Cologne lintel
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An event on March 3, 1848, one day after Weiberfastnacht , when an angry crowd sought protection from Prussian troops in Cologne City Hall and two Cologne city council members jumped out of the window in panic , is referred to as the Cologne window lintel . It wasn't really defenestration .
Historical classification
In the course of the March Revolution in 1848 , as in other German cities, revolutionary demands were made in Cologne. The wishes for constitutions or constitutional reforms, freedom of the press, assembly and association as well as the establishment of jury courts became loud. In Cologne, in addition to political demands, there were also decidedly social concerns, so that work should not only be protected from foreign competition but also from rationalization by machines. These demands were made by demonstrators under the leadership of Andreas Gottschalk in front of the town hall and then put forward by him in the council.
When Prussian troops were deployed in the city on the evening of March 3, 1848, panic seized the crowd of around 2,000 people, most of whom were workers. At least some of them sought refuge in the Cologne City Hall, where two Cologne councilors were still staying at the time. Given the angry crowd, the two panic too, and they tried to escape by jumping out the window. One of them broke both legs in the process.
The Cologne lintel in connection with the workers' demonstration fueled concerns about a social upheaval among the Cologne bourgeoisie.