The German Empire’s general active and passive election law took effect on November 30, 1918. (“Active” referred to voting and “passive” to standing for election oneself.) Thus, women were able to participate in the elections to the constitutive national assembly on January 19, 1919, and also stand for election themselves. Of the 300 women who sought seats, 37 were elected to the national assembly, which numbered 423 representatives total. This photograph shows the stage and film actress Senta Söneland (neé Werder, 1882–1934), who had been actively engaged in the fight for women’s suffrage and who in the run-up to the elections held several passionate speeches. Here she is at an election rally at the Berlin Zoologischer Garten railway station.