Account for the Success and Failures of the Weimar Republic (Germany 1919-1934)
HSC Modern History
Maddie Chandler
Account for the successes and failures of democracy in Germany in the period 1919-1934.
The crippling aftermath of World War 1 had a devastating impact on the German economy, society, and political system was devastating. Reparations had to be paid to the Allies, hyperinflation was reaching senseless levels, and unemployment was high. The nation was angry, resentful, and almost every move made by their leaders was criticised. The traditional monarch, the Kaiser, was abdicated from his throne and fled the nation. This resulted in the foundation of a more contemporary and unfamiliar system of government – democracy; which had periods of prosperity and success as well as catastrophe and failure. The Weimar Republic was initially mistrusted and scorned by the majority of German society; however it managed to survive through numerous political threats and times of economic hardship, as well as allow Germany to maintain progress with the rest of the world and flourish as an industrial nation. Conversely, the crucial weaknesses of the Republic brought it to its demise in 1933.
Perhaps the most vital contributing factor to the failure of the Weimar Republic was the Treaty of Versailles and the resentment associated with it. Germany had surrendered from the Great War and was thus excluded from the closing peace conference in 1919. While Germany did not believe it deserved to be let off lightly, it was still infuriated with the excessive conditions placed upon it in the by enemies France and England. The conditions that impacted German society the most were the massive reparations expected to be paid to the Allies, an astounding 132 million gold marks (US$32 billion), cementing the country in a long-term state of debt; and the war guilt clause, meaning that Germany was to accept total responsibility for the war. This clause confronted German pride and the country’s protruding nationalism with a humiliating force. The German
Maddie Chandler
Account for the successes and failures of democracy in Germany in the period 1919-1934.
The crippling aftermath of World War 1 had a devastating impact on the German economy, society, and political system was devastating. Reparations had to be paid to the Allies, hyperinflation was reaching senseless levels, and unemployment was high. The nation was angry, resentful, and almost every move made by their leaders was criticised. The traditional monarch, the Kaiser, was abdicated from his throne and fled the nation. This resulted in the foundation of a more contemporary and unfamiliar system of government – democracy; which had periods of prosperity and success as well as catastrophe and failure. The Weimar Republic was initially mistrusted and scorned by the majority of German society; however it managed to survive through numerous political threats and times of economic hardship, as well as allow Germany to maintain progress with the rest of the world and flourish as an industrial nation. Conversely, the crucial weaknesses of the Republic brought it to its demise in 1933.
Perhaps the most vital contributing factor to the failure of the Weimar Republic was the Treaty of Versailles and the resentment associated with it. Germany had surrendered from the Great War and was thus excluded from the closing peace conference in 1919. While Germany did not believe it deserved to be let off lightly, it was still infuriated with the excessive conditions placed upon it in the by enemies France and England. The conditions that impacted German society the most were the massive reparations expected to be paid to the Allies, an astounding 132 million gold marks (US$32 billion), cementing the country in a long-term state of debt; and the war guilt clause, meaning that Germany was to accept total responsibility for the war. This clause confronted German pride and the country’s protruding nationalism with a humiliating force. The German