Munich 1919 is a vivid portrayal of the chaos that followed World War I
and the collapse of the Munich Council Republic by one of the most
perceptive chroniclers of German history. Victor Klemperer provides a
moving and thrilling account of what turned out to be a decisive turning
point in the fate of a nation, for the revolution of 1918-9 not only
produced the first German democracy, it also heralded the horrors to
come.
With the directness of an educated and independent young man, Klemperer
turned his hand to political journalism, writing astute, clever and
linguistically brilliant reports in the beleaguered Munich of 1919. He
sketched intimate portraits of the people of the hour, including Erich
Mühsam, Max Levien and Kurt Eisner, and took the measure of the events
around him with a keen eye. These observations are made ever more
poignant by the inclusion of passages from his later memoirs. In the
midst of increasing persecution under the Nazis he reflected on the
fateful year 1919, the growing threat of antisemitism, and the
acquaintances he made in the period, some of whom would later abandon
him, while others remained loyal.
Klemperer's account once again reveals him to be a fearless and deeply
humane recorder of German history. Munich 1919 will be essential reading
for all those interested in 20th century history, constituting a unique
witness to events of the period.
