Germany Booklet 4: Aspects of life 1918-33 Flashcards
Outline the ‘new woman’
Younger women in Weimar Germany who were different in their appearance, behaviour and employment from the older generation.
Explain why attitudes towards women worsened as Weimar progressed
The people wanted someone to scapegoat for the problems they were facing, and women had recently gotten many of their rights, so many men blamed them for the failure of Weimar.
Which women experienced the biggest changes in their lives?
Young single women who lived in cities, middle class/educated
In what ways were women’s lives worsened during the Weimar years?
They were expected to maintain all domestic chores as well as working, so worked a ‘double shift’
Abortions were illegal and contraceptives hard to get, although both were common. By 1930 there were 1 million abortions, with 10,000 to 12,000 deaths annually.
The largest and most influential feminist group still thought that women should have domestic duties
What are some significant ways in which women’s lives improved during the Weimar years?
Women were meant to get equal pay and education rights according to the constitution. (they also had the vote).
There were 32 women deputies in 1926
Maternity benefits were improved and legal protection to domestic servants was extended.
In what political and legal ways did the lives of the ethnic minorities improve?
Article 113 guaranteed the rights of ethnic minorities, covering their culture, religion and language. There were five cabinet members of Jewish descent
In 1920 how many women were elected to the reichstag?
over 100
What percentage of women worked in the paid labour force in 1925? How had this changed by 1931?
33%, mostly in low paid factory & office jobs - this remained roughly the same in 1931 (35%)
What area of politics did Women support most commonly in the Weimar years?
The centre, conservative parties which promoted traditional family values.
In what political and legal ways did the lives of the ethnic minorities get worse?
In 1930, Frankfurt passed an act to remove the ‘gypsy plague’
The jews were mainly kept out of the judiciary and most of the judges were anti-sematic
In what social ways did the lives of the ethnic minorities improve/not get worse?
Poles and Danes were mostly treated well.
Most Germans treated the black people with curiosity and enthusiasm rather than hostility
In what social ways did the lives of the ethnic minorities get worse?
Jews were attacked in the streets and discriminated against more and more throughout the 1920s and early 30s, about 20% of Jews were impoverished.
Some nationalists were hostile to black people - affected by events such as the black horror.
In what cultural ways did the lives of the ethnic minorities improve/not get worse in the Weimar years?
Poles and Danes were allowed to retain their culture and languages.
Jazz music was highly popular and many black musicians wanted to play in Germany
In what cultural ways did the lives of the ethnic minorities get worse in the Weimar years?
Many cities refused the Gypsums entry
there were stereotypes against Jews - some Jews were seen to be more focused on wealth than Germany and so were selfish and cruel (not true). It was argued that the Germans brought culture, civilisation, prosperity and order to Africans and therefore they had no right to make homes in Germany
What were some key changes in education between Weimar and the Kaiserreich?
Teachers were required to have reached the Abitur standard and the government introduced an inspection system for all schools - private and religious schools had to meet same requirements
Elite preparatory schools were abolished and 4 year basic schools were introduced
Reduced religious control of schools
What were some key ways the education system remained broadly the same between Weimar and the Kaiserreich?
The class divide remained, only 2.3% of graduates were working class
Schools remained deeply divided in terms of religion e.g Catholic, protestant, Jewish
Gymnasiums remained so education was still very elitist
What were the main barriers to changing education in Weimar?
Religion, parental opposition to integration of all types of children with each other There was still a very intense class divide - Wealthy Germans didn't want their children going to school with working class children
What is meant by culture in Essay questions?
The arts i.e. music, literature, theatre, art, film, architecture and design
Summarise article 118 from the Weimar constitution
It stated that every German is entitled to free speech and that there is no censorship
Outline Jazz music in the Weimar years?
It was very popular with fashions and dances from the USA. There were bands touring berlin and other big cities
It was only opposed by right wing nationalists who disliked the foreign influence
Outline the architecture and design in the Weimar years
The bauhaus movement in architecture merged geometric shapes with new materials. This inspired pottery, textiles and graphic design.
Outline the Art in the Weimar years
Expressionist - emotional feeling put onto objects - it was more about the artist than what they were painting - these images could be shocking to the more traditional right wing
Outline Cabaret in the Weimar years
Berlin had many cabaret clubs which consisted of political satire mixed with songs and strippers
Outline the Film in the Weimar years
Weimar was the centre of exciting film making - expressionist and more contemporary - science fiction first made an appearance in Weimar Germany (Fritz Lang’s metropolis of 1927)
Outline the literature and theatre in the Weimar years
Ziettheatre - experimental street theatre was developed
There were many controversial plays and novels written with anti-war sentiments, such as all quiet on the western front and threepenny opera
Outline Decadence the Weimar years
An opinion that Weimar was corrupt - morally bankrupt - over indulgent
There was more of a tolerance to homosexuality, cross dressing and sexual liberation
What were the positive impacts of the change in culture during the Weimar years?
The open and exciting culture led Berlin to become the European centre for the arts, attracting artists from al over the world. Bauhaus design and innovative film making led to international admiration
What were the negative impacts of the change in culture during the Weimar years?
The change to culture did not generate support for the republic. Many artists were anti-Weimar and although hey attacked Nazis in their work, they also attacked republican targets too. The culture was used as a stick to beat the republic with, it was described as a symptom of decadence and decline
How did German culture not change in the 1920s? In terms of Range?
The main impact was in Germany’s large cities but rural areas were not exposed to it (By 1932 radio reception was available in only 10% of small villages so many people would be unlikely to hear Jazz music
How did German culture not change in the 1920s? In terms of continuation of traditional culture?
Choral singing, folk dancing, church festivals and beer halls a;; thrived, far more people were involved in these activities than saw Avant Garde paintings or went to cabaret clubs
How did German culture not change in the 1920s? In terms of Developments before Weimar?
It would be wrong to think that all experimental art started in 1919. For example, modernist architectural ideas using steel and glass had been introduced before the war although they became far more popular later
