GN 3513 Keywords

Bertolt Brecht

A German playwright and poet active in the early to mid-20th century, known for his influential work in theater, particularly for his poem 'An die Nachgeborenen' and for developing the concept of epic theater, which aimed to provoke critical thought and political awareness among audiences.

Paul Celan

A Romanian-born Jewish poet whose works, particularly 'Todesfuge', reflect his traumatic experiences during the Holocaust, incorporating themes of loss, despair, and the complexities of language.

Georg Grosz

An Expressionist painter and caricaturist known for his critical portrayal of the social and political issues of Weimar Germany, most notably in his painting 'Eclipse of the Sun', which symbolizes the despair and moral decay of society after World War I.

Weimarer Kino

A movement of Expressionist films from the Weimar Republic era (1919-1933) that often critiqued German society, reflecting anxieties about modernity and the impact of World War I, with 'The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari' as a key example.

Comedian Harmonists

A popular ensemble of male singers during the Weimar Republic, famous for their harmony and blend of various musical genres. Their career was tragically cut short in Nazi Germany due to their Jewish affiliations.

Siegfried Kracauer

A prominent film theorist and cultural critic who examined the social undercurrents of cinema in Weimar Germany; his influential book 'From Calgari to Hitler' analyzes how films reflect and shape societal attitudes leading up to the rise of Nazism.

Thomas Mann

A significant German author and intellectual, well-known for his satirical novel 'Der Zauberberg' (The Magic Mountain), published in 1924, which explores the psychological and philosophical ramifications of German society following World War I.

Leni Riefenstahl

A pioneering filmmaker noted for her propaganda work during the Nazi regime, particularly her controversial film 'Triumph des Willens', which celebrates the 1934 Nuremberg Rallies and is recognized for its innovative cinematic techniques.

Volksgemeinschaft

A term utilized by the Nazi Party to describe the ideal of a unified 'people's community', emphasizing the alleged superiority of the Aryan race and advocating for the exclusion and dehumanization of Jews and other minorities.

Entartete Kunst

The Nazi term for 'Degenerate Art', used to condemn and censor modern art that deviated from accepted norms of the time, aimed at eliminating artistic expressions considered to be corrupt or unhealthy.

Wolf Biermann

A critical songwriter and poet in the German Democratic Republic (DDR), known for his satirical lyrics and opposition to the government. He was banned from the East and subsequently expatriated in 1976.

Rainer Fassbinder

A leading figure in the New German Cinema movement during the 1970s, recognized for his provocative films that interrogate themes of identity, including queer identity and societal norms.

Ton Steine Scherben

A politically charged German New Wave punk band formed in the early 1970s, celebrated for their lyrics advocating for social change and their ties to the squatting movement in Germany.

Ernst Nolte + Juergen Habermas

Historians engaged in a prominent debate over the Holocaust's significance in historical memory, comparing its unique features with other genocides and contrasting views on the culpability of German society.

Neue Deutsche Welle

A music movement that emerged in West Germany in the late 1970s, characterized by its use of the German language in lyrics and a minimalist, socially critical sound reflecting contemporary issues.

Nena

A well-known band associated with the Neue Deutsche Welle, gained mass popularity with their hit song '99 Luftballons' (1983), which serves as a critique of war and the Cold War mentalities.

Falco

A prominent Austrian singer from the Neue Deutsche Welle movement, recognized internationally for his song 'Der Kommissar' (1981), blending pop and rap influences.

Versaillervertrag

Treaty signed in 1919 that officially concluded World War I, imposing heavy reparations and territorial losses on Germany, leading to significant political and economic turmoil within the Weimar Republic.

Kaiser Wilhelm II

The last German emperor, whose reign lasted until the end of World War I in 1918 and whose abdication marked a transition from monarchy to the democratic Weimar Republic.

Friedrich Ebert

The first Reichskanzler (Chancellor) of Germany following Kaiser Wilhelm II's abdication, played a crucial role in navigating the political upheaval during the transition to the Weimar Republic.

Erich Ludendorff

A leading military general and policymaker during World War I, known for his role in military strategy and promoting nationalist ideologies that later influenced the Nazi Party.

Gustav Stresemann

Chancellor of Germany during the Weimar Republic, remembered for his efforts to stabilize the nation and for initiating the Dawes Plan (1924) that restructured Germany's reparations payments.

Dawes Plan

A 1924 plan aimed at alleviating the reparations burden on Germany post-World War I, allowing for international loans and economic support leading to temporary stabilization of the economy.

Locarnovertrag

A series of agreements negotiated in 1925, which aimed to secure post-World War I borders in Europe and improve relations between Germany and its neighbors.

Paul Hindenburg

The Reichspräsident (President) of Germany during the Weimar Republic who played a pivotal role in the political climate of the early 1930s, including his appointment of Adolf Hitler as Chancellor.

Adolf Hitler

The leader of the National Socialist German Workers' Party (Nazi Party) who rose to power in 1933, establishing a totalitarian regime responsible for the genocide of millions during the Holocaust.

Joseph Goebbels

The Reich Minister of Propaganda under Hitler, known for his strong influence on Nazi culture and media, manipulating public opinion to support the regime's ideologies.

Reichstagsbrand

The 1933 fire that destroyed the Reichstag building, which Hitler used as a pretext to suppress political dissent and consolidate power, leading to the suspension of civil rights.

Ermächtigungsgesetz

A law passed in March 1933 granting Hitler the authority to enact laws without parliamentary consent for four years, effectively allowing him to establish a dictatorship.

Kristallnacht / Novemberpogrome

A coordinated attack on Jewish synagogues, homes, and businesses that occurred on the night of November 9-10, 1938, symbolizing the escalation of anti-Semitic violence in Nazi Germany.

5 Ds

The post-World War II Allied policy aims that include Denazification, Demilitarization, Democratization, Dismantling, and Decentralization, designed to reshape German society.

Berliner Luftbrücke

(1948-1949) A response by the Western Allies to the Soviet blockade of West Berlin, during which supplies were airdropped to sustain the city's population.

Marshallplan

The American initiative launched in 1948 to provide economic aid to rebuild European economies, specifically Germany, helping spur recovery after World War II.

NATO

A military alliance formed in 1949, which West Germany joined in 1955, aimed at collective defense against the threat of Soviet aggression.

Warschauer Pakt

A military alliance established in 1955 comprising Eastern Bloc countries, including East Germany, in response to NATO.

Konrad Adenauer

The first Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany (BRD), serving from 1949 to 1963, credited with leading West Germany's recovery and integration into Western Europe.

Ludwig Erhard

The Chancellor of West Germany from 1963 to 1966, known for his role in the post-war economic miracle (Wirtschaftswunder) and advocating for social market economy principles.

Walter Ulbricht

A key political figure in East Germany (DDR) responsible for the establishment of the socialist regime and the construction of the Berlin Wall in 1961 as a means to prevent emigration.

Willy Brandt

Chancellor of West Germany from 1969 to 1974, recognized for his Ostpolitik policy aimed at improving relations with East Germany and Eastern Europe.

Helmut Kohl

Chancellor of West Germany from 1982 to 1998, noted for his influence during the reunification of Germany after the Cold War.

Erich Honecker

The General Secretary of the Socialist Unity Party in East Germany (DDR) from 1971 until the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989, known for his repressive policies.

Perestroika + Glasnost

Policies introduced by Mikhail Gorbachev in the mid-1980s aimed at reforming the political and economic landscape of the Soviet Union and East German government, emphasizing transparency and restructuring.

2+4 Vertrag

The 1990 agreement between East and West Germany alongside the four Allied powers designed to facilitate the peaceful reunification of Germany.

Rosa Luxemburg

A prominent Marxist theorist and activist during the Weimar Republic, known for her anti-war stance and eventual assassination by right-wing paramilitary forces (Freikorps) in 1919.

Karl Liebknecht

A leading figure in the German Social Democratic Party (SPD) and co-founder of the Spartakusbund, an early revolutionary socialist movement opposing the war and advocating for workers' rights.

Freikorps

Paramilitary units formed in post-World War I Germany, primarily composed of veterans, often aligned with nationalist sentiment and engaged in violent suppression of leftist movements.

Spartakusbund

A revolutionary socialist faction established in 1916 by members of the SPD, advocating for a workers' revolution in Germany, prominently involved in the uprising against the Weimar government in 1919.

Kiel Mutiny

A significant revolt by German sailors in 1918 leading to unrest that contributed to the abdication of Kaiser Wilhelm II and the establishment of the Weimar Republic.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer

A German Lutheran pastor and anti-Nazi dissident, whose involvement in the Confessing Church led to his execution in 1945 for opposing Hitler's regime.

Weisse Rosa

An intellectual resistance group composed of students who actively distributed anti-Nazi literature and promoted ethical responsibility and dissent against the regime's policies.

Hans und Sophie Scholl

Brother and sister, students and co-founders of the Weisse Rosa who were arrested and executed by the Nazis for their resistance activities.

Außerparlamentarische Opposition

Movement in West Germany during the late 1960s, consisting primarily of students protesting against the government and the policies of the Grande Coalition.

Rote Armee Fraktion (RAF)

A far-left militant group in West Germany active during the late 20th century, known for carrying out bombings, assassinations, and kidnappings in the name of a Marxist revolutionary agenda.

Ulrike Meinhof, Andreas Baader, Gudrun Ensslin

Founders and key figures of the Rote Armee Fraktion (RAF), known for their radical activism and subsequent imprisonment, becoming symbols of revolutionary struggle.

Rudi Dutschke

A prominent student leader and activist during the 1960s in West Germany, known for advocating for leftist politics and mobilizing protests against the Vietnam War.

Friedensbewegung

A peace movement that emerged in West Germany during the 1980s, involving protests against the continued presence of Allied military forces and advocating for nuclear disarmament.

Montagsdemonstrationen

A series of peaceful protests held every Monday in East Germany during 1989, rallying against government policies and the lack of political freedoms, contributing to the eventual fall of the Berlin Wall.