THE WEST 1920's and 1930's

Europe in 1919

Germany

From the German Point of View  Lost—but not forgotten country. Into the heart You are to dig yourself these words as into stone: Which we have lost may not be truly lost!

Maimed German WW I Veteran

The “Stabbed-in-the-Back” Theory Disgruntled German WWI veterans

Friedrich Ebert: First President of the Weimar Republic A Democratic Rebpulican form of government that ruled Germany from 1919 to 1933. It was seen as the “November Criminals” by most and had to deal with revolt, depression, growth of communism, and other radical parties.

German Freikorps The paramilitary organizations that sprang up around Weimar Germany and was formed mainly from soldiers who had a difficult time adjusting to civilian life. They were used to fight against enemies of the state, both internal and external (including putting down the revolts and stopping communism).

German “Revolutions” [1918]

Spartacist A left-wing Marxist revolutionary movement organized in Germany just after World War I. Its period of greatest activity was during the German Revolution of 1918, when it sought to incite a revolution similar to that of the Bolsheviks in Russia. Its leadership was killed by the Freikorps. Karl Liebknecht Rosa Luxemburg

The German Depression

The Dawes Plan (1924)

The German Government: 1919-1920

The French in the Ruhr: 1923

The Beer Hall Putsch: 1923 A failed attempt at revolution that occurred on November 9, 1923. Demonstrated that power needed to be taken by legal means. Inspired by Mussolini’s March on Rome, the German Workers Party (later the Nazi Party) gave speeches and used the SA to arrest socialist, communist, jews, and other people not with the movement.

Hitler in Landesberg Prison Hitler and other members of the Nazi Party were arrested for treason and sent to jail (Hitler for 5 years). In jail, Hitler wrote Mein Kampf (My Struggle), that outlines his political views and plans.

The Young Plan (1930) For three generations, you’ll have to slave away! $26,350,000,000 to be paid over a period of 58½ years.

Weimar Germany: Political Representation [1920-1933] Political Parties in the Reichstag May 1924 Dec. 1924 May 1928 Sep. 1930 July 1932 Nov. 1932 Mar. 1933 Communist Party (KPD) 62 45 54 77 89 100 81 Social Democratic Party (SDP) 131 153 143 133 121 120 Catholic Centre Party (BVP) 88 78 87 97 90 93 Nationalist Party (DNVP) 95 103 73 41 37 52 Nazi Party (NSDAP) 32 14 12 107 230 196 288 Other Parties 102 112 122 22 35 23

A new approach – Nazi Party as a “leader party”  the focus was shifted to propaganda and electoral success and winning the support of big business “First power, then politics” Gains popularity due to hyperinflation, communism, and unemployment Nazis used force to prevent uprisings Their rhetoric played on people’s fears Big business won over through revised economic plans Emphasis placed on military power won support of many soldiers and traditionalists. Weak coalition governments enabled Nazis to gain political strength Propaganda and shows of might impressed the masses

In 1933 the push for total power began: at this point, the Reichstag burned down, creating an opportunity for Hitler The Nazis still failed to gain a majority in subsequent elections, but they w/ their supporters pushed thru the Enabling Law Hindenburg was forced to appoint Hitler as Chancellor (other politicians believed that Hitler can be manipulated easily) President Hindenburg’s eventual death allowed Hitler to assume presidential powers Potsdam church – where Prussian kings had been crowned Hindenburg in full uniform, Hitler in civilian clothes and bowing (thus not a millitary coup)

Italy

Post WW I Italy A general feeling of anxiety and fear among the middle class of post-war Italy: Fears regarding the survival of capitalism. Economic depression. The rise of a militant left. A feeling of national shame and humiliation at Italy’s poor treatment by the other Entente leaders after World War I [especially at Versailles]. In 1920, the Italian Socialist Party organized militant strikes Hundreds of new fascist groups develop; create a paramilitary force the “Black Shirts” King Victor Emmanuel III

Fascism Fascism is the totalitarian philosophy of government that glorifies the state and nation and assigns to the state control over every aspect of national life. Aspects of Fascism Subordinate to the State Sexism Cult of State Worship Militarism Control of Media Myth of Rebirth Labor is suppressed and the corporate is protected Rampant Cronyism and Corruption (fraudulent elections) Identifying enemies as scapegoates Disdain for the recognition of Human Rights Government and Religion are intertwined Disdain for Intellectuals and the Arts

Benito Mussolini [1883-1945] Originally a Marxist. By 1909 he was convinced that a national rather than an international revolution was necessary. Founded a newspaper that called for Italy to join WWI Fascist win seats in the government in 1921 1922 Mussolini threatened a coup d’etat with his “March on Rome”. 25,000 Black Shirts staged demonstrations

March on Rome [1922]

Mussolini Forms a Government In 1925, Mussolini seized dictatorial powers during a political crisis and began to pass laws to legal transform Italy into a single party state. Political parties and unions were abolished No freedom of the press Special courts created to persecute political opposition Secret police formed Ultra-nationalism created Anti Semitism (not like in Germany)

England

1926 General Strike Trades Disputes Act (1927): All general or sympathy strikes were illegal. It forbade unions from raising money for political purposes.

France

Raymond Poincaré & the Conservative Right He sent French troops into the Ruhr in 1923. Pushed for large-scale infrastructure reconstruction programs [counting on German reparations to pay for them]. After 1926-29: New taxes & tightened tax collections. Drastic decline in govt. spending that stabilized the franc [the threat of runaway inflation was avoided!]

Edouard Herriot & the French Socialists 1924-1926. Progressive social reform. Spoke for the lower classes, small businessmen, and farmers. Committed to private enterprise and private property. Fervently anti-clerical.

United States

Farming Crisis Loss of markets Efficiency increased so fewer workers needed No longer prosperous Boll Weevil infestation

Age of Prosperity Economic expansion Mass Production and the Assembly Line Consumer Economy

1920’s and 1930’s Great Migration Women’s suffrage Immigrant issues Progressivism 2nd KKK Prohibition

Collective Security

League of Nations Members

Washington Naval Conference and Five Power Treaty [1921-1922] Long-standing Anglo-Japanese alliance (1902) obligated Britain to aid Japan in the event of a Japanese war with the United States. Goals  naval disarmament and the political situation in the Far East. A battleship ratio was achieved through this ratio: US Britain Japan France Italy 5 5 3 1.67 1.67 Japan got a guarantee that the US and Britain would stop fortifying their Far East territories [including the Philippines]. Loophole  no restrictions on small warships

The Maginot Line

Austin Chamberlain (Br.) Locarno Pact: 1925 Austin Chamberlain (Br.) Gustave Stresemann (Ger.) Aristide Briand (Fr.) Guaranteed the common boundaries of Belgium, France, and Germany as specified in the Treaty of Versailles of 1919. Germany signed treaties with Poland and Czechoslovakia, agreeing to change the eastern borders of Germany by arbitration only.

Kellogg-Briand Pact: 1928 15 nations dedicated to outlawing aggression and war as tools of foreign policy. 62 nations signed. Problems  no means of actual enforcement and gave Americans a false sense of security.

MODERN ART

Themes in Early Modern Art Uncertainty/insecurity. Disillusionment. The subconscious. Overt sexuality. Violence & savagery.

Edvard Munch: The Scream (1893) Expressionism Using bright colors to express a particular emotion.

Franz Marc: Animal Destinies (1913) Wassily Kandinsky: On White II (1923)

Gustav Klimt: Judith I (1901) Secessionists Disrupt the conservative values of Viennese society. Obsessed with the self. Man is a sexual being, leaning toward despair.

Georges Braque: Violin & Candlestick (1910) CUBISM The subject matter is broken down, analyzed, and reassembled in abstract form. Cezanne  The artist should treat nature in terms of the cylinder, the sphere, and the cone.

Pablo Picasso: Les Demoiselles d’Avignon (1907) Georges Braque: Woman with a Guitar (1913)

Picasso: Studio with Plaster Head (1925) Paul Klee: Red & White Domes (1914)

George Grosz Grey Day (1921) DaDa Ridiculed contemporary culture & traditional art forms. The collapse during WW I of social and moral values. Nihilistic.

Raoul Hausmann: ABCD (1924-25) George Grosz The Pillars of Society (1926) Raoul Hausmann: ABCD (1924-25)

Salvador Dali: Soft Construction with Boiled Beans (Premonition of Civil War), 1936 Surrealism Late 1920s-1940s. Came from the nihilistic genre of DaDa. Influenced by Feud’s theories on psychoanalysis and the subconscious. Confusing & startling images like those in dreams.

Salvador Dali: The Persistence of Memory (1931) Salvador Dali: Geopoliticus Child Watching the Birth of a New Man (1943) Salvador Dali: The Persistence of Memory (1931)

Walter Gropius  Bauhaus Bldg. [1928] A utopian quality. Based on the ideals of simplified forms and unadorned functionalism. The belief that the machine economy could deliver elegantly designed items for the masses. Used techniques & materials employed especially in industrial fabrication & manufacture  steel, concrete, chrome, glass.

The Great Depression

The Great Depression [1929-1941] London in 1930 Paris in 1930

Causes World economies are connected Some countries have huge war debts from WWI Europe relies on American loans and investments Prosperity is built on borrowed money Wealth is unequally distributed US stock market crashes Banks demand repayment of loans Farms fail and factories close Americans reduce foreign trade to protect economy Americans stop loans to foreign countries American banking system collapses

Effects Millions become unemployed Businesses go bankrupt Governments take emergency measures to protect economies Citizens lose faith in capitalism and democracy Nations turn toward authoritarian leaders Nazis take control in Germany Fascists come to power in other countries Democracies try social welfare programs Japan expands in East Asia World War II breaks out

World Wide Impact Few economies escaped the depression. The Soviet Union (Russia), isolated by its Communist directed economy, went about the business of creating rapid industrial development without outside capital. Japan increased suspicions of the West and some countries fell into extreme political movements. Spanish Civil War 1936-1939 Guernica Pablo Picasso's interpretation of the attack, 1937 Vladimir Lenin Soviet Union

German Unemployment: 1929-1938

The Great Depression [1929-1941]