Changes in Society, 1924-29

• What period is often described as a 'golden age' in the Weimar Republic?

  The period between 1924 and 1929
• Why is the period between 1924 and 1929 considered a 'golden age'?

  Due to significant changes in culture, the standard of living, and the position of women
• How did cultural changes during the Weimar period affect support for the Weimar Republic?

  Many welcomed the changes as they challenged tradition and strengthened support, while others criticized them as weakening society
• What were the main improvements in the standard of living during the Weimar Republic from 1924 to 1929?

  • Improvement in wages
  • Better housing conditions
  • Introduction of unemployment insurance
• By what percentage did real wages increase by 1928 in Germany?

  Over ten percent
• Who benefited from the increase in real wages during the Weimar Republic?

  German workers benefited, but many middle-class individuals did not
• What was the impact of hyperinflation in 1923 on the middle class in Germany?

  Many middle-class individuals were bankrupted and did not experience a rise in wages
• How many middle-class workers were unemployed in April 1928?

  Almost 184,000
• What measures did Weimar governments take to address housing shortages?

  They employed architects and planners, and used government investment, tax breaks, land grants, and low-interest loans
• How many new homes were built between 1924 and 1931?

  More than two million
• By how much did state spending on housing increase by 1929 compared to 1913?

  33 times more
• What was the reduction in homelessness by 1928?

  More than 60 percent
• What were the key features of the unemployment insurance introduced in 1927?

  • Required contributions from workers and employers
  • Provided unemployment welfare
  • Extended benefits to war veterans, dependents, single mothers, and the disabled
• What significant political change occurred for women in 1919 in Germany?

  Women over 20 years old were given the vote
• What legal rights were introduced for women during the Weimar Republic?

  Equality in education, civil service appointments, and equal pay in professions
• How many women deputies were in the Reichstag by 1926?

  32 women deputies
• What was the trend in women's employment during the Weimar Republic?

  The proportion of women working outside the home remained much the same
• What types of jobs did women increasingly take up during the Weimar Republic?

  New areas of employment such as civil service, social work, and assembly line jobs
• By 1933, how many women were teachers in Germany?

  100,000 women teachers
• How many women doctors were there by 1933?

  3,000 women doctors
• What social freedoms did women enjoy during the Weimar Republic?

  Women went out unescorted, drank and smoked in public, and were fashion conscious
• What were the main cultural changes during the Weimar Republic?

  • Removal of strict pre-war censorship
  • Berlin emerged as a cultural capital
  • Developments in painting, cinema, architecture, literature, and theatre
• How did the Weimar artists' approach to art differ from that before the war?

  Weimar artists focused on everyday life and aimed to be understood by ordinary people
• What is the term used to describe the new approach of Weimar artists?

  Neue Sachlichkeit, meaning 'new objectivity'
• Who were notable painters associated with the New Objectivity movement?

  George Grosz and Otto Dix
• What themes did George Grosz often depict in his paintings?

  Disabled people and the loss of control in depressing urban settings
• What was the Bauhaus movement focused on?

  Art and Technology - a new unity
• Who founded the Bauhaus movement?

  Walter Gropius
• What was Fritz Lang known for during the Weimar Republic?

  He was the best-known director and produced the film Metropolis
• What was the underlying message of the film The Cabinet of Dr Caligari?

  It was anti-war and anti-military
• What were the political themes in literature during the Weimar Republic?

  • Right-wing writers criticized democracy and glorified WWI
  • Left-wing writers were anti-war, with notable works like All Quiet on the Western Front
• Who wrote the anti-war novel All Quiet on the Western Front?

  Erich Remarque
• What was the significance of the theatre and opera called Zeittheater and Zeitoper?

  They featured greater realism and reflected contemporary issues
• What themes were explored in Erwin Piscator's works?

  Criticism of Germany's post-war situation and social issues