The Golden Twenties!  The years 1924 to 1929 were characterized by of vibrant city life, of creativity, innovation and a new image of women.

 

The Golden Twenties

Big-city hustle and bustle. Masses of people. Roaring cars on the streets. Advertising boards light up on every corner, newspaper boys roar for the competition. In smoky bars, roaring celebrations are celebrated - the Golden Twenties were a special time and Berlin was their shining symbol. The capital and the five years from 1924 to 1929 are still fascinating today. The aesthetics and lifestyle of the contemporaries serve as models for books and films and awaken longings in many people. ullstein bild's collections illustrate this attitude to life: everyday life in the city and in the country, the emancipation of women, the mechanization of society, and the exuberance of celebration and dance.
 

ullstein bild was already in the middle of the action in the 1920s. The press landscape was more diverse, sophisticated and influential than ever before. For the picture service of Ullstein Verlag, photographers documented people and life, the mood in society and the atmosphere of the time. The collections shown here are an excerpt: strong and vivid photos representing the Golden Twenties.

But how "golden" were the Golden Twenties really? Hunger and misery remained omnipresent even after the end of hyperinflation. War-disabled people begging for alms were part of the street scene. Many people had to struggle with unemployment, the housing situation was precarious for poorer classes in the dark and dilapidated back buildings. Society broke up into polarized wings that became palpable on the streets.  Crime was rampant in Berlin in the 1920s. Not only did the cultural scene flourish, but so did the capital's underground.