Theme 4- Aspects of Life 1918-1933 Flashcards
What is meant by the phrase ‘new woman’?
They were younger women in Germany who were different in their appearance, behavious and employment from the older generation. Their clothes were less traditional either shorter dresses or masculine clothes, they had shorter hair (Bubikopf), smoke and drank, worked, had strong political beliefs and became more important and inflential in society.
How many women were elected in the Reichstag in 1920 and how did this change over the years?
Over 100 but this declined over the years, e.g. only 26 in 1926.
What was the Frauenüberschuss?
The surplus of 2 million women in Germany in 1918 due to male casualties in the war.
What percentage of women worked in the paid labour force in 1925?
Around a third of all women.
What did the League for the Protection of Mothers campaign for?
Free abortion and government financial assistance for unmarried mothers.
What sort of jobs did women do?
Welfare inspectors, child and family counsellors, health officers, teachers, nurses, factory jobs, office jobs, retail etc. Mostly in caring and nurturing roles and even the SPD assumed women would still take on caring roles.
What was the double shift?
Although many women worked, they were still expected to do all domestic chores meaning they were working twice as hard as men.
Which women did and didn’t experience change?
In 1925, almost all female white-collar workers were single and 2/3 were under 25. Only young single women in cities really experienced change while married women were generally expected to stay at home. Women in rural areas were typically more traditional so kept their traditional roles.
What sort of jobs couldn’t women do?
Working in important government ministries like economics or defence.
What happened to women as a result of the Great Depression?
Women were blamed for the cultural degeneration and economic crisis. Many men saw the new woman as a threat to the very existence of the nation and race.
Were abortion and contraception illegal?
Abortion was illegal although they still took place- 1 million abortions in 1930. Contraception wasn’t illegal but it was hard to come across and it was illegal to advertise it until 1927.
How did women’s political rights change?
They gained the right to vote in the Weimar constitution and could be elected into the Reichstag.
What did Article 113 of the Weimar constitution say?
It guaranteed the rights of ethnic minorities, covering their culture, religion and language.
Who in particular was persecuted during the Weimar years despite Article 113?
Gypsies- in 1930 Frankfurt passed an Act to remove the ‘gypsy plague’.
Eastern European Jews- the majority of judges were traditional nationalists and many were anti-semites, not always willing to uphold Jewish rights. There were over 700 anti-semitic journals in circulation in Weimar Germany.
Were Jews well integrated into society?
Most German Jews were well integrated into society but Eastern European Jews were not and they faced discrimination. Many Germans would only accept Jews who renounced their religious and cultural heritage. Some Germans thought Jews were a race and could never be truly German because they were naturally different.
What was the League of German Defence and Defiance?
A strongly anti-semitic group that had over 200,000 members when it was banned in 1922.
How were black Jazz musicians from America treated?
Black people were seen as racially inferior but most were treated well enough with black musicians having a lot of freedom and status in Germany. They could earn 4 times as much in Germany that they could in the USA.
What was the economic situation for Jews like?
11% of doctors and 16% of lawyers were Jewish and 5 cabinet members were of Jewish descent. However, only 1% of senior bankers were Jews and few Jews owned or managed growing chemical or high-tech industries. Middle class Jews also lost their savings in the hyperinflationary crisis.
Which ethnic minority groups were mostly treated well?
Poles and Danes who were allowed to keep their culture and languages.
What was education like before Weimar?
Most schools were confessional (organised by churches) schools. It was difficult for poorer children to progress to higher education or enter the professions. Universities were very conservative both in curriculum and organisation. School teaching was rigid and authoritarian.
How was religious control of schools reduced?
Through the removal of clerical inspections and the dominance of confessional schools. Churches no longer had the right to run state schools.
How was teaching improved?
Some progressive teachers replaced authoritarian rote-learning methods with more child-friendly styles of teaching. Teachers were also required to have reached the Abitur (A Level) standard to teach in schools.
How was access to education increased?
Elite prep schools were abolished and replaced with Grundschulen which was compulsory for all children and lasted 4 years. The Aufbauschule was introduced which gave a Gymnasium style education to academically gifted poor children. Girls were given greater access to higher education.
In what ways did religious influence remain in schools?
By 1930, still 80% of primary education was in ‘confessional’ schools. No national, uniform system of primary education was imposed, partly because of the religious issue with opposition from groups like the Catholic School Organisation. Churches retained the right to run private schools.
