1. Ch 1:
1. Note the rapid growth of the city in the late 19th century
2. Post war nostalgia for the past a dominant theme in this period. Why? "Kaiserzeit [the age of Kaiser Wilhelm II, a period of peace and order, respect for traditional values, eine christliche Weltanschauung [a Christian world-view].
3. Juxtaposition of grim tenements and luxury villas in the Grünewald [the "Bel Air" district of Berlin] area. Implications for the social order?
4. Note the characteristics: theater, concerts, night-life, Cafes. Berlin had a "new society based on new money, and on extravagance, brashness, show. The neurosis was the clash of values, between the old and the new. Everything became possible." Menuhin [who is he?].
5. Tynan [a Brit, social critic, author of "Oh Calcutta": "I enjoy decadence, and I also enjoy democracy, Germany then was about as decadent as is humanly possible to be, but it was also fairly democratic. It even seemed to be moving toward Socialism, and that would have been ideal: Socialism and self-gratification and the same time."
2. Ch 2 --1918
   1. Consider the various theories about why Germany lost WW1; the implications are important.
   2. How serious was the internal crisis? Let me count the ways...
   3. What were the forces "for and against" the social revolution? how was it avoided?
   4. Note the "deal" worked out to establish order. Who was involved? How to account for this improbable alliance?
   5. Despite all the problems, life appears to proceed normally ...at least for some. How do you account for that?
   6. Why was there such anxiety about a communist style revolution?
3. Class Reporting Tool: In post WW1 Berlin / Germany, there were a number of forces at work that threatened a stable and lawful order, namely...