Leo Kestenberg worked from 1918–1932 for the Prussian Ministerium für Wissenschaft, Kunst und Volksbildung (Ministry of Science, Arts and Public Education). His department looked after opera houses and all music teaching institutions, from nurseries to the Academy of Arts. Implementing the policy of modern thinking, Kestenberg had a decisive influence in shaping the music development of the Weimar Republic, including bringing Paul Hindemith, Franz Schreker, Artur Schnabel and Otto Klemperer to Berlin. Based on his ideas, music education became law; in the field of music education, Prussia became the leading region inside Germany. Kestenberg succeeded due to the post-war situation: besides caring for political and military matters, the political system paid great attention also to culture and especially music. While Kestenberg’s activities at first enjoyed a postive response, even among conservative circles, in the following years, especially after 1933, as a socialist, democrat, Jew and foreigner, he was seen as the epitomy of the hated ‘Weimar System’.