Weimar - Aspects of Life

Question 1

New Woman

Answer 1

Younger Women in Weimar Germany who were different in their appearance, behaviour and employment from the older generation. Eg. Bubikopf, independent, wage-earner, masculine attire

Question 2

Changes to the lives of Women

Answer 2

Equal citiznes in the constitution
In 1920, 100 women were elected to the Reichstag
In 1925, around 1/3 of women worked
Increased divorce rate
Sexual Reform

Question 3

Continuity for lives of Women

Answer 3

The SPD opposed equal pay for women
Many expected to do a ‘double shift’
Many women still supported conservative values - especially in rural areas, eg. ZP or DNVP.
Married women were expected to stay at home

Question 4

Improved lives of Ethnic minorities

Answer 4

Article 113 protected the rights of ethnic minorities.
11% of doctors + 16% of Lawyers were Jewish
5 cabinet members were Jewish
Danes + Poles were mostly treated well
75% of Jewish men had proffessional jobs (1918-32)
Jews owned 80% of department stores in Germany

Question 5

Worsened lives of ethnic minorities

Answer 5

Growing persecution in the late 1920s (Rise of Nazis)
Walter Rathenau was assassinated in 1922.
Gypsies were persecuted - Many cities refused them
In 1930, Frankfurt passed an act to remove the gypsie plague.
1926 Law for Combatting Gypsies (Bavaria)
20% of Jews were impoverished
Many lost their savings in the Hyper-inflation

Question 6

Changes to the education system

Answer 6

Religious control of schools was removed
Introduction of 4 year Grundschule
Teachers need to have passed the Abitur to teach
Girls were given greater access to higher education

Question 7

Continuity in the education system

Answer 7

Class divisions remained
Universities were not reformed
Religious divides in schools

Question 8

Article 118

Answer 8

Every German is entitled, within the law, to express his opinion freely in word, writing, print or image. No Censorship.

Question 9

Cultural Changes

Answer 9

Expressionism grew in popularity
Attacks on traditional themes
Avant Garde

Question 10

Examples of Weimar Culture

Answer 10

Otto Dix + George Gross - Experimental artists, anti-WW1.
Frtiz Lang - Metropolis (1927) = Expressionist Sci-Fi Film.
Bauhaus Movement - Geometric forms
Black Jazz musicians from the US became popular
Cabaret clubs were common in the cities

Question 11

Cultural Continutiy

Answer 11

Rural Germany remained conservative
Radio reception was only avaliable in 10% of small villages by 1932.
Choral Singing, Folk Dancing and Beer Hall remained popular throughout the Weimar Period.