Germany: What were the biggest changes in terms of culture between the Weimar and Nazi periods?

Question 1

What was a fundamental shift in cultural expression between the Weimar Republic and the Nazi era?

Answer 1

The Weimar Republic saw increased freedom of expression, protected by Article 118 of the Weimar Constitution1 . This allowed for diverse artistic movements2 . In contrast, the Nazi era saw a fundamental shift to strict state control and censorship (Gleichschaltung) over all aspects of German culture

Question 2

How did the attitude towards artistic movements differ between the Weimar Republic and the Nazi period?

Answer 2

The Weimar Republic was characterised by flourishing new artistic movements such as Jazz music, Cabaret, Expressionism in visual arts (with key figures like Otto Dix, George Grosz, and Jeanne Mammen5 ), the Bauhaus movement in architecture and design (founded by Walter Gropius6 …), and experimental literature and theatre (e.g., the controversial plays of Bertolt Brecht7 …). The Nazis, however, rejected Weimar and modern culture as “degenerate”, prohibiting art like Expressionism

Question 3

What was the primary purpose of culture during the Nazi era, in contrast to the Weimar Republic?

Answer 3

During the Weimar Republic, culture was a space for diverse expressions and individualism to grow10 . In the Nazi era, culture was actively used for propaganda to create unity and support for Nazi ideology3 . Goebbels, as Minister of Propaganda, controlled media and the arts11 . Nazi propaganda stressed that Germans were the “Kulturtrager” (culture bearers)

Question 4

What types of art and cultural values did the Nazis promote and reject?

Answer 4

The Nazis promoted traditional German values, an idealised simple rural life, Aryan superiority, and extreme nationalism3 . Art was expected to be realistic, not abstract (as favoured by Hitler12 ), and architecture shifted to neo-classical styles, exemplified by Albert Speer’s design for the new Reich Chancellery3 …. They rejected “foreign” elements and anything deemed “un-German”

Question 5

How did control over cultural expression differ between the Weimar and Nazi periods?

Answer 5

The Weimar Constitution guaranteed the right to express opinions freely without censorship1 . The Nazi era imposed strict control and censorship over all cultural forms3 …. People lacked the ability to speak freely without fear14 . The Nazis implemented Gleichschaltung to establish totalitarian control over all aspects of society, including culture4 . Libraries were purged of “undesirable” books