the status of, and attitudes towards, ethnic minorities, 1918-32 Flashcards
LO: racism during Weimar republic, German Jews, Black people, Gypsies
what was the basis for Germany’s colonial policy between 1880 and 1919?
the policy was based on the belief in the racial superiority of white Europeans, leading to the exploitation and mistreatment of African and Asian populations
how were indigenous peoples treated in German colonies?
indigenous peoples were often subjected to extreme violence, racial segregation, and denial of humanity, as well as having their land and property taken by white settlers
what did some nationalist radicals in Germany propose regarding Jews during the Weimar Republic?
some radicals proposed racial policies similar to those used in Germany’s colonies, inc. property confiscation, racial segregation, and even the annihilation of Jews
what were the different views on Jewish identity in Weimar Germany?
some saw Jews as a religious group that could integrate into German society, while others viewed Jews as a distinct race, leading for calls for separation and fears of Jewish culture undermining German values
what was the legal status of Jews in Weimar Germany?
the constitution granted Jews full citizenship rights, but they still faced discrimination, particularly within the judiciary, where many judges were antisemitic
what was the economic status of Jews in Weimar Germany?
many Jews had middle-class occupations such as doctors and lawyers, but faced economic decline due to factors like hyperinflation, competition, and rising unemployment
how were jews stereotyped in Weimar society?
Jews were stereotyped in various ways, inc. as wealthy elites living in places like Berlin, as ‘Polacks’ from Eastern Europe, and as radical communists undermining the nation.
how were black people viewed in Weimar Germany?
Black people, particularly those from former German colonies, were treated with curiosity rather than hostility by most Germans, but were still regarded as inferior and denied citizenship and basic rights
what was the ‘black horror’ or ‘black disgrace’ in the context of Weimar Germany?
nationalists used this term to describe the presence of black soldiers during the French occupation of the Rhineland after WW1, accusing them of raping German women and ‘polluting’ the Aryan race
what was the significance of jazz in Weimar Germany?
jazz, associated with black culture was controversial among nationalists, who argued that it contributed to the degeneration of Aryan society and was linked to racial mixing
how were black people from German colonies treated differently in German literaure?
while some literature from the 1920s acknowledged black people, it was always in a context of racial superiority, with black people portrayed as inferior and not equal to Germans
what was the legal and social status of Gypsies in Weimar Germany?
they were discriminated against due to their nomadic lifestyle and perceived lack of contribution to society, with some states passing laws to control their movement and employment
how were Gypsies specifically treated in Bavaria during the 1920s?
in 1926, Bavaria passed laws to control Gypsies’ movement, forced their children into schools, and required all Gypsies to carry identity cards by 1927
