Red Clydeside: A history of the labour movement in Glasgow 1910-1932

People

Helen Crawfurd pictured with children in Berlin, 1922

In her capacity as secretary of the Workers International Relief Organisation Helen Crawfurd travelled extensively throughout both Western and Eastern Europe.

This photograph was taken in 1922 when Helen travelled to Germany to organise relief for the families of unemployed German workers. During the German elections of 1924 Helen again travelled to Berlin and campaigned on behalf of the KPD (German Communist Party), addressing an audience of over 10,000 supporters of the KPD.

Based on her work for the WIR, Helen gained an international reputation as a political organiser within communist circles throughout Europe and was responsible for setting up countless international Trade Union and Socialist conferences during the 1920s and 30s.

Source: Gallacher Memorial Library, Glasgow Caledonian University Special Collections and Archives