The Winegrower's Storm 1926 and the Taxes

Lecture of the series "Around the Winemaker's Storm."

Thursday, 19. November 2026, from 6 p.m.
Location: VG Administration Bernkastel-Kues, Gestade 18 (Ground Floor & 3rd Floor)
6 p.m. thematic guided tour through the exhibition on the Winzersturm 1926 (Ground Floor) -
Dr. Matthias Vollet
7 p.m. lecture (3rd Floor, large conference room) - Dr. Julia Köster (Head of the Tax Office Wittlich)
Historically unique, the violent storming of the Bernkastel Tax Office by the Mosel winemakers on February 25, 1926 led to the abolition of the wine tax after only four weeks by the German Reichstag in Berlin. The wine tax was the obvious bone of contention for the winemakers. What more was behind it? What role did the introduction of a new tax system in 1919/1920 play through the tax reforms of Matthias Erzberger, the first Reich Finance Minister of the Weimar Republic? Income tax, property tax, deadlines and controls, as well as the methods for their collection? How did the historical introduction of a wine tax come about, and why do we no longer know this in Germany today? Did the abolition of the wine tax eliminate the existential distress of the winemakers? The lecture will also highlight further structural and economic problems of the time, thereby shedding new light on the demand for the abolition of the wine tax.
Following the lecture, there will be an opportunity for a joint discussion.
Fee: none/free of charge
Cooperation with the Adult Education Center Bernkastel-Kues (K26/82)