For the Weimar Republic, the first years from 1919 to 1923 were years of crisis. The „new“ republic had to struggle with the immediate consequences of the First World War. Moreover, a wide variety of political parties were vying for political influence. For example, Foreign Minister Walther Rathenau was assassinated on the open street on June 24, 1922. Political reactions to the assassination were not lacking. When the news of the death became known in the Reichstag, violent tumults broke out there.
Before the „Golden Twenties“ really got going, inflation was in full swing in Germany. In the fall of 1923, there was chaos and looting in parts of the republic. The reason: many farmers and companies no longer wanted to hand over their goods in exchange for the trillion bills. It was not until the currency changeover in November 1923 that inflation could be stopped. From now on, the Rentenmark (later Reichsmark) is the currency that brings about a prosperous economy and thus the „Golden Twenties“.
However, the upswing is financed by borrowing money internationally. The Republic lends around 21 billion marks - mainly from the USA - until 1929.
The actual phase of this period, however, was shorter than its name would suggest. The real heyday was actually only in the years 1924 to 1928. However, people were doing so well compared to the previous crisis years that the second half of the 1920s felt downright „golden“ to them.
With prosperity, however, the rural exodus begins. People seek work in the cities, hoping for a better life. The result is an acute housing shortage. In the meantime, almost a third of the population lives in the cities of the Weimar Republic. Attempts were made to cope with the situation by building new, modern residential quarters. To this day, these quarters, such as in Leipzig, characterize our cityscapes today.
In the big cities, nightlife is boisterous and permissive. Charleston conquers the ball- rooms and the short bob is highly fashionable among women. In public, women take the liberty of smoking cigarettes.
And in the twenties, women conquer the bosses‘ anterooms. Their new world of work becomes the typewriter.
But as suddenly as it began, this golden age is over. The global economic crisis plunged the Weimar Republic into another serious crisis. As before, social conflicts once again come to the fore. Political radicalization culminates in the rise of National Socialism. The lively „Roaring Twenties“ are followed by the cruelest years in Europe.
