Weimar Germany, 1918-33: Aspects of Life Flashcards
1
Q
What was the education situation before the 1920s?
A
- Working class children went to Volksschule, taught basic skills and ended at 14
- Upper class children went to Vorschule, fee-paying and three years for secondary school
2
Q
What did the republic do in 1920 to reform the education system?
A
- Dual system abolished
- Grundschule system was set up, 4 years of free primary education for all aged 6-10
3
Q
What were the three types of schools that a child could attend after the Grundschule?
A
- Hauptscuhle, 5 years leading to an apprenticeship or trade
- Realschule, 6 years leading to business or technical training
- Gymnasiaum, 9 years leading to university
4
Q
What was the issue of religion and education in Weimar education?
A
- Government proposed a bill that would allow religious and secular schools to be set up equally as long as requested by the parents of 40 students
- Bill was never passed due to disagreements, by 1931 15,250 Catholic school and 295 secular schools
5
Q
What were some of the issues with university in Weimar Germany?
A
- Students had to pass an entrance exam
- 1928, only 2.3% of university students were working class
- Government hoped to reform but the principle of freedom of choice made this hard
6
Q
What was film like in Weimar Germany?
A
- Expressionist style, unrealistic sets and acting
- Kammerspielfilm, small sets and low budget
- Films included Nosferatu and Metropolis, darker and showed another side of Germany
7
Q
What type of literature was there in Weimar Germany?
A
- 1929, All Quiet on the Western Front by Erich Remarque
- Anti-war, written by war veteran and challenged the events of World War 1
8
Q
What was art like in Weimar Germany?
A
- Dada movement, protested against traditional art, included artists like Hans Arp
- New Objectivity, started after WW1 and challenged expressionism, focused on harsh reality, artists included Otto Dix
9
Q
What architecture style became prominent in Weimar Germany?
A
- Bauhaus movement, started by Walter Gropius
- Functionalist style, cutting edge with materials like chrome and glass
- Steel chairs, bulbous lamps, bold and clean
10
Q
What was theatre like in Weimar Germany?
A
- New plays and operas, such as Der Dreigroschenopera (Three penny opera), set in underworld of London
- True message satirized Berlin and capitalism
11
Q
What was music like in Weimar Germany?
A
- Modern classical, composers like Alan Berg
- Jazz music became popular in Berlin and Munich with influences from the US
- Cabaret in Berlin, people could drink and watch performances, also gay bars in Berlin
