Weimar Culture

The First World War and the subsequent Treaty of Versailles had plunged the German society into a deep depression. Weimar culture sprouted from this crisis and witnessed a short-lived but unique democratic experience. The Weimar Constitution has been the subject of much study as evidence of the distinctiveness of Weimar democracy, but it has gone beyond the borders of Weimar and incorporated much of Western culture in art, literature and music in the 20th century. What can we understand when we say "Weimar culture", which has influenced many aspects?

Peter Gay's book Weimar Culture delivers the hidden treasure of the Weimar experience to its readers by presenting a lively and fluent narrative of this culture that accompanied an artistic quest and awakening.

“Within a few months, Adolf Hitler became the Chancellor of Germany, and the people of Weimar dispersed in all directions, taking the Weimar spirit with them: Some retreated into themselves, into the Aesop language, some died in genocide camps.” However, some of them carried the Weimar spirit into life, to the laboratories, hospitals, journalism, theaters and universities where they left their mark by making amazing careers, and this spirit found its true home there. “In the knitting.”

PETER GAY