CHAOS AND FLAMETHROWERS In THE STREETS

general Strikes, Berlin, 1923

The French and Belgian military occupation of the Ruhr valley, Germany’s major industrial production centre, was prompted by a failure of payment for post-war reparations. In protest, workers staged a prolonged strike encouraged by the Weimar government, which led to hyperinflation. The price of a loaf of bread skyrocketed to 80 billion marks by October. In the photo, civilian police and army troops have brought out a flamethrower and machine gun. The failed strike was called off in September 1923. The photo was sold as a commercial postcard.