4/6/2011 9:32 PM
- “By the beginning of 1929, the prospects for the survival of the Weimar Republic looked good.”
- Thesis Statement:
- If prospects is defined as the likelihood or possibility of some future event occurring, and survival defined as the state or fact of continuing to live or exist, typically in spite of an accident, ordeal, or difficult circumstances, then from 1918-1929, the Weimar Republic had no prospect of survival as a result of the ‘cultural boom’ as it was ultimately blamed for allowing traditional German culture to be undermined as well as providing the Right and Nazi’s to use it against the republic, the Weimar Republic had some economic prospect of survival with Stresseman saving the German currency as well as the development of the industry and Germany becoming an attraction for foreign investments, but still faced major economic problems as a result of Welfare state and an insecure economy, and lastly the Republic had a very likely prospect of survival in terms of Foreign policy, mainly as a result of Stresseman’s foreign policy, which eventually led to the strengthening of the German economy, as well as the improvement of Germany’s international position.
- Paragraph 1 - Culture
- Topic Sentence: The Weimar republic was blamed for allowing traditional German culture to be undermined, which resulted in much hostility in much of the population and as a result, The Nazis and Right wing took advantage of this to go against the Republic.
- Points of Evidence
- Bodies such as the Nazi-lead “Campaign for German Culture” campaigned against nudism, homosexuality, birth control, Americanisation and female emancipation placing great importance on church-going and family prayers
- To the Nazis, the prominence of Jews amidst the cultural experimentation both increased anti-Semitism and underlined the Weimar Republic’s decay
- In 1926, the Reichstag passed a law to “protect youth from pulp fiction and pornography” and a list of inappropriate books and films was drawn up and banned from sale to under 18-year-olds
- There was an increase of conservative participation in the government after 1929 resulting in several measures against new cultural forms
- Wilhelm Frick became the first Nazi in a state government in 1930 and he ordered modern art removed from museums and restricted jazz performances.
- In film, the early expressionism changed in favour of a greater stress on social reality. By the late 1920s, right-wing filmmakers used the cinema to produce patriotic films such as Frederick the Great.
