Figure 1.-- Notice the rounded ,cylindrical structure behind the soldiers. This was called a Litfaßsäule / Litfasssäule. They were used to display advertisements, posters, and public announcements in Europe and other countries in the years before television. A British reader writes, "I have an observation regarding the illustration on this page. Take a look at the boy in the foreground, he looks very much like a British schoolboy judging by the cap he's wearing. This impression creates a very interesting thought. If the RAF had failed this could have been a scene in Britain with those German soldiers were proudly marching up a street somewhere in London." The cap does look a bit like a British school cap, but the image is not real clear. German boys had school caps, but they were quite different. We have seen Dutch boys wearing these caps, but they would have been I think rather unusual in Germany. Note the pin on his cap, it could be a Hitler Youth pin. He is also wearing something on his lapel.

The cylindrical structures seen on European (especially German) streets was was called a "Litfaßsäule". It was primarily used as a means for advertisements, commercials, cultural and public announcements, and political election advertising. The name of these coluns is derived fronm the inventer--Ernst Amandus Theodor Litfaß. Posters were a major form of advertising in the era before television. The posters were every where in the street--includung the trees. Litfaß came up with the idea of erecting coluns in the street where postrers could be posted in a more organized fashion. They first appeared in Berlin. Berlin authorities granted Litfaß permission to build the coluns in public areas (December 1854). They were commonly used through World War II and afterwards. With the popularity of television they began to become less utilized in the 1960s. By the 1980s they were becoming rare. They have not, however, totally disappeared.

Terminology

The cylindrical structure" behind the soldiers here was called "Litfaßsäule" or "Litfasssäule" for those who have not a German character set on their computer. The word Säule means column. A word with 3 s's is very rare in German like Litfaßsäule, it actually should be Litfaszsäule. ß = sz. In France they were called a Morrois Column. It was a 19th century innovation that became common throughout Europe--but curiously not in America.

Advertising

It was primarily used as a means for advertisements, commercials, cultural and public announcements, and political election advertising.

Ernst Amandus Theodor Litfaß (1816–74)

The name of these coluns is derived fronm the inventer--Ernst Amandus Theodor Litfaß (1816–74). Litfaß was a German printer and publisher who is better known for inventing these colums. Litfaß was born in Berlin and as an adult ingerited his stepfather's publishing business (1845). He edited newspapers and pamphlets. He completed the publication of the 242 volumes Oekonomische Encyklopädie begun by Johann Georg Krünitz in 1773 (1858). Litfaß was apparently disturbed by people pasting posters all over Berlin which was creating an unsighly mess.

Posters

Posters were a major form of advertising in the era before television. The posters were every where in the street--includung the trees.

Street Columns

Litfaß came up with the idea of erecting coluns in the street where postrers could be posted in a more organized fashion. They first appeared in Berlin. Berlin authorities granted Litfaß permission to build the coluns in public areas (December 1854). They were at first called Annoncier-Säulen or advertising columns. The first 100 colums were unveiled in Berlin (July 1, 1855). The German public called them Litfaß-Säulen. It was a windfall for "Litfaß. He had a monopoly from the city and could charge for permission to post on his coluns. The idea was so sucessful that the columns gradually appeared in other German cities. A number of innovations appeared, revolving column, columns that double for subway vents, columns with a hidden door for storage. In modern Germany the Litfaßsäule beginning in the 1870s have disappeared in many places because TV advertisements are much more effective and cheaper.

Other Countries

We also see these columns appearing in cities in other countries. Germany is known for being a very orderly country. Thus a way of keeping posters off buildings and other places where they were not wanted had great appeal. Some other countries were more willing to allow posters and other advertising to be posted everywhere. A reader tells us that another term for these coluns is a Morris Column or Tower which is the French term. They were put up by La Société Fermière des Colonnes Morris which is why they becane known as Morris Columns. They are now built and maintained by the JCDecaux company which purchased Morris (1986).

Chronolgy

Litfaßsäule were a popular form of advertising in Germany and other countries for more than a century. The first ones appeared in Berlin (1855). We do not have any images from the 19th century, because most photographs were studio portraits. We have much more infirmation after the turn-of-the 20th century. We see them in numerous stree photograps during the 20th countury. They were often photographed during political campaigns. The infamous Julius Stricher used them to post and virulently anti-Semetic publications like Der Strümer. Parents complained because of the phornography he utilized. They were commonly used through World War II and afterwards. With the popularity of television they began to become less utilized in the 1960s. By the 1980s they were becoming rare. They have not, however, totally disappeared.

Created: 5:45 AM 1/31/2006
Last updated: 3:49 AM 5/3/2009