Masks and Germany: In the beginning
In 2020, masks (or the lack of) became a visible focal point of culture, fashion and protest in Germany.
Masks were not a common sight in Germany before corona, worn only in the medical field, or by some people of Asian heritage — out of politeness to not infect others during sickness. This quickly changed in 2020, but not quietly.
Sunday walk in Frankfurt, December 13, 2020.
Looking back, it’s easy to forget that masks were not part of the original government measures. I started photographing the lockdown in mid-March, 2020. One of my first pictures were those of pharmacies telling people that masks (and thermometers) are sold out. And the first hygienic rules asked for anything, from not shaking hands, sneezing into your elbow, to only walking in one direction while shopping — but never mentioned masks. The World Health Organization’s online guidelines back then similarly suggested to leave masks to personnel in the medical field, a suggestion that coincided with their shortage of them on Western markets.
Frankfurt, March 21, 2020.
By April 2020, this slowly changed. Masks started to be sold in a variety of places, and became required in some places. You started to see street sellers, advert notices on posts, and sewing shops offering masks. Even some shops as unrelated as comic book stores started to carry masks as part of their selection.
Frankfurt, April 24, 2020.
“Shopping with masks only! Please take care of yourself and others and use a face protection, mouth protection or scarf. This is a government-mandated local and temporal access restriction.” A supermarket chain in Frankfurt, April 25, 2020.
Custom sewn masks sold in Frankfurt, April 25, 2020.
On a ticket machine, a public campaign for mask wearing. Frankfurt, April 30, 2020.
Another sight that started to be common were masks on the ground — lost or thrown-away, perhaps. Frankfurt, May 3, 2020.
Throughout the summer, in public, masks were not mandatory. Some wore them, many didn’t.
A shopping street on Saturday afternoon. Frankfurt, July 11, 2020.
During the very first corona measures protest I photographed, on May 1st, not wearing a mask was not yet part of the protest. Masks also lend anonimity, which was preferred by at least some of the protesters.
The sign reads, “Snowden warns: Destruction of rights is deadly!” Frankfurt, May 1, 2020.
A successive protest I ran into was what looked like a spontaneous crowd assembling in the heart of the city. Most equipped with an umbrella, they emerged from the crowd of other shoppers and started to march in unison through the rain. This quickly attracted attention of police cars, likely because it was not a registered demonstration.
Holding up the German constitution, the “Grundgesetz.” Frankfurt, May 9, 2020.
“Health protection — yes! Removal of democratic rights — no!” Frankfurt, May 9, 2020.
Slowly, not wearing a mask would become part of the corona measures protests. And simultaneously, part of the police work to check on (alongside checking that required distance is maintained). Conversely, the counter protesters to the measures protesters often wore masks.
A counter-protest to those protesting the corona measures. Frankfurt, May 16, 2020.
“Glitter, not tin foil.” Drumming counter-protest by the Queerfront group. Frankfurt, May 16, 2020.