Social

• War created a spirit of unity and patriotism across Germany, acting as a relief from the class divisions.
• Workers wages were generally high, it was the middle classes who suffered the most.
• Women sought employment and over one third were employed by 1918.
• The war impacted children as many parents had to neglect their children, education was reduced due to lack of teachers. 40% suffered from rickets.
• 1918-24 were known as the turbulent years. There was a sense of misery and suffering post war. Agricultural losses, the British blockade and people were reduced to live on 1,000 calories per day.
• The Spanish flew swept across the country after the war, killing over 1 million people.
• Due to the hyperinflation crisis, some had to be payed daily or in goods.
• Those who suffered from the hyperinflation crisis were: those relying on savings, pensions or a fixed income and those who were receiving fixed interests from war bonds.
• People who benefitted from the hyperinflation crisis were those with debts, loans or mortgages.
• The government spent a lot of money on the new welfare system.
• Welfare measures included:

  • 1922 - Youth Welfare Act: service to promote physical and social fitness
  • 1923 - National Insurance System: provide treatment for state-supported patients
  • 1927 - Unemployment insurance extended protection to 17.25 million workers
• 200,000 affordable houses built in 1926.
• Schemes set up to improve hospitals, schools, roads, municipal buildings and electrical supplies.
• In 1923, when so many became unemployed, the welfare system nearly collapsed. It increased opposition from the elites as they saw it as a threat to their position and hated the high tax
• Employers were very resistant to welfare. They persuaded the government to allow some 10-hour working days. They complained that they gave to workers in order to just win votes. In 1928, Ruhr industrialists rejected an arbitration award and locked out 250K workers in order to break the power of the unions.
• Jewish rights were generally well respected. Although Roma + Sinti were regarded as beggars and sent to camps and workhouses.
• Polish schools established and were well assimilated.
• Jews were increasingly assimilated. Many were middle-class professionals. 16% of Jews were lawyers.
• Pan-German league still existed and they still oppressed the Jews.
• Women now had the voted and 111 were elected into the Reichstag. The number of women in employment rose 31.2% to 35% 1907-25. Number of women in higher education increased.
• However, the expectation still existed that when a woman got married, they would become a stay at home mum.
• The League of German Women's association was set up and had a membership of 900K.
• There was still active resistance to women in the workplace.
• Families became smaller due to cheaper and more effective contraception. This led to more education opportunity as there were less children to focus on.
• Youth Culture developed: cinemas, radios, youth clubs, Americanisation