March Revolution in Germany

The bourgeois democratic revolution that broke out in Germany in March 1848 against the rule of the Prussian Dynasty.

The German Confederation in the mid-19th century consisted of 35 small-size states and 4 free cities. The German people urgently demanded the elimination of such feudal division in the country and the realization of national unity. In February 1848, news of the victory of the Paris Revolution came, and the first revolutions broke out in the southwestern states adjacent to France, Baden-Württemberg, Hessen, and Bavaria. On March 13, 1848, workers, students and civilians in Vienna, Austria, held anti-government demonstrations. Austrian leader Metternich mobilized the army to suppress the demonstrations, and the people responded by an uprising. The insurgents in Vienna, forced the Austrian Emperor to announce the establishment of a liberal bourgeoisie and promised to convene a constitutional assembly to formulate a constitution, which stimulated the revolutionary enthusiasm of the neighboring German people. On March 18, the people of Berlin, the capital of Prussia, also held an armed uprising. After more than 10 hours of fierce fighting, the insurgents defeated the government forces. King William IV was forced to publish a message asking the people to stop fighting, and agreed to a constitutional government, agreed for reorganizing the government, and withdraw the army from Berlin. On March 29, a bourgeois-liberal cabinet was established.

Most of the fruits of the victory of the German March Revolution fell into the hands of the big bourgeoisie, which neither solved the German unification nor could overthrew the feudal rule.