Modernity and its Discontents HI136, History of Germany Lecture
7
Slide 2
The Crisis of Classical Modernity? How Golden were the Golden
Twenties?
Slide 3
Social Change Urbanisation Class Generational Conflict
Gender
Slide 4
The Urban Republic Continued urbanisation after 1918. Berlin
Became Germanys premier cultural & social centre. A hub for
European travel. 1924: Tempelhof Airport opened. Berlin had a
population of 4 million by 1925 & grew by 80-100,000 people a
year. By 1928 Berlin was the worlds 3 rd largest city after London
and New York. 1926: Funkturm Radio Tower built. 1928: Kempinski
Haus Vaterland amusement park opened.
Slide 5
The Potsdamer Platz at night (below right), the Kempinski Haus
Vaterland (above), six day bicycle race (above right )
Slide 6
The Upper Classes No fundamental change to the social &
economic structure after 1918 no redistribution of wealth, no
nationalization of industry. But some social change: The
aristocracy (at least temporarily) dislodged from their dominant
position. Aristocratic ranks and titles banned after 1918 many
families incorporate their titles into their surnames.
Nevertheless, industrialists and landowners still powerful and the
old elites represented in the Reichstag by the DVP and DNVP. The
Officer Corps of the Reichswehr more aristocratic than the old
Imperial Army: 25% of regular officers came from old military
families in 1913, this number had risen to 67% by 1929.
Slide 7
The Middle Classes Small businesses struggled to survive in the
difficult economic climate of the 1920s and early 30s. Many middle
class families continued to fear a loss of status and the threat of
revolution and the extreme left. The Middle classes divided into
upper and lower but also old and new. Between 1907 and 1925 the
number of white collar workers grew by 4 million. Family of the
Lawyer Dr Fritz von Glaser (1920) by Otto Dix.
Slide 8
The Working Classes Slow improvement in living standards after
1924. Shorter working day, legal Union representation and higher
wages. SPD government in Prussia invested in public works
affordable housing, increased benefits, education etc. Extension of
adult education aimed at workers. But curriculum designed to raise
class consciousness, not improve employment prospects or provide
re- training.
Slide 9
Political Culture A highly politicised, but deeply divided
society. A republic without republicans?
Slide 10
The Economy Structural weaknesses in the Weimar economy.
Reliance on foreign investment left Germany dangerously exposed to
fluctuations in the world economy. Trend towards rationalisation
and business mergers. Wages rose, but so did prices. Growing
unemployment. Shrinking exports.
Slide 11
Youth New sensitivity to lack of proper supervision of youth
and too much freedom for jugendliche 1922 Reich Youth Welfare Law:
Every German child has the right to an upbringing that will ensure
physical, intellectual and social fitness. Boy subcultures Youth
unemployment
Slide 12
Gender The American film star Louise Brooks (left) came to
epitomise the look of the New Woman, while Marlene Deitrich (right)
exuded sexuality and sophistication.
Slide 13
Weimar Culture Nobel Prizes in physics: 1918: Max Planck 1921:
Albert Einstein 1925: Gustav Hertz 1932: Werner Heisenberg
Classical Music: Arnold Schoenberg and Alban Berg Philosophy:
Martin Heidegger, Sein und Zeit (1927) Research centres: Berlin
Psychoanalytic Institute (1920) Institute for Social Research
(Frankfurt School, 1923) Warburg Institute (1926)
Slide 14
Expressionism Above left: The Einstein Tower, Potsdam (1919-20)
Below right: Wassily Kandinski, On White II (1923) Below left:
still from Das Cabinett des Dr. Caligari (1919)
Slide 15
New Objectivity Grostadt (Metropolis) Triptych (1927-28) by
Otto Dix
Slide 16
New Objectivity Left: The Pillars of the Establishment (1926)
by George Grosz Right: Three Whores (1926) by Otto Dix