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State capital Wiesbaden

Club Voltaire

Club Voltaire
Club Voltaire

Club Voltaire in Wiesbaden was founded during the student protest movement at the end of the 1960s. The political-literary club was intended to serve as a rallying point for left-wing and liberal groups, but was also controversial as such among those who demanded a stronger emphasis as a center of action.

Club Voltaire was officially founded on 03.12.1967. After rooms had been rented at Webergasse 56, Club Voltaire was opened on 03.02.1968 with the singer-songwriter and cabaret artist Hans Dieter Hüsch. In the months that followed, discussions, film evenings, rock and folk music evenings and exhibitions were generally very popular.

Highlights included a discussion with Max Schäfer on the re-admission of the KPD, which was unceremoniously banned by the police but still held, a folk concert with Hedy West and Tom Paley and a film weekend with underground films. In addition, there were regular consultations for conscientious objectors as well as discussions and seminars by various groups.

With the founding of Club Voltaire, a protest movement began in Wiesbaden with almost weekly rallies and demonstrations. The club was recognized as a youth community worthy of support on 17.01.1968.

Resignation set in after the passing of the emergency laws and the end of the so-called Prague Spring following the invasion of Warsaw Pact troops in 1968. With the hope of more democracy following the election of Willy Brandt as Federal Chancellor in 1969, clubs were no longer in demand in the Club Voltaire. By order of the Wiesbaden district court on October 29, 1970, the bankruptcy was dismissed for lack of assets.

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