Revolution: the Spartakist rising
The sense of resignation that became widespread in the population during the war became increasingly evident by the increase in mortal accidents, caused by passengers jumping onto or off trams, not paying attention or acting rashly. Not one single week passed without tragic accidents.
Fear of air raids led to the blacking out of homes and vehicles. This made it more difficult for passengers to find their way around the city and the conductors had to call out the stops. The political unrest after the Emperor’s resignation and the declaration of the republic by Philipp Scheidemann also affected the tram network in early 1919. A general strike was called. The tram workers joined in the strike, though they opposed the Spartakists at a meeting in Paulushaus on 17 th April 1919. On the whole, the tram workers were relatively restrained during the unrest. Neither the contemporary press nor relevant publications provide precise information about their actions.
On 4 th December 1918, Duesseldorf became a divided city again. Belgian troops had advanced to the left banks of the Rhine, and Benrath was occupied by the British. Although services in the direction of the left side of the Rhine were entirely cut off, it was still possible to travel to the south of Duesseldorf by tram. The demarcation line was in Holthausen. Passengers had to disembark before the tram crossed the line, taking any cases and boxes they had with them, and cross the line on foot with the empty tram following behind them. They then got back in the tram behind the demarcation line and continued their journey.
The shortages of food and other goods in some of the occupied zones led to a flourishing smuggling trade and black market. A film discovered in 1995 that was obviously produced for propaganda purposes shows the discovery and arrest of a black marketeer in a tramcar near Holthausen.