SOCIAL AND CULTURAL DEVELOPMENT IN GERMANY 1924-28 Flashcards
How was the social welfare system reformed?
In 1924 the public assistance system was modernised - This gave basic assistance to the poor
in 1925 The state accident insurance system was extended
in 1927 - National unemployment and insurance system was introduced financed by contributions from employers and workers.
How did the welfare system impact the economy?
It was expensive to maintain and sustain
Whose living standards got better?
Businesses that prospered during the trade boom
workers in trade unions and were able to negotiate wage increases
welfare recipients had some help to prevent them failing into poverty
some women who were able to take advantage of new employment opportunities
Who’s living standards got worse?
People live in fixed incomes, especially pensioners and widows
those who lost their savings in the 1923 hyper inflation
farmers and farm labourers
What was the position of women?
Much talk about the new woman who was free independent sexually liberated and having great opportunities in employment for example new opportunities arose in service industries as typist and resistance.
However for many women in Germany had changed and there was fierce resistance to change from conservative forces in society.
What were the changes for women?
The constitution gave women equal voting rights in elections, which is progressive for the time
Women were given an equal opportunities and the right to equal pay in civil service employment.
There were increased employment opportunities for women
birth-control became more widely available which empowered some women to exert control over the size of their families.
What was the resistance to change for women?
No women became cabinet ministers no leaders of political parties.
There was no regular requirements for equal pay and most occupations
in many occupations Women were required to give up employment when they married.
The decline in the birth rate due to birth control was attacked by conservatives as birth strike by Catholics and protestant churches.
What was the perception about young people?
They were becoming more rebellious and the concern that crime and antisocial behaviour was growing among young people also worries express over the activities of young cliques in industrial cities
also concern around unemployment
What was the education system like?
Well-developed system of state education but this divide young people along class lines and religion as a traditionally emphasise the virtues of obedience and respect for authority
attempts to reform the school system to break down the religious and class barriers by introducing comprehensive schools this succeeded at elementary school level, but the educational divide persisted in secondary schools
What groups did the youth join?
Youth groups many churches had their own youth groups to encourage young people to attend church but there was also independent youth group such as wandervogel in the middle class that gave an opportunity to experience the countryside also arise in youth groups for political parties such as the SPD KPD DMV and the Nazi party
What was life like for jews?
More than half 1 million Jews living in Germany
most Jewish people were fairly assimilated members of German Society.
They were successful and achieved influence and field of politics press business and other professions such as law and the arts.
How was antisemitism during this period?
There was strong antisemitism among nationalist groups throughout the 1920s
however hostility to Jews was greatest at times of national crisis i.e. hyper inflation as Jews were blamed for these event
How was culture developed?
Flourishing nightclub scene in Berlin, which included nudity of erotic dancing and American jazz
leading centre in world cinema filmmakers such as Fritz Lang
Expressionism movement which emphasised importance of emotion and was very influential among German artist such as Otto Dix
Composes such as hindesmith moved away from traditional musical forms
novelist such as Thomas Mann will also influence by expressionism and focused on characters internal mental state
What was the view towards culture?
Not everyone was happy with new trends and arts and culture from the city traditional values still held
