16919

WiSe 22/23: Everyday life in Germany in the 1920s-1930s

Anna Lena Kocks

Comments

Subject: The 1920s and 1930s were a complex and contradictory time span shaped by political transitions: from a difficult post-war situation to an ambitious, modern but also troubled democratic republic to a repressive, discriminatory and violent dictatorship. How did these transitions affect everyday life in German society? The course will take a closer look at daily life to trace their impact on ordinary people of different classes and age groups. Starting in 1919, the newly established Weimar Republic became the framework for important processes of democratisation, modernisation and liberalisation and the backdrop of the Golden or Roaring Twenties in Germany. The arts, high and popular culture and the cities’ nightlife flourished, as did the improvement of housing, infrastructure and welfare. The political and economic context, however, proved to be very difficult. The period saw lasting severe conflicts in interior and foreign politics, economic crises and anti-democratic movements. From 1933 onwards, the establishment of the National Socialist dictatorship had far-reaching consequences for many people and it strongly affected people’s interaction. Program: The course, which combines approaches of social and cultural history, will analyse experiences of everyday life in German cities, towns and villages. We will investigate people’s living and working conditions, their habits, their daily participation in the expanding popular culture of the 1920s, but also the difficulties and hardship they faced in a complex political and economic situation. Furthermore, we will investigate how ordinary people of different backgrounds perceived the increasingly anti-democratic political situation, the National Socialist dictatorship and its high level of indoctrination which reached into private homes. Is this course suitable for you? The course is open to students from the Social Sciences, Cultural Studies, Arts and Humanities, who are interested in discussing and analysing aspects of Germany history and social and cultural history. Students should be prepared to study academic and literary texts, historical newspaper and magazine articles, old photographs and postcards etc. As this is a fortnightly course, students must not miss more than two sessions. Workload and Assessment: In order to obtain 5 ECTS credits, students will have to attend the course regularly, participate actively in seminar discussions and group work, give a short presentation (15 minutes) that requires independent research, study the course materials and pass the written examination. close

8 Class schedule

Regular appointments

Fri, 10:00 - 14:00 8 Class schedule

Fri, 2022-10-28 10:00 - 14:00

Lecturers:
Anna Lena Kocks