Affirming German Identity - To What End?
Although Weimar radio broadcasts came to embody modernity and the advent of plurality, especially with regard to incorporating different political voices, in the late 1920s, Weimar radio would eventually pave the way for the rise of Nazism.
How did such a transition occur? According to Adelheid von Saldern, a leading scholar of twentieth-century German history, part of this transition can be attributed to a crucial aspect of radio broadcasts: the promotion of Volk and Heimat culture in regional broadcasts. She defines them as the following:
After WWI, given that Germany faced social fragmentation from the economic depression and political upheavals following the Treaty of Versailles, the Weimar Republic wanted to combat these problems by using the radio as an "instrument of peace," [1] one that would unite the Volk to reaffirm a sense of German identity. In order to quell the flames of bitterness and revolt, radio broadcasts that promoted Volk and Heimat culture served to pacify the restless German nation, reminding listeners of the rich historical and cultural heritage that all citizens could claim, regardless of class. Such programs played a unifying role in the community, given how dispersed the ethnically German populations were during this period. The emphasis on Volk and Heimat culture gave the German population a sense of identity especially during a time of uncertainty and turmoil. As von Saldern asserted, "The marriage of modern radio and so-called traditional Volk and Heimat culture symbolized combinations of old and new." [2] In this case, technology, which often connotes modernity and the inevitable changes it brings, was not opposed to tradition; instead, the radio successfully promoted traditional values, reaffirming a sense of identity for a fragmented nation.
However, this would come at a great cost. By creating this notion of a Volk community (Volksgemeinschaft), on the one hand, it enabled social integration within the German nation, promoting an idealized, socially harmonized past that all members of the community shared, regardless of class, country, city or region. Even the Germans residing in areas outside of the Weimar Republic's control could still take pride in their cultural heritage. Alas, this concept made it easier for Nazis to implant racial ideas when they rose to power under Adolf Hitler. By emphasizing unity within the Volk, an inevitable consequence of this cultural pride is excluding those who do not share the same heritage. Additionally, given that much of radio broadcasting was controlled by the Reich during the Weimar Republic, it comes as no surprise to us today that under Hitler, the radio would be completely dominated by the Nazis under his regime.
How did such a transition occur? According to Adelheid von Saldern, a leading scholar of twentieth-century German history, part of this transition can be attributed to a crucial aspect of radio broadcasts: the promotion of Volk and Heimat culture in regional broadcasts. She defines them as the following:
- Volk - refers to the "people" in the ethnic sense (i.e. Germans) as well as the "nation"
- Heimat - refers to the relationship one has towards a certain spatial unit, which can be localized to a specific province or region; can also refer to the "motherland"
After WWI, given that Germany faced social fragmentation from the economic depression and political upheavals following the Treaty of Versailles, the Weimar Republic wanted to combat these problems by using the radio as an "instrument of peace," [1] one that would unite the Volk to reaffirm a sense of German identity. In order to quell the flames of bitterness and revolt, radio broadcasts that promoted Volk and Heimat culture served to pacify the restless German nation, reminding listeners of the rich historical and cultural heritage that all citizens could claim, regardless of class. Such programs played a unifying role in the community, given how dispersed the ethnically German populations were during this period. The emphasis on Volk and Heimat culture gave the German population a sense of identity especially during a time of uncertainty and turmoil. As von Saldern asserted, "The marriage of modern radio and so-called traditional Volk and Heimat culture symbolized combinations of old and new." [2] In this case, technology, which often connotes modernity and the inevitable changes it brings, was not opposed to tradition; instead, the radio successfully promoted traditional values, reaffirming a sense of identity for a fragmented nation.
However, this would come at a great cost. By creating this notion of a Volk community (Volksgemeinschaft), on the one hand, it enabled social integration within the German nation, promoting an idealized, socially harmonized past that all members of the community shared, regardless of class, country, city or region. Even the Germans residing in areas outside of the Weimar Republic's control could still take pride in their cultural heritage. Alas, this concept made it easier for Nazis to implant racial ideas when they rose to power under Adolf Hitler. By emphasizing unity within the Volk, an inevitable consequence of this cultural pride is excluding those who do not share the same heritage. Additionally, given that much of radio broadcasting was controlled by the Reich during the Weimar Republic, it comes as no surprise to us today that under Hitler, the radio would be completely dominated by the Nazis under his regime.
Sources
[1] Von Saldern, Adelheid. "Volk and Heimat Culture in Radio Broadcasting during the Period of Transition from Weimar to Nazi Germany." The Journal of Modern History, 76, no. 2, 2004. 333.
[2] Ibid, 319.
Photo Credits
(1) Courtesy of Library of Congress (LOC). See: http://www.ww1propaganda.com/ww1-poster/sch%C3%BCtzt-die-heimat
(2) See: http://blogs.nd.edu/knownworld/2012/10/28/some-background-information-on-heimat/
[1] Von Saldern, Adelheid. "Volk and Heimat Culture in Radio Broadcasting during the Period of Transition from Weimar to Nazi Germany." The Journal of Modern History, 76, no. 2, 2004. 333.
[2] Ibid, 319.
Photo Credits
(1) Courtesy of Library of Congress (LOC). See: http://www.ww1propaganda.com/ww1-poster/sch%C3%BCtzt-die-heimat
(2) See: http://blogs.nd.edu/knownworld/2012/10/28/some-background-information-on-heimat/