Chapter 6 - Social And Cultural Developments In Germany Flashcards
What social welfare reforms were introduced between 1924-27
1924 - the public assistance system, which provided help to the poor and destitute, was modernised
1925 - the state accident insurance system , introduced to help those injured at work, was extended to over those suffering from occupational diseases
1927 - a national unemployment insurance system was introduced to provide benefits for the unemployed
Did the reforms introduced by Germany deliver as much as they were expected to
For most Germans the system promised more than it delivered. It was very expensive due to the amount of people it was supporting e.g 800k war veterans and over 900k war orphans. This meant that taxes were increased but there was a limit to how much the better off were prepared to shoulder the burden of welfare expenditure. The means test was tightened up and there was increasing delays in paying benefits which left those in need of support feeling humiliated and insulted which undermined there support for the Weimar Republic
Did the living standards of Germans improve from the years 1924-28
They undoubtedly improved. Those in work especially the ones represented by trade unions were able to maintain their living standards by negotiating wage increases. Those in welfare benefits weren’t as well off but were prevented from falling into poverty by the welfare system. Business owners and employees benefited from the improved trading position for German companies at the time. There were some exceptions to this rule such as those who had lost their savings during hyperinflation
How did social and cultural changes affect the position of women
There was talk about the ‘new women’ in Weimar Germany. She was portrayed as free, independent, sexually liberated and increasingly visible in public life. The Weimar constitution had given women equality with men in voting rights and access to education. They also got the right to equal pay. Due to the number of male deaths in the war there fewer opportunities for women to follow the traditional path of marriage. The war had also brought many more women into paid employment to replace the men who had fought.
Did everyone agree with the changes to women’s position
Not all German citizens approved of the changes not even all women. The traditional civil code of 1896 remained in force. This laid down that in marriage the husband had the right to decide on all matters concerning family life including whether his wife should take paid employment. The league of German women (BDF) which had 900k members didn’t support the new women they promoted traditional values. This was echoed by the churches and more conservative political parties. Therefore the new women was more of a myth than a social reality for the majority of German women
What evidence is there that the new women was real and what evidence was there that it was a myth
Employment - by 1925 36% of the German workforce was women. In many occupations women were required to give up their employment when they married.
Sexual freedom - by 1930 there was an estimated 1 mill abortions. Abortion was a criminal offence and would often be performed by unqualified people
Politics and public life - in 1919 41 women were elected to the Reichstag and there was still a higher proportion of female deputies than the British House of Commons. There were no female representatives in the Reichsrat
How did the social and cultural changes affect the young people
There was a widespread concern that young people were breaking free of the constraints of family, school and religion and turning into a life of crime and anti social behaviour. Those children who didn’t attend highly selective gymnasium schools were supposed to leave school at 14 and begin an apprenticeship or employment but in the Weimar years there were fewer apprenticeships and more unemployment. Young people suffered the most from the rise in unemployment in 1925-26 17% of the unemployed were in the 14-21 age group. The benefits system provided some help but the result was that many young working class Germans living in big cities joined gangs.
How did the Weimar Republic change education
Education reforms in the Weimar Republic aimed to break down religious and social class divides and provide comprehensive, non sectarian education that would be free to all pupils. They were only partly successful. The main reform was the introduction of elementary schools which children would attend for the first 4 years of education. Those who didn’t pass a gymnasium exam would then be able to continue for another 4 years. The reformers didn’t succeed at removing the influence of the churches from schools. The catholic and Protestant churches fought vigorously to defend their right to promote religious teachings through the state education system
What were the main type of youth groups introduced
The wandervogel, church youth groups and political youth groups
How did social and cultural reforms affect the Jews
The achievements of German Jews under the Weimar Republic were remarkable. They represented 1% of the total population but they achieved a degree of influence out of all proportion to their numbers. They were prominent in politics, business and banking, the publishing of books and newspapers and they were at the forefront of the musical life.
What evidence is there that Jews were prominent in the press
Theodor Wolff editor of Berliner Tageblatt was the driving force behind the moderate Liberal DPP. Jews were also prominent in the SPD and KPD
What evidence is there that Jews were prominent in industry, commerce and professions
The Rathenau family controlled the huge electrical engineering firm AEG until 1927. Jewish firms dominated coal mining, steelworks and the chemical industry in Silesia.
How were Berlin’s nightclubs affected by the Weimar Republic
They became renowned for their cabarets in which nudity featured strongly. Gay men, lesbians and transvestites who before 1918 were forced to conceal their sexual activity now felt free to display it openly. American jazz music became popular. Many older Germans regarded the nightclub with horror and contempt
How was music affected by the Weimar Republic
Expressionism influenced German classical composers in this period. Hindemith and Arnold Schoenberg were two off the most innovative composers
How was literature affected by the Weimar Republic
Novelists and poets adopted a free form of writing in which they focused on a characters internal mental state rather than on external social reality
