The Aftermath of World War I
Following the ravages of World War I, Germany faced food shortages, civil unrest and political turmoil, further exacerbated by the humiliation they faced with the Treaty of Versailles, which, among other damaging dictates, squarely blamed Germany for the war. The moderate left-wing Social Democratic Party, under Friedrich Ebert, came to power when it won 80% of the vote. Given that Germany "was in such a state of unrest," [1] the first meeting of the National Assembly took place in the town of Weimar because access to the capital city, Berlin, was obstructed by violent protests and upheaval.
Due to Germany's inability to pay reparations for WWI, hyperinflation and a severe economic depression tainted the period of 1918 up to the early 1920s until 1923, when Gustav Stresemann was appointed chancellor. Stresemann proposed plans to solve Germany's problems, including introducing a new currency, the Rentenmark, which was based on the value of all German lands and assets. [2]
With Stresemann, Germany began to prosper, and the period from 1924-1929 was dubbed, "The Golden Years," where Weimar culture flourished, from innovations in architecture and design to the burgeoning use of technologies, such as film and radio, that rose in prominence. Given the significant reaches of the airwaves, it would come as no surprise that the Weimar Republic would control this technology as an effective means of pacifying the public. [3]
German marks (the Germany currency) being
baled as waste paper, circa 1923. (3)
Due to Germany's inability to pay reparations for WWI, hyperinflation and a severe economic depression tainted the period of 1918 up to the early 1920s until 1923, when Gustav Stresemann was appointed chancellor. Stresemann proposed plans to solve Germany's problems, including introducing a new currency, the Rentenmark, which was based on the value of all German lands and assets. [2]
With Stresemann, Germany began to prosper, and the period from 1924-1929 was dubbed, "The Golden Years," where Weimar culture flourished, from innovations in architecture and design to the burgeoning use of technologies, such as film and radio, that rose in prominence. Given the significant reaches of the airwaves, it would come as no surprise that the Weimar Republic would control this technology as an effective means of pacifying the public. [3]
German marks (the Germany currency) being
baled as waste paper, circa 1923. (3)
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Sources
[1] London Jewish Cultural Centre. See: http://www.theholocaustexplained.org/ks3/the-nazi-rise-to-power/the-weimar-republic/the-weimar-republic/#.Ux_jReddWE8
[2] London Jewish Cultural Centre. See: http://www.theholocaustexplained.org/ks3/the-nazi-rise-to-power/the-weimar-republic/1929-problems-solved/#.Ux_ZA-ddWE9
[3] Jelavich, Peter. Berlin Alexanderplatz: Radio, Film, and the Death of Weimar Culture. Berkeley: University of California Press, 2006.
Photo credits: All images taken from the London Jewish Cultural Centre website.
(1) Taken from the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. See: http://www.theholocaustexplained.org/ks3/the-nazi-rise-to-power/the-weimar-republic/the-weimar-republic/#.Ux_oROddWE8
(2) Taken from the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. See: http://www.theholocaustexplained.org/ks3/the-nazi-rise-to-power/the-weimar-republic/1929-problems-solved/#.Ux_ZA-ddWE9
(3) Taken from the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. See: http://www.theholocaustexplained.org/ks3/the-nazi-rise-to-power/the-weimar-republic/invasion-of-the-ruhr/#.Ux_pGuddWE8
[1] London Jewish Cultural Centre. See: http://www.theholocaustexplained.org/ks3/the-nazi-rise-to-power/the-weimar-republic/the-weimar-republic/#.Ux_jReddWE8
[2] London Jewish Cultural Centre. See: http://www.theholocaustexplained.org/ks3/the-nazi-rise-to-power/the-weimar-republic/1929-problems-solved/#.Ux_ZA-ddWE9
[3] Jelavich, Peter. Berlin Alexanderplatz: Radio, Film, and the Death of Weimar Culture. Berkeley: University of California Press, 2006.
Photo credits: All images taken from the London Jewish Cultural Centre website.
(1) Taken from the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. See: http://www.theholocaustexplained.org/ks3/the-nazi-rise-to-power/the-weimar-republic/the-weimar-republic/#.Ux_oROddWE8
(2) Taken from the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. See: http://www.theholocaustexplained.org/ks3/the-nazi-rise-to-power/the-weimar-republic/1929-problems-solved/#.Ux_ZA-ddWE9
(3) Taken from the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. See: http://www.theholocaustexplained.org/ks3/the-nazi-rise-to-power/the-weimar-republic/invasion-of-the-ruhr/#.Ux_pGuddWE8