1930 - 1939
Between the years
of 1929 and 1939 the world saw one of the most devastating periods
of hardship, poverty, and governmental instability. With the start
of the Great Depression governments from around the world were
thrown into almost ten years of turmoil. It also saw the rise of a
third party platform in the form of Nazism that would lead Germany
out of its Depression and throw Europe into a State of Panic.
This decade saw the
most aggressive dictatorship in the world take a small disarmed country to
superpower status in less than 10 years. That country then started a conflict
that will be remembered throughout History.
1929
- 1939 The Great Depression
The Great Depression
affected most of the industrialized nations in the world. In Europe as
well as the United States the depression threw a record number of people
into unemployment. Working hand in hand with unemployment came Governmental
instability. The depression did not break for most of these nations until
World War II started.
1930
- Talking Movies
Before 1930
movies produced in all countries could be watched throughout the world
with out being bound by language. Americans, Indians, and Europeans could
watch each others cultures thrive. After the introduction of sound the
language barrier became a severe problem in helping cultures relate through
film.
1932
- Chancellor Heinrich Burning resigns from German Government
After gaining the power of
"rule by decree," a dictator type of rule in case of emergency.
Burning, in a fool hardy attempt to stabilize the German economy, forced down
prices and cut government spending. This just further intensified Germany's
economic collapse. Hitler begins to attack the Republican system that would let
a man like Burning into power. Burning was forced to resign by President
Hindenburg, who then appointed Franz Von Papen who also "ruled by
decree".
1932
- 43% German Labor Force Unemployment
At the height
of the European Depression the German labor force was decimated by its
highest unemployment rate ever. With poor economic leadership Germany as
well as the U.S. and England sank deeper into the depression, until forced
spending stimulated the Economy in 1933 and 1934.
1933
- Roosevelt's "New Deal"
President Roosevelt promised a
"New Deal for the forgotten man". He establishes the National Recovery
Administration, to plan and control the U.S. Economy. The Works Progress
Administration (WPA) was set up to employ over 3 million Americans. In 1935 as a
part of his "New Deal he established the National Social Security System,
which is still in use today.
1933
- Hitler becomes chancellor of Germany
Through a series of dirty, back
room politics Hitler, leader of the now majority Nazi party, gained power by
seducing both Big business powers, and key army personnel. He was asked to join
the government, but his only condition was that he be named Chancellor. He
immediately outlawed the rival Communist party and forced the Enabling Act,
which gave him absolute dictatorship for 4 years. He ruthlessly killed his
enemies and made Germany a one party state. (Heartfield flees with his brother
Wieland to Czechoslovakia.)
1935
- German rearmament
As a way to rebuild Germany from
the Depression, Hitler started spending major amounts of government money on the
military. This stimulated the Germany economy between 1933 to 1935. German
unemployment dropped from 6 million to 1 million. This also helped Germany
become a military force to be noticed, a force used to try and expand Germany's
power and reach. (1934 Heartfield participates in the international caricature
exhibition in Prague. This event stirs up more trouble between Czechoslovakia
and Germany). 1937
- Picasso - "Guernica"
Picasso, founder of the Cubism
movement in art, painted Guernica in commemoration of the
bombing of the Spanish town of Guernica. The attack took the lives
of over 1000 people, one-eighth of the population. The painting is a
surrealist's fascination with the grotesque subject matter and was
meant by Picasso to be an unforgettable attack on "Brutality
and Darkness" (1937-- Heartfield joins the Prague Oskar
Kokoschka League. Participates in 50 Years Manes. Some of
Heartfield's works are removed due to Germany's threats to break off
diplomatic relations with Czechoslovakia.)
1939
- Germans Occupy Czechoslovakia
British Prime Minister Neville
Chamberlain and the French Chancellor agreed with Hitler that the Sudetenland
would be his last territorial acquisition. After being "sold out" by
the western European nations the Czech. Government had no option but to
surrender to Hitler and Germany.
1939
- Sept 3, WWII begins
After Germany
annexed Austria in 1938 and began to occupy Czechoslovakia in March of
1939, Germany went too far and invaded Poland. The Second World War started
on Sept. 3rd, 1939 when England and France then declared war on Germany.
(Heartfield holds exhibition in London entitled "One
Man's War Against Hitler" at the Arcade Gallery in London.)
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