The document discusses the "Golden Years" of Weimar Germany from 1924-1929. It describes improvements in the economic, political, and cultural spheres during this period. Economically, the Dawes Plan, Rentenmark, and US loans helped stabilize Germany's economy. Politically, signing treaties like the Treaty of Locarno and forming coalitions indicated political normalization. Culturally, movements like Dadaism, Bauhaus, and Expressionism flourished, and Berlin became a vibrant cultural and artistic hub known for its nightlife. This period marked a social and economic recovery in Weimar Germany after the turmoil of its early years.

1. THE GOLDEN
YEARS OF
WEIMAR
1924-1929

2. “ Life seemed more free, more modern, more exciting
than any place I have ever been . . . Everywhere
there was an accent on youth. One sat up with
young people all night in the pavement cafes, the
plush bars, on a Rhineland steamer or in a smoke
filled artist’s studio and talked endlessly about life.
Most Germans one met struck you as being
democratic, liberal, even pacifist.
Journalist William L Shirer, 1941

3. YOUR KEY QUESTION
What evidence is there that life in Weimar
Germany improved socially, economically and
politically between 1924 and 1929?

4. ECONOMIC IMPROVEMENTS
➤ The Dawes Plan
➤ The Rentenmark
➤ US loans
For each of these, complete the following tasks:
1. Briefly describe it
2. Explain its origins
3. Explain how it contributed to Weimar’s ‘golden years’ - i.e. how
did it make life in Weimar Germany better?

5. POLITICAL IMPROVEMENTS
➤ Signed the Treaty of Locarno and joined the League of Nations
➤ Formed the Great Coalition in 1923
➤ New social legislation e.g. Provisional Work Hours Law and
Unemployment Insurance Act
For each of these, complete the following tasks:
1. Briefly describe it
2. Explain its origins
3. Explain how it contributed to Weimar’s ‘golden years’ - i.e. how did it
make life in Weimar Germany better?

6. CULTURAL IMPROVEMENTS
➤ Three major cultural movements marked the golden years of
Weimar -
➤ Dadaism (art)
➤ Bauhaus (architecture)
➤ Expressionism (cinema)

7. DADAISM
➤ Emerged in Switzerland during WWI
➤ Anarchistic art - rejected traditional art, anti-war, hated middle-
class capitalist values
➤ Intent was to disrupt artistic tradition and destroy perceptions
about what art “should” be - no logic or rules to their work, often
designed to shock or confuse viewers
➤ Great use of collage and montage, particularly with clashing
images or images; collages did not always make sense
➤ German Dadaist art was very political e.g. Otto Dix, heavily
influenced by the Dada school, painted cropped war veterans and
despairing civilians in Berlin (the Nazis would later deem Dix’s
work “degenerate” and order it painted over or burned)

8. THE WORK OF OTTO DIX

9. BAUHAUS
➤ Named for an art school in Weimar founded by architect
Walter Gropius
➤ An architectural style that united industrial mass production
with artistic design
➤ Wanted to experiment with new shapes and colours but only
those that could be mass-produced and functional
➤ Great use of tubular steel and synthetic materials rather than
natural materials like wood
➤ Bauhaus furniture and homes were minimalist, streamlined,
comfortable and ergonomically sound

10. BAUHAUS DESIGN

11. EXPRESSIONSM
➤ German film industry devastated by WWI - Hollywood dominated
film with light-hearted, mass-produced film
➤ Economic recovery in the 1920s allowed German cinema to flourish
again
➤ Small budgets so they found new ways to convey emotion,
atmosphere and mood - through lighting, camera angles and
movement
➤ Films were usually dark and explored themes including the
destructive powers of money and technology, social decay and
crime
➤ The birth of horror came from this period - The Cabinet of Dr Caligari
➤ Fritz Lang the most significant Weimar director

12. FRITZ LANG’S ‘METROPOLIS’
➤ Watch the beginning of the film and identify some key
expressionistic elements - focus on lighting, movement and
themes of social control
➤ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rGgon2YeISw

13. 1920S BERLIN
➤ As these movements flowered Berlin became a cultural and
artistic centre in Europe
➤ The influx of funds from the US increased spending and Berlin
became a city known for its nightlife (especially cabaret) and
decadence
➤ It was also a city known for sexual liberation and openness - it
had an LGBT scene, a trans performer scene and an erotic
performance scene. Sex workers were common and open
➤ This made Berlin extremely popular for a time, but also brought
on much criticism from more conservative Germans outside the
city, who saw it as decadent, immoral and further indicative of
how the Weimar period was destroying Germany

14. 1920S BERLIN

15. YOUR TASK
➤ Briefly explain how German culture changed during the golden
years of Weimar
➤ Account for the rise of Dadaism, Bauhaus architecture and
Expressionist cinema in this period
➤ Explain how Weimar cultural, technological and scientific
advancements led to Berlin becoming a great European city in
this period