Social Developments

The Arts in Weimar Germany

A combination of new technology and changing social attitudes led to a great expansion in popular culture. Traditional approaches to the arts were subverted . by new ideas. Artists sought to express feelings rather than be realistic.

Art in Weimar Germany

Expressionism:
- This focused on emotions and feelings, sometimes exploring the darker side of the human psyche. Ernst Kirchner is a prime example.
The New Objectivity Movement:
- This expressed irreverence and this respect for authority with brutal, critical depictions of life in Weimar Germany. George Gross and Otto Dix are examples of artists from the new objectivity movement.
Dadaism:
- This sought to provoke, send, or cause outrage. Hannah Höch is an example of a Dadaist.

Literature in Weimar Germany

Amongst writers there was a trend to write work with a social, political purpose.
Alfred Döblin wrote about working-class life. Erich Maria Remarque’s anti-war novel 'All Quiet On The Western Front' challenged the ‘stab in the back’ myth.
There was a massive increase in publishing, especially paperbacks, which were cheaper and more accessible.
Famous Weimar Republic novelists include Hermann Hesse and Thomas Mann.

Music in Weimar Germany

Arnold Schoenberg developed atonal music, which did not conform to audience expectations.
Jazz was very popular, reaching a wide audience via radio. American stars came to Berlin but there were German bandleaders, e.g. Stefan Weintraub.
Radio broadcasts began in 1923 and were state controlled. By 1930 there were four million sets.
A new form of opera developed. Zeitopera (opera of the time) reflected modern issues from a radical, socialist perspective.

Theatre in Weimar Germany

A new type of theatre developed. Zeittheater (theatre of the time) depicted realistic, everyday situations to criticise Bourgeois society.
Theatre tried to involve the audience directly. Street theatre in particular brought political drama to a mass audience. Theatre was the most political of all the arts.

Film in Weimar Germany

Cinema embodied new technology, mass entertainment, the democratisation of the arts and, in the mid 20s especially, movements such as Expressionism.
German silent films produced some classics like Fritz Lang’s Metropolis.
Marlene Dietrich, star of Lang’s The Blue Angel (1930) symbolised new freedoms in Weimar Germany, especially given her sexually ambiguous appearance.

Architecture and Design in Weimar Germany

Architecture was very innovative. Familiar materials were used in new ways and concrete enabled to new shapes and forms to be used in buildings.
Functionalism was important. Buildings and furniture had clean lines and simple forms without excessive decoration.
The Bauhaus style of architecture and the design was very influential. Designs were bold and utilitarian.

1The Weimar Republic 1918-1933

1.1Establishment Of The Weimar Republic 1918-1924

1.1.1Post WW1

1.1.2Weimar Constitution

1.1.3Peace Settlement

1.1.4End of Topic Test - Germany Post WW1

1.1.5Economic Issues

1.1.6Economic Issues 2

1.1.7Social Issues

1.1.8End of Topic Test - Economic & Social Issues

1.1.9Extremist Threats

1.1.10Extremist Threats 2

1.1.11End of Topic Test - Extremist Threats

1.1.12Political Instability & The Invasion of the Ruhr

1.1.13Weimar Government by 1924

1.1.14End of Topic Test - Weimar Government by 1924

1.1.15A-A* (AO3/4) - Germany Post WW1

1.2The 'Golden Age' Of The Weimar Republic 1924-1928

1.2.1Economic Developments

1.2.2Industry & Agriculture

1.2.3End of Topic Test - Economic Developments

1.2.4Social Developments

1.2.5Social Developments 2

1.2.6End of Topic Test - Social Developments

1.2.7Political Parties

1.2.8Political Stability

1.2.9End of Topic Test - Weimar Politics

1.2.10Germany's International Position

1.2.11Germany's International Position 2

1.2.12End of Topic Test - International Position

1.2.13A-A* (AO3/4) - The Weimar 'Golden Age'

1.3The Collapse of Democracy 1928-1933

1.3.1The Impact Of The Depression

1.3.2Politics After The Depression

1.3.3The Appeal Of Extremism

1.3.4End of Topic Test - The Depression & Politics

1.3.5'Backstairs Intrigue'

1.3.6'Backstairs Intrigue' 2

1.3.7End of Topic Test - Backstairs Intrigue

1.3.8Political Developments

1.3.9The State by March 1933

1.3.10End of Topic Test - Political Developments

1.3.11A-A* (AO3/4) - The Collapse of Democracy

2Nazi Germany 1933-1945

2.1The Nazi Dictatorship 1933-1939

2.1.1Hitler's Consolidation Of Power

2.1.2The Terror State

2.1.3End of Topic Test - Consolidation of Power

2.1.4Opposition

2.1.5Propaganda

2.1.6A-A* (AO3/4) - Terror State & Propaganda

2.1.7End of Topic Test - Propaganda

2.1.8Economic Policies

2.1.9Economic Policies 2

2.1.10Impact Of Economic Policies

2.1.11Impact Of Economic Policies 2

2.1.12End of Topic Test - Economic Policies

2.1.13Social Policies

2.1.14Social Policies 2

2.1.15Volksgemeinschaft

2.1.16End of Topic Test - Social Policies

2.1.17A-A* (AO3/4) - Economic & Social Policies

2.2The Racial State 1933-1941

2.2.1The Radicalisation Of The State

2.2.2Anti-Semitism

2.2.3Development Of Anti-Semitic Policies

2.2.4Development Of Anti-Semitic Policies 2

2.2.5End of Topic Test - Anti-Semitism

2.2.6Treatment of the Jews in the Early Years of War

2.2.7Deportation & Anti-Semitism Evaluation

2.2.8End of Topic Test - Early Treatment of the Jews

2.2.9A-A* (AO3/4) - The Racial State

2.3The Impact Of War 1939-1945

2.3.1Home Front

2.3.2Impact On Society

2.3.3Impact On Society 2

2.3.4End of Topic Test - Impact of the War

2.3.5War Economy

2.3.6War Economy 2

2.3.7Policies Towards The Jews & Untermenschen

2.3.8A-A* (AO3/4) - Impact of the War

2.3.9End of Topic Test - War Economy

2.3.10Opposition

2.3.11Opposition 2

2.3.12Nazi State by 1945

2.3.13End of Topic Test - Opposition

2.3.14A-A* (AO3/4) - Opposition & The State in 1945

Jump to other topics