"In diesem Sinne hat jede Zeit, hat jedes Volk die Führer, die sie verdienen": Zum Politik- und Politikerbild des republikanischen Bürgertums in der Weimarer Republik

From a literary perspective, this article deals with the political culture of the pro-republican middle class during the Weimar Republic and its images of leadership. It aims to show how this group’s perception and interpretation of politics was aesthetically influenced by narratives used to describe an ideal political leader that can be traced back to popularized version of Sturm und Drang’s concept of genius. During the Weimar era, hugely emotive expectations toward politics are fostered, and they may become a burden for the young state