Vortragsreihe „Exponat des Monats“: „WILHELM BRACKE. Druckereibesitzer und Verleger. Begegnungen und Briefe“

In the organizer's words:

Wilhelm Bracke founded several associations in Brunswick in the 1860s. In 1870, he was imprisoned and transferred to Lötzen in East Prussia because he had spoken out against the Franco-Prussian War in a leaflet.

From 1877 to 1879, Bracke was a member of the German Reichstag; he then retired for health reasons. He was a political agitator, publisher, publicist, print shop owner and philanthropist. From 1869, he was in contact with Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels; this relationship lasted a lifetime.

In 1871, Bracke founded a printing company and the publishing house Wilhelm Bracke jr. Braunschweig, which primarily published socialist writings. From October 1871, the daily newspaper "Volksfreund" was produced in the print shop. By 1878, over 60 books and numerous political publications had appeared there. In this year, the "Socialist Law" was passed. This marked the end of Bracke's publishing activities. In 1880, he sold his print shop to four employees.

This month's exhibit is Bracke's portrait medallion, which can be seen in the industrial history exhibition "Man, Machine!" in the Old Town Hall.

Lecture by Gundolf Algermissen.