Dr. Wahl and the revolution of 1848/49 @museum.de

Boitz:

Master Wolf? Is that you? What’s the matter?

Wolf:

Keep it down. Dr. Wahl needs our help. Soap Maker Gruhl is coming, too.

Boitz:

So why did Dr. Wahl ask us to come?

Wolf:

The revolution is at risk. Dr. Wahl wrote about it in the local paper, the Riesaer Elbeblatt, just today, and warned about the consequences. [blättert in der Zeitung, liest vor] Here: “Or should it be conceivable that the dawn of freedom and the German spirit, seen in the days of March 1848, could once again sink without a trace in the night?”

Boitz:

What’s he trying to say with that?

Wolf:

That everything may well have been for nothing. The May Uprising in Dresden is to be suppressed. All those clashes over unifying the Reich, a national constitution, liberating the peasants, representation for the common people in parliament – all evaporated. Poof! like a soap bubble!

Boitz:

And can nothing be done about it???

Wahl:

Good evening, gentlemen. Thank you for attending. The situation is coming to a head. The king has called on the Prussians for assistance. After he refused to accept the constitution and triggered the uprising as a result, he’s now rightly worried that his army won’t be able to deal with matters on its own.

Boitz:

I heard that the king and all his ministers aren’t even in Dresden any more!

Wahl:

I heard the same thing. Rmour has it, they left for Fortress Königstein and didn’t even inform the authorities of their departure from Dresden.

Boitz:

They’re in trouble up to their necks! Surely that’s a good sign!

Wolf:

Exactly. If they’ve skedaddled, they won’t be able to do any more damage.

Wahl:

Unfortunately, it’s not that simple. They are dangerous, and remain so. Because if the Prussians they’ve called on for reinforcements actually manage to get through to Dresden, it will all have been for nothing.

Boitz:

But what can we do to stop them? We can’t just sit around and wait for it all to end!

Wolf:

What can we possibly do – three men, and not a weapon between us?

Boitz:

It’s not just the three of us. Reiche, the landlord of the “Waldschlösschen” pub in Röderau, soap maker Gruhl and Ackermann, the advocate from Riesa are on our side, too.

Wahl:

Whatever happens, we have to stop the Prussians reaching Dresden!

Boitz:

But how? Have you got an idea, Dr. Wahl?

Wolf:

Dr. Wahl always has an idea, you know that!

Boitz:

Johann, tell us what we can do. I’m in!

Wahl:

The Prussians are coming by train. We could do something to the tracks and delay the train.

Wolf:

I hope we’re not caught by a police patrol. That would mean jail.

Boitz:

If you’re too chicken, we’ll do it without you!

Wolf:

Nonsense, of course I won’t leave you in the lurch. We’ve stuck together so far, and that’s not changed. We’d best get started straight away, under cover of darkness.

Wahl:

No, not yet. Not until just before the train arrives. Tomorrow morning, on the 5th of March, around ten thirty, will be the time. I have that from a reliable source.

Wolf:

When shall we meet?

Wahl:

An hour earlier. So 9.30 just outside Röderau railway station. We’ll be well hidden there, among the bushes and the undergrowth. Our target is the stretch of track linking Röderau to the Dresden line. Who’ll let the others know?

Wolf:

I’ll see to that. Can you get hold of some tools, Paul?

Boitz:

Yes, of course. But what do we do if the Prussians send reinforcements, to ensure they reach Dresden after all?

Wahl:

I’ve thought of that. We’ll set up guards, and if it really comes to that, we’ll have no option but to dismantle the track between Röderau and the Prussian border. Make sure you get a few more men on side, in case the worst comes to the worst. But be careful, and leave now. One at a time, and in different directions. We’ll meet first thing in the morning.