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History Professor Draws Comparisons Between Post-WWI Germany and the U.S. Today

National Library of Isreal/web.nli.org.il

Murray State University professor of history, Dr. David Pizzo, speaks with Tracy Ross on Sounds Good about political climates seen around the world today and how they compare with that of post-WWI Weimar Republic immediately preceding its fall to the National Socialist German Workers' Party.

The Weimar Republic was born following the end of World War I, when new German leadership sought to reform and improve the war ravaged nation. The name derives from the small town, Weimar, in which the first constitutional assemblies met. The constitution was written with the goal of creating a modern democracy, but the interim government faced several obstacles in its quest for liberalism. Extremely polarized politics, national insecurity, immigration issues, and economic turmoil incapacitated the government system and ultimately led to the ascension of Adolf Hitler and the National Socialist Party in 1933. 
        Dr. Pizzo, MSU professor of history, speaks with Tracy Ross on Sounds Good about similarities between the short-lived Weimar Republic and the current state of the US (and other nations around the globe) today. 
      

Tracy started working for WKMS in 1994 while attending Murray State University. After receiving his Bachelors and Masters degrees from MSU he was hired as Operations/Web/Sports Director in 2000. Tracy hosted All Things Considered from 2004-2012 and has served as host/producer of several music shows including Cafe Jazz, and Jazz Horizons. In 2001, Tracy revived Beyond The Edge, a legacy alternative music program that had been on hiatus for several years. Tracy was named Program Director in 2011 and created the midday music and conversation program Sounds Good in 2012 which he hosts Monday-Thursday. Tracy lives in Murray with his wife, son and daughter.
Melanie Davis-McAfee graduated from Murray State University in 2018 with a BA in Music Business. She has been working for WKMS as a Music and Operations Assistant since 2017. Melanie hosts the late-night alternative show Alien Lanes, Fridays at 11 pm with co-host Tim Peyton. She also produces Rick Nance's Kitchen Sink and Datebook and writes Sounds Good stories for the web.
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