On The Weimar Republic Analysis

Before 1933, Germany went through several stages of fragmentation. Geographically and politically, Imperial Germany (1871-1918) was separated into several states ruled by kings. Then, the transition to a democratic republic resulted in even more conflicting opinions. The decision of Kaiser Wilhelm II to enter World War I would forever alter Germany 's history. Eric Weitz 's book on the Weimer Republic does a remarkable job of analyzing the political atmosphere as a result of social, cultural, and political changes that occurred before 1933, beginning with Imperial Germany. THESIS: The economic discrepancy felt by the majority of German 's under Kaiser Wilhelm II as a result of the decision to go to war led to a great contempt and distrust for Imperial Germany. Additionally, there were changing social norms and cultural expressions that resulted as a response to the war and the new freedoms that came with the Weimer Republic and as a response to modernism. Unfortunately, Germany was now divided between The Right and The Left, the poor and the wealthy, and those embracing democracy and those that felt democracy was a betrayal to …show more content…
Sex, alcohol, culture, and a general sense of excitement were more openly explored. The Right was clearly threatened by the cultural developments during the Weimar Republic, as this new way of thinking threatened order and control, and brought some people together. However, there were still many who were unable to relate to the overstimulation of this new era. Weitz is fairly clear in his belief that, like all other aspects of post-war Germany, cultural developments were also divided, either politically or by social class. Weitz mentions a particular example of cultural division with the passing of the Law to Protect Youth from Trashy and Filthy Writings in 1926 (FOOTNOTE,