The Weimar Republic in a new light
The release of the third season of Babylon Berlin is approaching. This historical thriller series leads its viewers into the world of Weimar Germany. Dr Jochen Hung (History and Art History) sat down with the to talk about the show's historical context.
Dance on the volcano
The third season of Babylon Berlin covers the period preceding the rise of Nazism in 1930s Germany. This period is usually depicted as inevitably leading to a Nazi regime. "This is where the image of decadence stems from: the idea that Weimar was a ‘dance on the volcano,’ when people danced the night away, ignoring the political storm brewing in the background," says Hung. However, this image does not really fit reality.
Modern society
Babylon Berlin depicts Nazism rising slowly but surely in the background. According to Hung, this makes it relevant for modern audiences: "The interesting thing is that the Nazi regime grew out of this society and not necessarily in opposition to it. The Nazi dictatorship was just one possible end result of this changing modern society – and this means that it is a potential inherent in any modern society." The many possibilities that the Weimar Republic held are what makes it so fascinating to write about.