Staging the Republic: Constitution Day Festivities in 1929

Abstract

Community, masses and rhythm were key words in Weimar Germany characterising discourses on social, cultural and political life and expressing the Zeitgeist. Restoring territorial wholeness and national unity; overcoming societal differences and creating a better future for everyone were promises made by many in the Weimar years. Organisers of state festivities frequently alluded to them too. These catchphrases could be applied to opposing political factions as well as to new trends in dance and theatre. While sporting activities and parades were attempted to be incorporated into republican state festivities, the Berlin celebrations honouring the tenth anniversary of the Weimar Constitution in August 1929 brought together parades, sports and spectacles. Major changes in the staging of working-class festivities occurred in the 1920s including a greater emphasis on the creation of a collective community expressed through mass choirs or movement groups and a stress on moving bodies choreographed to create a visual impression of unity. In addition, the location of festivities had changed from indoors to outdoors.¹