Weimar culture and achievements Cambridge IGCSE History revision
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In plain words
For a few years in the 1920s Berlin was the most exciting city in Europe. Artists, architects and film-makers did things that are still copied today. To many Germans in small towns it looked like the end of everything decent.
8 things to know
- Under the Kaiser there had been strict censorship. The Weimar Constitution guaranteed freedom of expression, and the arts flourished.
- Art: painters such as George Grosz and Otto Dix showed the ugliness of war and the corruption of society, instead of flattering their subjects.
- Architecture and design: the Bauhaus school, founded by Walter Gropius, taught a clean, modern style using steel, glass and concrete.
- Cinema: Germany made some of the most admired films of the age. Fritz Lang's Metropolis, of 1927, was a landmark of science fiction, and Marlene Dietrich became an international star.
- Theatre, literature and nightlife: Berlin was famous for its cabarets and its theatres. The novel All Quiet on the Western Front, an anti-war story by Erich Maria Remarque, became a bestseller.
- Social achievements: women had the vote and sat in the Reichstag. The state built large numbers of new homes, and brought in unemployment insurance in 1927.
- Not everyone approved. In the countryside and among conservatives, the new culture was seen as immoral and un-German. The Nazis attacked it as decadent.
- The achievements of the Weimar period overall: a working democracy, economic recovery, acceptance abroad, social reform and a brilliant culture.
Worked example
Explain why Weimar culture was controversial in Germany. This is a 6-mark question.
- It was new and critical: artists mocked the army, the Church and the rich, which offended people who respected them.
- It was centred on Berlin: its nightlife and freedom shocked people in small towns and villages, who saw it as immoral.
- It was used by the Republic's enemies: nationalists and Nazis called it un-German and decadent, and blamed the Republic for allowing it.
Tips and tricks
- Have one name for each art: Grosz or Dix for painting, the Bauhaus for architecture, Lang's Metropolis for film, Remarque for literature.
- Culture counts as an achievement and as a source of division. A balanced answer says both.
It lands in your notebook with its questions as flashcards.
Weimar culture and achievements: 5 questions and answers
These are the quiz’s questions. Do the quiz first, then come back here for the ones that got you.
What was the Bauhaus?
It was founded by Walter Gropius.
Who directed the film Metropolis?
It was released in 1927.
Why had the arts been restricted before 1918?
Weimar brought freedom of expression.
Who disapproved most of Weimar culture?
They saw it as immoral and un-German.
Why is Weimar culture evidence both for and against the success of the Republic?Stretch
An achievement to some was proof of decline to others.
Quiz
5 questions
Tap an answer and you’ll see straight away whether it’s right, and why.
Worksheet
3 questions, 14 marks. Write your answers on paper, then check them.
Weimar culture and achievements
Cambridge IGCSE History 0470 · 14 marks · papermunch.org
Name ______________________________ Date ______________
Describe the cultural achievements of the Weimar period.[4]
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Any four: artists such as Grosz and Dix painted modern, critical works; the Bauhaus school created a new style of architecture and design; German cinema produced famous films such as Metropolis; Berlin became known for its theatre and cabaret; novels such as All Quiet on the Western Front were widely read.
Why did the arts flourish in Weimar Germany?[6]
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The strict censorship of the Kaiser's time had ended, and the constitution guaranteed freedom of expression. Artists were free to experiment and to criticise. The economic recovery after 1924 meant that there was money for building, film-making and entertainment. Berlin attracted talented people from across Europe.
What social improvements were made in the Weimar period?[4]
Show answerHide answer
Any four: women gained the vote and could be elected to the Reichstag; many new homes were built; unemployment insurance was introduced in 1927; wages rose for many workers; new schools and hospitals were built.
Answers: Weimar culture and achievements
- 1. Any four: artists such as Grosz and Dix painted modern, critical works; the Bauhaus school created a new style of architecture and design; German cinema produced famous films such as Metropolis; Berlin became known for its theatre and cabaret; novels such as All Quiet on the Western Front were widely read.
- 2. The strict censorship of the Kaiser's time had ended, and the constitution guaranteed freedom of expression. Artists were free to experiment and to criticise. The economic recovery after 1924 meant that there was money for building, film-making and entertainment. Berlin attracted talented people from across Europe.
- 3. Any four: women gained the vote and could be elected to the Reichstag; many new homes were built; unemployment insurance was introduced in 1927; wages rose for many workers; new schools and hospitals were built.