Conducts research and collects data on the global history of labour, workers, and labour relations

The Ideal Diluted, 1945-2015

A meeting on the 1st of May, with a social-democratic speaker in a German concentration camp is something unprecedented, something which we never even dreamed of. The Dutch social-democratic leader Willem Drees, who was transported to Buchenwald concentration camp as a hostage, delivered a speech at the May Day celebration 1942. He complained about the shrill sound of the music played by the Germans (the text of Drees' speech is attached as PDF). On 1 May 1945, the Internationale and the Sozialistenmarsch resounded. Buchenwald had been liberated three weeks before. On the parade ground a makeshift forestage was erected, showing life-sized portraits of our liberators: Stalin, Roosevelt and Churchill.

 

 

In the 40s and 50 the Communist Party CPN held massive May celebrations. The Dutch nation and the post-war reconstruction were central to the CPN. CPN leader Paul de Groot addressed 47.000 people in Amsterdam on 1 May 1947 on a platform decorated with red-white-blue flags. For the Social-Democrat Party PvdA, the 40s and 50s were the years of governing in the so-called Roman Catholic-Red Coalition. Celebrating May Day on Sundays and parading with red symbols seemed unwise to the PvdA. It was even proposed to celebrate a common Labour day, but not on May 1. The PvdA did celebrate May Day, but in a subdued fashion and the aspect of struggling for better working conditions disappeared. 

A National May Day Committee noted in the 50s that interest was waning. In the 60s, singing old socialist militant songs already became a controversial issue. On May 1, 1963 the social-democratic station VARA broadcast a popular game show. Predominantly the elderly were pleased with that. The Kinks performed at the May Festival of 1966 in the Jaarbeurshallen in Utrecht (May 7), as well as  Boudewijn de Groot. The enthusiastic audience destroyed the furniture. In the adjacent hall a manifestation for Nigeria was held.

 

 

During the late 60s smaller leftist groups took possession of the streets. Portraits of Che, Ho and Rudi Dutschke were carried. The PvdA decided in 1969 to hold no more central meetings.  In the 80s several leftist groups found each other. The focus fanned out from labour to foreign workers, third world countries, women's lib. Especially African songs and pop groups were given a place.

In 1989 May Day was celebrated for the 100th time. PvdA party leader and trade unionist Wim Kok suggested to switch to May 2. Since the 90s May Day is predominantly a day of looking back, of laying wreaths on the graves of ancient warriors, and handing out roses in old people's homes. On a small scale, there are demonstrations of small leftist groups.
[Source: Jan Gielkens e.a., Een dag is 't van vreugde, een dag is 't van strijd. Geïllustreerde geschiedenis van 1 Mei in Nederland. Amsterdam 1990].

 


 

Klezmer Music and Turkish Labour Migrants (click to enlarge)

 

 

 

*Morgenrood sung by the 'Stem des Volks' Amsterdam Choir led by Antoon Krelage BG GC6/5


 

 
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