Weimar Germany - Ethnic Minorities

Question 1

Evidence that Ethnic minorities were equal & integrated into Weimar Society in 1925
-languages

Answer 1

-In 1925, there were 500,000 people in Germany who spoke both German & Polish

Question 2

Evidence that Ethnic minorities were equal & integrated into Weimar Society in 1925
-music

Answer 2

• There was a significant demand for black musicians & singers in jazz clubs
• they would often earn 4 times as much in Germany than in America, having more freedom & higher status

Question 3

Evidence that gypsies were unequal & segregated in Weimar Society between 1918-32
-legislation

Answer 3

• Despite Article 113, Bavaria passed a series of laws to control the movement of gypsies in 1926 & 27,
• forcing their children into schools & adults into work, forcing them to carry identity cards

Question 4

Evidence that gypsies were unequal & segregated in Weimar Society between 1918-32
-attitude in economy

Answer 4

It was thought they didn’t contribute to the economy by not paying taxes or working

Question 5

Evidence that Black minorities were unequal & segregated in Weimar Society between 1918-32
Aid

Answer 5

Former colonies had no right to state aid in times of crisis
or the right to vote,
with land often being taken from them.

Question 6

Evidence that Black minorities were unequal & segregated in Weimar Society between 1918-32
Literature

Answer 6

• They were viewed as racially inferior, as German literature reinforced this,
• for example George Bucher’s Westfront, celebrated the merciless killing of black soldiers in Africa by German soldiers.

Question 7

Evidence that Black minorities were unequal & segregated in Weimar Society from 1923
-discrimination

Answer 7

• After 1923, black people faced rising hostility
• From 1923, approximately 500 mixed race children were born and were denounced as “Germany’s shame’’
• The Nazis banned performances by black artists

Question 8

Evidence that Black minorities were unequal & segregated in Weimar Society from 1923
-war

Answer 8

• Black units from French colonies were mobilised and in Germany during the occupation of the Ruhr
• The German press alleged that the French had deliberately sent black troops to occupy the Rhineland to humiliate the ‘superior white nation’

Question 9

Evidence that Polish minorities were unequal & segregated in Weimar Society between 1918-32

Answer 9

• There was significant hostility towards Poles because they had fought Germany in the war
• Between 1925 and 1933, 30,000 Poles left the country

Question 10

Why in particular was there discrimination against Polish minorities following WW1

Answer 10

After World War One, the border between Poland and Germany was redrawn, leaving people from each group on the wrong side of the border

Question 11

Evidence that Jews were equal & integrated into Weimar Society between 1918-32
Positions in society - marriage

Answer 11

In 1915, approximately one-third of all married Jews were married to non-Jews

Question 12

Evidence that Jews were equal & integrated into Weimar Society between 1918-32
Positions in society - war

Answer 12

85,000 Jewish soldiers had fought for the German army in World War One, and 12,000 had died.

Question 13

What was a consequnce of Walter Rathenau’s assassination regarding policy

Answer 13

The government banned many anti-semitic organisations following Walter Rathenau’s Assassination

Question 14

Evidence that Jews were equal & integrated into Weimar Society between 1918-32
Jobs - cabinet

Answer 14

Five Jews held cabinet to posts in the Weimar Republic, including Walter Rathenau who became foreign minister in 1922.

Question 15

Evidence that Jews were equal & integrated into Weimar Society between 1918-32
Professional Jobs

Answer 15

• Between 1918 and 1932, 75% of Jewish men had professional jobs such as a doctor or lawyer.
• This compared with 25% of the rest of the population.

Question 16

Evidence that Jews were equal & integrated into Weimar Society between 1918-32
Jobs - businesses

Answer 16

Almost 80% of department store business was conducted by Jewish-run business.

Question 17

Evidence that Jews were unequal & segregated into Weimar Society during the Depression - discrimination

Answer 17

• The economic status of Jews declined in the 1920s, as many were hit by hyperinflation, and then the depression,
• which led to an increase in discrimination as Jews (along with communists and the government) were blamed for the collapse of the economy and society’s hardships.

Question 18

What was set up to fight the rise in anti-semitism during the Depression

Answer 18

Jewish organisations, such as the Reich Federation of Jewish Front Soldiers

Question 19

Evidence that Jews were unequal & segregated into Weimar Society between 1918-32
Politics

Answer 19

• During the years of the Great Depression, more and more people began to support extreme right and left wing parties.
• Many of which were extremely anti-Semitic.
• Many members of the judiciary made anti-semitic remarks in their judgements

Question 20

Give evidence of statistsics, that between 1928 and 1932, support for anti-semitic parties rose

Answer 20

May 1928: the Nazis received 2.6% of votes
July 1932: the Nazis received 37.4% of votes

Question 21

Evidence that Jews were unequal & segregated into Weimar Society between 1918-32
Organisations

Answer 21

• The German Peoples Offensive and Defensive Alliance was an aggressive, anti-Semitic organisation
• They believed the Jews had conspired with the Allies and had lost Germany the war

Question 22

The German Peoples Offensive and Defensive Alliance membership rose from…………… to ……………between 1919 and 1923

Answer 22

from 25,000 to 170,000

Question 23

Evidence that Jews were unequal & segregated into Weimar Society between 1918-32
The Protestant Church

Answer 23

The Protestant Church argued that Jews were fundamentally selfish, putting their personal wealth ahead of the German nation.

Question 24

Evidence that Jews were unequal & segregated in Weimar Society between 1918-32
Pamphlets

Answer 24

• Stereotypes of Jewish people were used in pamphlets to stress the danger that Jews presented to Germany.
• Polack was an offensive term used to describe Jews who had arrived to Germany from Eastern Europe
• Other Jews were seen as radical communists

Question 25

Evidence that females in Ethnic minorities were equal & integrated into Weimar Society between 1918-32

Answer 25

• Women in ethnic minorities faced low-level discrimination
• In general, they received lower wages and were less likely to be hired by a “German” man.

Question 26

How did Article 113 of the Weimar Constitution protect the rights of minorities

Answer 26

• groups who spoke a different language could not be legally prevented from using their language,
• or preserving their national identify, such as in education and their daily lives

Question 27

How did Article 113 of the Weimar Constitution not serve to protect the rights of minorities
The Länder

Answer 27

• The Länder did not always adhere to [follow) Article 113.
• The Länder had the authority to form and follow their own laws against minorities.

Question 28

How did Article 113 of the Weimar Constitution not serve to protect the rights of minorities
Society

Answer 28

• While the Weimar Constitution formally recognized racial equality, much of German society was still profoundly racist.
• Stereotypes of Jews and Africans supported a commonly held view that Germans were racially superior.