Fall of Democracy: The Weimar Republic—From Unloved Freedom to Totalitarianism (In-person)
Fall (9 - 13 hours) | Registration opens 7/29/2025 12:00 AM EDT
The period between 1919 and 1933 was Germany’s first fragile experiment at democracy. While it was marked by political instability and economic hardship, it was also one of the most creative and productive times in German history. As the country slowly recovered from the yoke of the Treaty of Versailles, boundaries were pushed by artists, composers, women, and politicians, turning the country into a hub for avant-garde artists, musicians, and scientists. The economic crisis of 1929 and the emergence of Aryanism would lead to the totalitarianism of the Nazi regime.
We will shed light on the many factors that shaped the Weimar Republic and will explore how this progressive society could fall for the incitement to hatred by the Nazis. This class will include lectures and slide shows as well as music examples. We will provide readings which will serve as the basis for class discussions.
Image: “Small Town by Day (Badische Kleinstadt bei Tage), 1922-23, Georg Scholz, Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois” by Ken Lund is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0.
Christiana Whittington
After growing up in West Germany and attending Heidelberg University, Christiana came to the U.S. with her American spouse. A musician by training, she taught school for 21 years. Lee and Christiana are principals in Travel Meets Culture, offering cultural tours to Germany.
Lee Emerson
Lee’s interest in Germany, notably its architectural heritage, began while teaching alongside Christiana for 15 years. Many joint trips to Germany followed. Lee has a BA from CT College and an MFA from Cranbrook Art Academy.