social developments 1924-1928 (1)

Question 1

which three major groups were majorly impacted by weimar parliamentarianism

Answer 1

women, jews and youth

Question 2

what were positive effects on women?

Answer 2

• experienced more societal freedom
• elsa hermann wrote ‘ the modern woman refuses to lead the life of a lady and housewife’
• the war had killed 2m men, leading to social imbalance and changes in marriage
• could partake in oversexualised dances and drinking and smoking, this was previously seen as immoral

Question 3

what were some negative effects on women?

Answer 3

• despite their evolving freedom, the new role was negatively scrutinised
• despite the new rights given to women through the constitution, civil code of 1896 was largely abided by
• laid down the idea the husband decided on all marital affairs (including employment)
• BDF (league of german women) gained 900k members in the 20s, upholding traditional german views

Question 4

what was the overall effect on the youth?

Answer 4

completely negative

Question 5

what were the youth inclined to?

Answer 5

the youth demographic in germany were increasingly inclined to a life of crime and anti-social behaviour

Question 6

key statistics?

Answer 6

• fewer apprenticeships available for children as they left school at 14
• 17% of unemployed were between 14-21 in 1925
• more youths joined gangs to find a sense of comradeship amongst the calamity
  -development of youth cliques such as ‘Farmers Fear’ and ‘Death Diefers’ who projected an image of toughness
• emergence of a criminal culture was evident amongst the youth

Question 7

what is assimilation?

Answer 7

maintaining ethnic and cultural identity but becoming fully integrated and accepted into society

Question 8

key figures on jews?

Answer 8

500,000 jews in Germany under the Weimar Republic. 80% lived in major cities with good education

Question 9

what was life like for jews under weimar?

Answer 9

• seemed jews were intensely patriotic to german nationalism as opposed to being jewish
• jews flourished, prominence in politics, business, banking.
• jewish musicians were at the forefront of musical life and jewish directors were at the forefront of theatre and cinema
• 19% of banking sector, 16% lawyers and 11% doctors

Question 10

what did david farr recognise?

Answer 10

this prominence merely pushed ‘anti-semitism to the fringes of public and political life’ from 1924-28, perhaps due to jealousy.