HI136 The History of HI136 The History of GermanyGermanyLecture 8Lecture 8

Weimar Society Weimar Society and Cultureand Culture

The Upper ClassesThe Upper Classes No fundamental change to the social & economic structure after No fundamental change to the social & economic structure after

1918 – no redistribution of wealth, no nationalization of industry.1918 – no redistribution of wealth, no nationalization of industry. But some social change:But some social change: The aristocracy (at least temporarily) dislodged from their dominant The aristocracy (at least temporarily) dislodged from their dominant

position.position. Aristocratic ranks and titles banned after 1918 – many families Aristocratic ranks and titles banned after 1918 – many families

incorporate their titles into their surnames.incorporate their titles into their surnames. Nevertheless, industrialists and landowners still powerful and the old Nevertheless, industrialists and landowners still powerful and the old

elites represented in the Reichstag by the DVP and DNVP.elites represented in the Reichstag by the DVP and DNVP. The Officer Corps of the Reichswehr more aristocratic than the old The Officer Corps of the Reichswehr more aristocratic than the old

Imperial Army:Imperial Army: 25% of regular officers came from old military families in 1913,25% of regular officers came from old military families in 1913, this number had risen to 67% by 1929.this number had risen to 67% by 1929.

The Middle ClassesThe Middle Classes Small businesses struggled to Small businesses struggled to

survive in the difficult survive in the difficult economic climate of the 1920s economic climate of the 1920s and early 30s.and early 30s.

Many middle class families Many middle class families continued to fear a loss of continued to fear a loss of status and the threat of status and the threat of revolution and the extreme left.revolution and the extreme left.

Also a lack of identification Also a lack of identification with the new Republic.with the new Republic.

Even those who came to Even those who came to accept it often had little love for accept it often had little love for it – they came to be known as it – they came to be known as VernunftrepublikanerVernunftrepublikaner, ‘rational , ‘rational republicans’.republicans’.

Family of the Lawyer Dr Fritz von Glaser

(1920) by Otto Dix.

The Stinnes-Legien The Stinnes-Legien Agreement Agreement

15 November, 191815 November, 1918 An agreement between labour (represented by the trade An agreement between labour (represented by the trade

unionist Karl Legien) and capital (represented by unionist Karl Legien) and capital (represented by industrialist Hugo Stinnes) reached on 15 November industrialist Hugo Stinnes) reached on 15 November 1918.1918.

The Unions agreed not to interfere with private The Unions agreed not to interfere with private ownership.ownership.

In return, they were granted them full legal recognition In return, they were granted them full legal recognition and an 8 hour working day.and an 8 hour working day.

Achieved long-standing aims of the labour movement.Achieved long-standing aims of the labour movement.

The Working ClassesThe Working Classes Slow improvement in living Slow improvement in living

standards after 1924.standards after 1924. Shorter working day, legal Union Shorter working day, legal Union

representation and higher wages.representation and higher wages. SPD government in Prussia SPD government in Prussia

invested in public works – invested in public works – affordable housing, increased affordable housing, increased benefits, education etc.benefits, education etc.

Extension of adult education Extension of adult education aimed at workers.aimed at workers.

But curriculum designed to raise But curriculum designed to raise class consciousness, not improve class consciousness, not improve employment prospects or provide employment prospects or provide re-training.re-training.

EducationEducation Weimar Constitution: the state committed to providing free Weimar Constitution: the state committed to providing free

compulsory education.compulsory education. Universities controlled by central government, primary and Universities controlled by central government, primary and

secondary schools the responsibility of state governments.secondary schools the responsibility of state governments. Hoped that education will create a sense of civic responsibility, foster Hoped that education will create a sense of civic responsibility, foster

a commitment to democracy and provide greater social mobility.a commitment to democracy and provide greater social mobility. Attempts to reform secondary education in Prussia – more Attempts to reform secondary education in Prussia – more

opportunities for girls, raised the age at which testing took place, and opportunities for girls, raised the age at which testing took place, and allowed for more movement between educational streams.allowed for more movement between educational streams.

But resistance from the Centre Party and from within the educational But resistance from the Centre Party and from within the educational establishment.establishment.

Many teachers and professors, recruited from the middle classes, Many teachers and professors, recruited from the middle classes, remained hostile to the Republic and old educational methods – remained hostile to the Republic and old educational methods – learning by rote etc. – remained standard. learning by rote etc. – remained standard.

Gender IGender I New educational and employment New educational and employment

opportunities for women.opportunities for women. Young middle-class women Young middle-class women

increasingly employed in increasingly employed in secretarial and other ‘white collar’ secretarial and other ‘white collar’ jobs.jobs.

More disposable income & More disposable income & interaction with the outside world interaction with the outside world freed them from family influence.freed them from family influence.

Wages spent of consumer goods Wages spent of consumer goods and entertainment – fashion, and entertainment – fashion, cosmetics, cinema etc.cosmetics, cinema etc.

Absence of young men brought Absence of young men brought about changes in sexual about changes in sexual attitudes/behaviour.attitudes/behaviour.

Marlene Dietrich (left),Josephine Baker (right),and Louise Brooks(below).

Gender IIGender II All women over the age of 20 can All women over the age of 20 can

vote after 1918.vote after 1918. 36 female Reichstag deputies by 36 female Reichstag deputies by

1924 – more than in any other 1924 – more than in any other parliament in the world.parliament in the world.

But these criticized for confining But these criticized for confining their activities to ‘women’s issues’ their activities to ‘women’s issues’ – child care, social policy, family – child care, social policy, family issues etc.issues etc.

Bund Deutscher FrauenvereineBund Deutscher Frauenvereine (BDF) = the largest women’s (BDF) = the largest women’s organization with over 900,000 organization with over 900,000 members.members.

But a split in the women’s But a split in the women’s movement along age and class movement along age and class lines.lines.

Debate over reproductive issues Debate over reproductive issues and the campaign to legalize and the campaign to legalize abortion highlights these abortion highlights these differences.differences.

‘‘Weimar was Berlin, Berlin Weimar was Berlin, Berlin Weimar’Weimar’

Under the Weimar Republic Berlin Under the Weimar Republic Berlin became Germany’s premier became Germany’s premier cultural and social centre.cultural and social centre.

A hub for European travel.A hub for European travel. 1924: Tempelhof Airport opened.1924: Tempelhof Airport opened. Berlin had a population of 4 million Berlin had a population of 4 million

by 1925 & grew by 80-100,000 by 1925 & grew by 80-100,000 people a year.people a year.

By 1928 Berlin was the world’s 3By 1928 Berlin was the world’s 3rdrd largest city after London and New largest city after London and New York.York.

1926: Funkturm Radio Tower built.1926: Funkturm Radio Tower built. 1928: Kempinski Haus Vaterland 1928: Kempinski Haus Vaterland

amusement park opened.amusement park opened.

Patrons of the Eldorado, Berlin’s notorious

transvestite bar.

The Potsdammerplatz by night. Six-day bicycle races.

Marlene Dietrich as the cabaret singer Lola Lola

Crime & PolicingCrime & Policing Chaotic conditions in the early and later years of the Republic a breeding Chaotic conditions in the early and later years of the Republic a breeding

ground for crime.ground for crime. Prostitution – the police estimated that there were 25,000 full time Prostitution – the police estimated that there were 25,000 full time

prostitutes in Berlin in 1929.prostitutes in Berlin in 1929. Drugs.Drugs. Organized Crime – extortion, illegal gambling, protection rackets etc.Organized Crime – extortion, illegal gambling, protection rackets etc. Murder:Murder:

Fritz Haarmann, the ‘Butcher of Hanover’, killed 24 tramps and male prostitutes Fritz Haarmann, the ‘Butcher of Hanover’, killed 24 tramps and male prostitutes between 1919 and 1924.between 1919 and 1924.

Karl Grossman murdered perhaps as many as 50 women before he was Karl Grossman murdered perhaps as many as 50 women before he was arrested in Berlin in 1921.arrested in Berlin in 1921.

Peter KPeter Kürten, the ‘Vampire of Düsseldorf’, was convicted of 9 murders and 7 ürten, the ‘Vampire of Düsseldorf’, was convicted of 9 murders and 7 attempted murders in 1931.attempted murders in 1931.

By 1929 50,000 crimes being reported annually in Berlin alone.By 1929 50,000 crimes being reported annually in Berlin alone. Policing effective – the uniformed Policing effective – the uniformed SchutzpolizeiSchutzpolizei (Schupo) and the plain (Schupo) and the plain

clothes clothes KriminalpolizeiKriminalpolizei (Kripo). (Kripo). Berlin police well trained and well educated, with a high success rate: 39 out Berlin police well trained and well educated, with a high success rate: 39 out

of 40 reported murders solved in 1928, while culprits brought to trial in all 20 of 40 reported murders solved in 1928, while culprits brought to trial in all 20 cases of attempted murder.cases of attempted murder.

Above: Peter Lorre as the child murder in Fritz Lang’s M (1931)

Ernst Gennat (1880-1939), head of theHomicide division of theBerlin Kriminalpolizei(1925-39) and originatorOf the term ‘serial killer’(Serienmörder).

Left: Peter Kürten (1883-1931), ‘the Vampire of Düsseldorf’.

Weimar CinemaWeimar Cinema The war freed German cinema The war freed German cinema

from foreign competition and from foreign competition and provided a captive audience for provided a captive audience for home-grown products.home-grown products.

1917: The German High 1917: The German High Command force a merger of Command force a merger of German production companies to German production companies to form form Universum Film A.G.Universum Film A.G. (Ufa). (Ufa).

1918: The state withdrew its stake 1918: The state withdrew its stake in Ufa, which continued as a in Ufa, which continued as a private concern and Germany’s private concern and Germany’s largest production company.largest production company.

Technological innovations, high Technological innovations, high production values and a strong production values and a strong aesthetic sense put Weimar aesthetic sense put Weimar cinema at the fore-front of the cinema at the fore-front of the European avant-garde. European avant-garde.

Notable German Films, Notable German Films, 1918-331918-33

Der GolumDer Golum (1920) (1920) Das Cabinet des Dr CaligariDas Cabinet des Dr Caligari (1920) (1920) Der mDer müde Todüde Tod (1921) (1921) Dr Mabuse, der Spieler – Ein Bild der ZeitDr Mabuse, der Spieler – Ein Bild der Zeit (1922) (1922) Nosferatu, eine Symphonie des GrauensNosferatu, eine Symphonie des Grauens (1922) (1922) Der letze mannDer letze mann (1924) (1924) Die freundlose GasseDie freundlose Gasse (1925) (1925) Die Abenteuer des Prinzen AchmedDie Abenteuer des Prinzen Achmed (1926) – the world’s first feature (1926) – the world’s first feature

length animated film.length animated film. MetropolisMetropolis (1927) (1927) Der blaue EngelDer blaue Engel (1930) (1930) Westfront 1918Westfront 1918 (1930) (1930) Die DreigroschenoperDie Dreigroschenoper (1931) (1931) MM (1931) (1931)

Notable Directors and Notable Directors and ActorsActors

DirectorsDirectors Fritz LangFritz Lang F. W. MurnauF. W. Murnau G. W. PabstG. W. Pabst Ernst LubitschErnst Lubitsch Josef von SternbegJosef von Sternbeg Billy WilderBilly Wilder Walter RuttmannWalter Ruttmann Paul LeniPaul Leni Arnold FranckArnold Franck

ActorsActors Conrad VeidtConrad Veidt Emil JanningsEmil Jannings Rudolf Klein-RoggeRudolf Klein-Rogge Marlene DietrichMarlene Dietrich Peter LorrePeter Lorre Max SchreckMax Schreck Werner KraussWerner Krauss Leni ReifenstahlLeni Reifenstahl

ExpressionismExpressionismExpressionismExpressionism is the is the

tendency of an tendency of an artist to distort artist to distort reality for an reality for an emotional effect; it emotional effect; it is a subjective art is a subjective art form. form. Art movement very Art movement very influential in influential in Germany since the Germany since the turn of the century turn of the century ((Die BrückeDie Brücke, , der der Blaue ReiterBlaue Reiter).).

Wassily Kandinsky, Der blaue Reiter (1903)

Expressionist Expressionist ArchitectureArchitecture

The Einstein Tower in Potsdam (1919-20),designed by Erich Mendelsohn

The Chilehaus in Hamburg (1922-24),

designed by Fritz Höger

Expressionist FilmExpressionist Film

Scenes from Das Cabinet des Dr Caligari (1920)Still from Nosferatu (1922), directed by F. W. Murnau

The ‘Tower of Babel’ from Fritz Lang’s Metropolis (1927)

Expressionist TheatreExpressionist Theatre Expressionist theatre was Expressionist theatre was

strident and hostile, strident and hostile, “eccentric in plot, staging, “eccentric in plot, staging, speech, characters, speech, characters, acting, and direction.” acting, and direction.” (Peter Gay).(Peter Gay).

Ernst Toller, Ernst Toller, Die Die WandlungWandlung ((TransformationTransformation, 1919)., 1919).

George Kaiser, George Kaiser, Die Die KoralleKoralle (1917), (1917), GasGas (1918) & (1918) & Gas IIGas II (1920). (1920).

The director and impressario Max Reinhardt(1873-1943) did much to popularize an Expressionist

aesthetic in the theatre of the Weimar Republic

DadaDada An international cultural An international cultural

movement founded in Zmovement founded in Zürich in ürich in 1916.1916.

first and foremost a response first and foremost a response to the madness of war.to the madness of war.

To the Dadaists, progress To the Dadaists, progress (including reason and logic) (including reason and logic) had led to the disaster of world had led to the disaster of world war.war.

They believed that the only They believed that the only way forward was through way forward was through political anarchy, the natural political anarchy, the natural emotions, the intuitive and the emotions, the intuitive and the irrational.irrational.

A fore-runner of Surrealism.A fore-runner of Surrealism.

Germany: A Winter’s Tale (1917-19)by George Grosz

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/a/a9/Jedermann_sein_eigner_Fussball.jpg

The First International Dada Fair, Berlin, 1920

Neue SachlichkeitNeue Sachlichkeit (New Objectivity)(New Objectivity)

An Outgrowth of and in opposition to expressionism.An Outgrowth of and in opposition to expressionism. A new naturalism in art, literature and cinema.A new naturalism in art, literature and cinema. A style and aesthetic, rather than a movement.A style and aesthetic, rather than a movement. Encompassed ‘Verists’ who used the style to comment critically on Encompassed ‘Verists’ who used the style to comment critically on

society and ‘Classicists’ who merely favoured a representation and society and ‘Classicists’ who merely favoured a representation and realism over abstraction.realism over abstraction.

““What we are displaying here is distinguished by the – in itself What we are displaying here is distinguished by the – in itself purely external – characteristics of the objectivity with which the purely external – characteristics of the objectivity with which the artists express themselves” (Gustav Friedrich Hartlaub, 1923).artists express themselves” (Gustav Friedrich Hartlaub, 1923).

Rejection of sentimentality and emotional agitation of Rejection of sentimentality and emotional agitation of Expressionism.Expressionism.

Großstadt (Metropolis) Triptych (1927-28) by Otto Dix

The Pillars of the Establishment (1926)

by George GroszThree Whores (1926) by

Otto Dix

Satires of middle class family life: Industriebauen (1920) by Georg Scholz and Deutsche Familie (1932)

by Adolf Uzarski

Neue Sachlichkeit Neue Sachlichkeit FilmFilm

Posters for Berlin: Die Sinfonie der Grosstadt (1927) and Der Letze Mann (1924)

Walter Gropius (1883-Walter Gropius (1883-1969)1969)

Director of the Bauhaus between 1919 and 1928.

His aim was to bring together all creative efforts into one whole, to reunify all the disciplines of practical art — painting, sculpture, handicrafts and the crafts. There should be no distinction between monumental and decorative art.

He believed that the student must know the crafts — each student had to work in the workshop to familiarise themselves with materials and construction in order to learn how to design properly.

The BauhausThe Bauhaus Established standards of excellence and workmanship. Created products for mass production. Chief aesthetic principle was to simplify the design of all

objects. The modernist palette tended to emphasize white and grey

accented with black or primary colours. Ornamentation had to be integral to the materials of

construction. Made use of the latest technologies. Stressed lightness and transparency. Art and technology were fused in an effort to improve overall

quality of design.

The BauhausThe Bauhaus

The Bauhuas building in Dessau (1925-26)

Cantilever “Cesca” Chair by Marcel

Breuer.

ConclusionConclusion No redistribution of wealth or nationalization of industry, but still a No redistribution of wealth or nationalization of industry, but still a

great deal of social change under the Weimar Republic:great deal of social change under the Weimar Republic: Shorter working week, legal recognition of trade unions.Shorter working week, legal recognition of trade unions. State authorities in Prussia tied to provide better living and working State authorities in Prussia tied to provide better living and working

conditions, raise social mobility through educational reform.conditions, raise social mobility through educational reform. New opportunities for women.New opportunities for women.

Growth of Berlin & identification with Weimar culture.Growth of Berlin & identification with Weimar culture. New styles and media:New styles and media:

Expressionism, Dada, New Objectivity.Expressionism, Dada, New Objectivity. Film & Radio.Film & Radio.

But many Germans still feel alienated from the Republic and its But many Germans still feel alienated from the Republic and its culture.culture.