changing living standards, 1918-32

Question 1

how did the standard of living for the working class change from 1918 to 1932?

Answer 1

the standard of living rose overall, with weekly wages in 1932 being 30% higher than in 1924.
however, mass unemployment between 1930-32 severely impacted the working class

Question 2

what govt policies benefitted the working class in the Weimar republic?

Answer 2

the introduction of an 8-hour working day, increased govt spending on housing (20 times higher in 1925 than in 1913), and welfare (60% higher in 1929 than in 1913)

Question 3

how did hyperinflation affect the middle class?

Answer 3

it wiped out savings e.g. the income of established midle class Germans dropped by as much as 60% in 1924

Question 4

how did the emerging middle class fare during the Weimar period?

Answer 4

it fared better as they accepted American culture, enjoyed consumer goods, and could pay off debts during the hyperinflation period

Question 5

what were the impacts of the Great Depression on the middle class?

Answer 5

they were heavily affected by the Great Depression, with govt workers’ pay declining and many losing their savings or jobs due to bank collapses in 1931

Question 6

how did farmers fare in the early years of the republic?

Answer 6

they were negatively affected by strict regulations, inc. capped prices, and the loss of farming land due to the Treaty of Versailles, but hyperinflation helped them pay off debts

Question 7

how did the economic changes of 1924-29 affect farmers in Germany?

Answer 7

from 1924, cheap imports of food drove down the value of German agricultural products, and by 1927-30, agricultural prices droped by about 25%