the golden years

• the golden years was 1924-1929
• due to stressemans work, germany had gotten out of economic distress and was able to pay reparations. this meant more people had disposable income
• wages and working conditions improved
• the working week shortened
• there was a new architectural movement called bauhaus
• women were allowed to vote
• 90% of women voted in the 1932 elections
• in 1932 10% of the reichstag were female
• still housing shortage but had eased by 1928
• women were paid 33% less than men
• women were still expected to give up work after marriage
• by 1925 36% of women were in work
• there was greater social and financial independence for women
• a more liberal appearance was accepted for women:

  • shorter dresses
  • short hair
  • makeup
  • smoking
• right winged parties thought that the change weakened traditional german culture
• left winged communists said that money shouldn’t be spent on art but should be given to people who needed basic help
• in 1925-29 private companies built 37,000 new homes and building associations built 64,000
• in 1926 unemployment was 2 million, in 1928 it was 1.3 million
• people who attended higher education rose by 60% by 1928
• pensions were introdced to the war veterans, wives and children and dependants to the war dead