Jazz in Germany 1919 – 1945

The Weimar Era
Due to the first world war and the economic blockades it brought about, Jazz music only started to become known in Germany around the year 1919. The end of the war meant the end of the imposed restrictions, which lead to a “dance rage” . The people’s desire for enjoyment encouraged Jazz music.


Between the years 1919 and 1923 Jazz spread quickly throughout the country. Because of the widely spread rumours that the word Jazz meant Jazz music, which many orchestras understood as noise (and noise in their opinion was represented by drums, until then recognised as the most important Jazz instrument; hence - meaning of Jazz = Drums) a Jazz band was expected to perform in a way similar to that known in America as ”nut Jazz“ with clowning, high spirits and unusual instruments like cow bells.

Between 1924 and 1928 Jazz reached its peak in Germany. There was an increasing opinion that the Jazz music of the earlier years was a step in the wrong direction and that the new Jazz sound was a  sort of “taming” of the old wild Jazz and should be considered as something distinctly separate from the loud hullabaloo and din which had previously been recognised as Jazz. One prime example of this new Jazz was the “Symphonic Jazz” played by the Paul Whiteman Orchestra. The “ Jazz-boom” up until the year 1928 was so big,  that apart from the Jazz music there was even a so-called Jazz fashion. 

The economic depression which set in towards the end of the 1920’s led to a world-wide depression for Jazz music.

1933-1939

Jazz music, with its high spirits, fun and originality, was viewed of as democratic. Moreover with its ”non-Aryan” roots Jazz was considered a product of the American lifestyle and was therefore frowned upon by the Nazi’s who found the Jazz music degenerating. Until 1935 Jazz music was, in general, left to its own means i.e. undisturbed (Goebels motto: convince and persuade via anti-Jazz-propaganda rather than prohibit). To a certain extent, in order to satisfy the tastes of the majority of listeners, Jazz was even played over the German radio networks in between popular dance numbers. In 1935 a law was passed banning Jazz from being played over the radio, but this couldn’t be implemented. Besides, the Nazi definition of Jazz music was so unclear that it was virtually impossible to try to classify it. 


The ”Swing era” of the mid 30’s through to the end of the 40’s originated from America. Swing music was played as set arrangements in a big band. This had the effect of limiting improvisation, which also meant that the Afro-American influence was less apparent.

read more: http://www.return2style.de/swingaring/amijazz3.htm