Prison

Because of its proximity to the border with France and Luxembourg, revolutionary action soon spread to the region of Trier. The revolution found good breeding ground here. Bad economic and social conditions, sectarian conflicts and the king's unwillingness to grant concessions increased tensions and led to unrest. None the less, by the end of 1849 the revolution had foundered there, too. With the help of the military, the Prussian government reestablished its authority. It acted harshly against the ringleaders of the radical democratic movement, Ludwig Simon and Karl Gruen. Charges were brought against those who had taken part in the storming of the armoury at Pruem, upon which Ludwig Simon fled the area. Karl Gruen was acquitted as a result of his clever defence.  Others received prison sentences of several years.  Regional soldiers who had taken part were sentenced to long imprisonment, or shot by firing squad.

The following "prayer" shows what antipathy the radical democrats felt towards the Prussians:

"Save us, oh Lord…
from all taxes levied upon food for the poor,
…
from the many officials who are strangers and have no heart for us, but pursue their own advantage, not that of the country, from the bad condition of schools, where the history of Brandenburg and Prussia is taught as if it were the history of our fatherland, from all repression of faith, thought, speech and learning."

(Auszug aus dem Triererischen Volksblatt vom 26. April 1848, in: Zenz, Emil: Geschichte der Stadt Trier im 19. Jahrhundert, Teil 1, Trier, S.130)

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