TheConquest of the Machinesopenswith the description ofaworkers’upris-
ing obviouslymodeled on the MarchAction that bringstogetherthe main ele-
ments ofJung’sliterary technique, includinghis strategic use of an undifferen-
tiated third person plural subject called“they,”and, for thatreason, deserves to
be cited at length:
Now the followinghappened: When armed policemarched into the courtyard, they hit the
workers likeaflash in the bones.Afteracoupleofminutes, they couldn’tevenwait for the
break. The director gave evasive comments;the plant managers actedvery surprisedthem-
selves. In the meantime,the greens (i.e.,Sicherheitspolizei)settled in. One hour later the
entirefactory stood still. Peoplegathered outside. Became moreand morethreatening.Fi-
nally, their anger came out.Beforethe greens thoughtabout it,the workerswere back in
the courtyard. Anyhow,theywere afew thousand men, and then they let loose on the sol-
diers. Dazed but willingthey handed over their weapons.Theseguyswerelet go.Then on-
wardtothe officebuilding, from which most of the administrators had alreadyfled, and
thereeverythingwas smashedto pieces.But in theirrage,they paused: electedaworkers
council; took over all divisions of the business,including inventory and all that; and split
up into groups, some for security,some for production, and some for outsideagitation. Im-
mediatelyagroup departed for the industrial town.All of this happened entirelywithout
discussionand commotion.It was the work ofafew hours.Evenbeforethe sun passedFig. 10.1Franz Jung, DieEroberung der
Maschinen(Berlin: Malik, 1929), cover design
by John Heartfield.Copyright 2017 The
HeartfieldCommunity of Heirs/Artists Rights
Society (ARS), NewYork.200 Chapter10