Weimar Republic Society PDF

# Die deutsche Gesellschaft zwischen Tradition und Moderne ## Die "Goldenen Zwanziger": Das kulturelle Leben - The "Golden Twenties" refer to a period of free, productive and creative cultural life in Germany. - The capital, Berlin, became a European metropolis with around 4 million inhabitants. -...

# Die deutsche Gesellschaft zwischen Tradition und Moderne ## Die "Goldenen Zwanziger": Das kulturelle Leben - The "Golden Twenties" refer to a period of free, productive and creative cultural life in Germany. - The capital, Berlin, became a European metropolis with around 4 million inhabitants. - The "Weimar Culture" generally rejected the new Republic. - The lost war and revolution changed the worldview of the Wilhelmian era. - The search for something completely new was what united, even the most extreme ideas. - The political everyday life appeared bland and full of compromises. ## Neue Kunstströmungen - **Expressionism** influenced art and literature. - This stream rejected bourgeois society and imagined a "new human", focusing on spiritual and mental perceptions. - In painting, reality was abstracted and colors were emphasized over objects. - The **New Objectivity** dominated art and literature from the mid-1920s. - This new trend created objective, sober and distanced works without the previous ecstatic vividness. ## Massenkultur und Medien - **Cinema** and **radio** experienced a huge upswing. - **Illustrated Magazines** and **tabloids** gained popularity. - **Jazz** and **Charleston** dominated music. - The **Bauhaus** was an internationally recognized architectural school, where artisans and artists learned together. - They wanted to combine beauty and technical requirements. ## Sport - ein neues Phänomen - After the First World War, sport events became very popular. - The **German Football Association (DFB)** had 190,000 members in 1914, and more than 1 million in 1931. - New sports, like handball, emerged. - The **German Grand Prix** on the **Nürburgring** was won several times by the racing driver Rudolf Caracciola - the personification of the "roaring Twenties" in Germany. - **Women** were first accepted as athletes in 1900 when the **International Olympic Committee (IOC)** was forced to accept women being included in the Olympics for the first time. ## Wissenschaft und Technik - **German scientists** were ostracized in 1918 but quickly regained their prestige. - **German companies** excelled in specific areas, like building airships, airplanes, and electrical appliances. - The **"Zeppelin"** was the first airship to circle the globe. - **Cars** became more affordable and the **"Laubfrosch"** (Opel 4/12 PS) with its affordable price became a success story for the automobile industry. ## Die Großstadt - **The growth of cities** brought about the "Myth of the Metropolis". - Illuminated streets, trams, and public transport were new features. - People living in the cities were captivated by the modernity of urban life. - Some viewed cities as the epitome of modernization and freedom. - Others regarded it as a place of decadence. ## Josephine Baker in München - The image shows a caricature by Thomas Theodor Heine from the satirical magazine *Simplicissimus* from 1929. - The caricature shows Josefina Baker being chased away by a man, who seems to be angry and who is about to swing his fist at her. - The text above the picture reads: "Out with you! In Bavaria, only we down-to-earth blacks can perform.” - The caricature refers to the ban on Josephine Baker's performance by the city council, which considered her performance "inappropriate". ## Die Rolle der Frau - Moderne Akzente und alte Abhängigkeiten - **The "New Woman"** was portrayed in many media, wearing short hairstyles, smoking in public and even going to bars alone. - This representation was heavily influenced by the entertainment and consumer society. - Despite the social changes, women largely remained a minority in the workplace. - During economic crises, many women were pressured to quit their jobs. - The **"Lehrerinnenzölibat"** - a law banning married female teachers - was reintroduced in 1923 to ensure male teachers had secure employment. - Only 5% of all 19-26 year old women were enrolled in a university. ## Jugend zwischen Kontrolle und Fürsorge - **Many young people grew up without fathers**, who had died in the war. - **Poverty** and **lack of orientation** resulted in **high delinquency** rates. - **Reform pedagogy** aimed at raising children to become democratic citizens and was implemented in schools. - The **Reichsjugendwohlfahrtsgesetz** (1922) provided funding for youth welfare offices. - **Youth organizations** aimed at regulating young people's free time and behaviors. - Young people often viewed the Republic as hostile as unemployment was high. - **Radical youth movements** emerged, including the "Wandervogel" movement, which became more politically active and ultimately more radical. ## M1 Eine denkwürdige Feier - The text from M1 is written by **Harry Graf Kessler**, a diplomat and art collector, who kept diaries throughout his life. - The text describes a 60th birthday celebration for the writer **Gerhart Hauptmann**. - Many professors and students boycotted Hauptmann's celebration because he was a republican. ## M2 Italienischer Diktator oder demokratischer Reichskanzler? - The text from M2 is written by **Kurt Hiller**, a pacifistic publicist, who was a regular contributor to *Die Weltbühne*, a German weekly magazine. - Hiller praises **Benito Mussolini** as a strong, vital leader, who is authentic and not hypocritical. - He criticizes the weakness and hypocrisy he sees in parliamentary democracies. - He argues that the people are disappointed with democracy and socialism. ## M3 Frauensport - The text from M3 describes the women's 800-meter race at the 1928 Olympics. - Some female athletes collapsed shortly after crossing the finish line. - It was argued that this was due to exhaustion and partly because of the women's fragility. - Other commentators defended the female athletes, praising their sportsmanship and commitment. - The 800-meter race was removed from the Olympics after 1928 and not included again until 1960. - This event was reintroduced because of the change in public opinion, which no longer viewed women as physically inferior to men. The document provides insights into the cultural, social, and political aspects of Germany between 1918 and 1933. The "Golden Twenties" are presented as a period of both progress and crisis, characterized by a strong emphasis on cultural expression, modernization, and the rise of mass culture. The text presents diverse perspectives on the role of women and youth, the rise of fascism, and the evolving relationship between the Republic and its citizens. It also highlights the complexities of the Weimar Republic, a period of great change and uncertainty in German history.