Hoss, Willi and Peter Grohmann, and other editors.

[THE OPPOSITION WORKERS' UNION AT DAIMLER-BENZ AFTER 1968: AN EXTREMELY RARE SOURCE OF GERMAN INDUSTRIAL AND WORKERS' HISTORY] Plakat: Für die Beschäftigten der Daimler Benz AG, geschrieben und hergestellt von Kollegen des Werkes Untertürkheim u. Sindelfingen [Poster: For the employees of Daimler Benz AG, written and produced by colleagues at the Untertürkheim and Sindelfingen plants]. 21 large-format leaflets (posters), see list below. – Plakat: Herausgegeben von der Stuttgarter Pojektgruppe Presse & Information in der APO [Poster: Edited by the Stuttgart Press & Information Project Group in the APO], nos. 2,3, 9, and no. Juli 1969. – Plakat: Für die Hochschule [Poster: For the university], nos. 1 and 2. – WITH: Supplement.

Stuttgart: Peter Grohmann, 1969–1973. Folios (42.5 × 30 cm). 18 single-sided wall newspapers, 2 issues printed on both sides, and 1 four-page poster with a double-sided portrait of Lenin (printed on thicker paper, presumably as a collector's folder). – Stuttgart: Peter Grohmann, 1968–1969. Folios (42.5 × 30 cm). Original pictorial self-wrappers; each [4] pp. including a double-page picture poster, and 1 single-sided wall newspaper. – Stuttgart: Peter Grohmann, 1972. Folios (42.5 × 30 cm). Each one is a double-sided printed leaf. Very good except for a few leaves with minor edge tears. Item #P6591

Extensive collection of rare wall newspapers by the “Plakat” workers’ group at Daimler-Benz in Stuttgart. The prints featured here represent an extraordinary document of post-war German contemporary history in many respects. Not only was Daimler-Benz, with its star on the hood, one of the key symbols of the so-called "Wirtschaftswunder" (economic miracle) in West Germany, a “German myth”. It was also one of the few places where, after 1968, the New Left succeeded in gaining a foothold among the working class, at least among the numerous “Gastarbeiter” (migrant workers). As early as the mid-1960s, a communist workers' group was formed at the factory, which attempted to gain influence in the social democratic-dominated trade union (IG Metall). With the student protests, this group also broke with orthodox communism and at the same time moved closer to the extra-parliamentary opposition (APO) of left-wing students in Stuttgart. The company newspaper “Plakat” was a joint project of students and workers. This close cooperation was a rarity in Germany. It is striking that the wall newspapers of “Plakat” are clearly restrained in their Marxist interpretations and theoretical reflections. The focus is on detailed reports about the specific working conditions in the individual areas. Conflicts between workers, the “pecking orders” between office employees, foremen, migrant workers, apprentices, women on the assembly line, etc. are also described. Not only are piecework, the monotony of assembly lines, and wage policy denounced, but also, for example, the heat in the factory halls in summer, the living conditions of many workers, and even individual foremen who harass and even beat their apprentices. The wall newspapers thus provide an insight into the factory halls of one of Europe's most important corporations in the late 1960s and early 1970s.

At the same time, from the workers' perspective, there are also repeated reports about shareholders and managers. One example is the major shareholder, the Flick family, who amassed a large fortune during the Nazi era through forced labor. Although Friedrich Flick was convicted in Nuremberg for slave labor, deportation for slave labor, plundering of occupied territories, and participation in SS crimes, he was released early after only a few years in prison and was able to continue using almost his entire fortune. However, this is not addressed in the issues we have, at least not prominently. Manager Hanns Martin Schleyer, a former member of the SS and later a victim of the RAF, is also a recurring theme. For the most part, the magazines focus on everyday and economic conflicts.

One of the initiators of the Plakat group was Wilhelm Hoss, who initially studied history, philosophy, and sociology, but then trained as an electric welder and fitter in the 1950s. From 1956 onwards, he worked at Daimler-Benz in Stuttgart and was active in the works council. The founding of the “Plakat” group ultimately led to his expulsion from the Industrial Union of Metalworkers (IG Metall) in 1972. His expulsion from the union attracted nationwide attention, with even the writer Heinrich Böll protesting against it in an open letter. At the end of the 1970s, he was one of the founding members of the Green Party, for which he also sat in the Bundestag. A former comrade-in-arms, the later Environment Minister Jürgen Trittin, recalled his first encounter with Hoss: “Willi Hoss was the only ‘native German’ in the Plakat group. The others were migrants – Spaniards, Turks, Italians. They had to do the dirty work at Mercedes. IG Metall showed little interest in them.” The wall "Plakat" newspapers and flyers were typeset, printed, and published by typesetter, printer, and author Peter Grohmann, who, among other things, realized numerous projects together with graphic designer Jochen Stankowski (responsible, among other things, for the logo of the Berlin-based Merve publishing house).

The individual issues and publication dates of the wall newspapers for Daimler Benz AG employees are sometimes unclear. We have made every effort to date the individual issues and list them in order. In ambiguous cases, we write out striking headlines from the issue in question:

1969:
No. 2. August/September [1969]. ⸺ Zum Stand der analytischen Arbeitsplatz-Bewertung [On the status of analytical workplace assessment. Presumably September 1969]. ⸺ Extrablatt [special edition] 2, [presumably late summer 1969]. ⸺ Die 6 großen Tricks der Geschäftsleitung [The 6 big tricks of corporate management. Presumably October 1969]. ⸺ Vorschläge eines Bandarbeiters [Suggestions from a band worker. Presumably October 1969]. ⸺ Italiani! [- Italian! Presumably November 1969]. ⸺ GEGEN Information für die Mitarbeiter der Daimler Benz AG: Sonderausgabe [Counterinformation for Daimler Benz AG employees: Special issue].

1970:
Worüber nicht geschwiegen, aber geschrieben werden kann [What cannot be kept silent, but can be written about. Probably in early 1970] 1 four-page poster with a double-sided portrait of Lenin (printed on thicker paper, presumably as a collector's folder). ⸺ Frauenarbeit [Women's labor. April 1970]. ⸺ Großverdiener in Sozialwohnung [High earners in social housing. May 1970]. ⸺ No. 6. ⸺ No. 7. ⸺ No. 8. Juli [July]. ⸺ No. 9.

1971:
... die Preise steigen, steigen ... [... prices are rising, rising .... February 1971]. ⸺ Die nächste Hitze kommt bestimmt [The next heat is sure to come. Late summer 1971]. ⸺ No. 10. ⸺ No. 11.

1973
February 4th. ⸺ Extra-Plakat. Schleyer gestürzt! [Schleyer overthrown!]. March 1973 [satirical issue]. Printed on both sides.

Between 1969 and 1973:
Was ist los in der Hinterachs-Montage? [What's happening in rear axle assembly?].

Supplement:
Plakat: Eine Zeitung für Stuttgart [Poster: A newspaper for Stuttgart. August] 1973. Folio (42.5 × 30 cm). Original pictorial self-wrappers; [4] pp.

As of March 2026, OCLC does not list any copies in North America.

Price: €4,000.00

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