meaning 'the rule of law needs social security.'

Alliance 90 came together for the People’s Chamber elections. It consisted of different groups emerging out of the Citizen's Movement. These were: 'Neues Forum' ('New Forum'), 'Initiative für Frieden und Menschenrechte ('Initiative for Peace and Human Rights') and 'Demokratie Jetzt' ('Democracy Now'). Later on the Bündnis 90 became a political party. On 14th May 1993 it aligned with the party 'Die Grünen' ('The Greens) to become 'Bündnis 90/Die Grünen' ('Alliance 90/The Greens').

The Alliance did not do well at the elections for the People's Chamber, although it had been representatives from these groups who managed to provide the moral and intellectual basis for the 'Wende' ('turnaround), often by overcoming state repressions. They were the negotiators at the 'round tables' and provided the basis which led to overthrow of the GDR-system and ultimately the GDR itself.

Alliance 90 could therefore run the campaign using the names of personalities whose political aims and message were well known. There was, nevertheless, no great trust in Alliance 90 to manage the desired reunification because the groups within the Alliance were initially formed to reform the GDR, rather than join West Germany.
Collection
Accession number
E.2077-1990

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Record createdJanuary 31, 2009
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