Weimar Germany

The Weimar period which extended from 1919 to 1933 was a time of political violence economic crisis generational and gender tension and cultural experiment and change in Germany. Despite these major issues the Republic is often treated only as a preface to the study of the rise of Fascism. This text seeks to restore the balance exploring the Weimar period in its own right. Amongst the topics discussed are: Weimar as the avant-garde artistic centre of Europe in the 1920s when many cultural figures were politically engaged on both sides of the political spectrum; Weimar as a German state racked by conflict over questions of morality versus ideas of greater sexual freedom for women homosexual rights abortion and birth control; the struggle to win the hearts and minds of German youth a struggle won decisively by the right-wing; and Weimar as the first German state in which women played a significant political role.