Weimar Germany and their Failures

Before we jump right into Hitler and Nazi Germany, it is important to take time to study the political climate before the rise of the Nazi Party. This context will often inform introductions or paragraphs in your essay. Below are the key areas that this first suite of notes will cover.

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1. Who were the Weimar Government?
2. Treaty of Versailles
3. Stab in the Back
4. Threat of Revolution

Who Were the Weimar Government?

Formation and Structure

• The Weimar Government, officially known as the Weimar Republic, was established in Germany after World War I to replace the imperial form of government. It was named after the city of Weimar, where the national assembly convened to draft the new constitution in 1919.
• The Weimar Republic was Germany's first attempt at a liberal democracy. Its constitution included a president, a chancellor, and a parliament (Reichstag).
• The president was elected every seven years and had significant powers, including dissolving the Reichstag and calling for new elections.

Key Political Figures and Parties

• Key political figures in the early Weimar Republic included Friedrich Ebert, the first president, and Philipp Scheidemann, who proclaimed the republic in November 1918.
• The government was supported primarily by the Social Democratic Party (SPD), the Centre Party, and other moderate and liberal factions.
• However, the Weimar Republic also faced significant opposition from both the far-left (Communists) and the far-right (Nationalists and later the Nazis).

Challenges and Opposition

• From its inception, the Weimar Government faced numerous challenges. The Treaty of Versailles, economic hardships, political extremism, and societal divisions created a volatile environment.
• The government's legitimacy was often questioned, and it had to contend with uprisings, assassinations, and political instability.
• Despite these challenges, the Weimar Republic achieved notable successes in its early years, including cultural and intellectual flourishing during the "Golden Twenties."

Treaty of Versailles

The Treaty of Versailles was signed on June 28, 1919, formally ending World War I. It imposed harsh penalties and reparations on Germany, which were seen as punitive and humiliating. Key terms of the treaty included:

• Territorial Losses: Germany lost significant territories, including Alsace-Lorraine to France, and all of its overseas colonies.
• Military Restrictions: The German military was drastically reduced, with the army limited to 100,000 troops and the navy restricted. Germany was forbidden from having an air force or submarines.
• Reparations: Germany was required to pay substantial reparations to the Allied powers, which greatly burdened its economy.
• War Guilt Clause: Article 231 of the treaty placed full responsibility for the war on Germany, causing national humiliation and resentment.

Impact on Weimar Germany

• The Treaty of Versailles had a profound impact on the Weimar Republic. The harsh terms fuelled widespread resentment and anger among the German population, who felt unfairly treated.
• This sentiment was exploited by various political groups, particularly the far right, which used it to undermine the legitimacy of the Weimar Government.
• The economic reparations contributed to hyperinflation and severe economic instability in the early 1920s, further exacerbating public discontent.

Stab in the Back

• The "Stab in the Back" myth (Dolchstoßlegende) was a significant propaganda tool used by right-wing groups to undermine the Weimar Republic. It claimed that Germany had not been defeated on the battlefield in World War I but had been betrayed by internal enemies, particularly the socialists, communists, and Jews, who had allegedly sabotaged the war effort. This myth was perpetuated by military leaders like Erich Ludendorff and exploited by the Nazi Party to garner support.

  • The "Stab in the Back" myth was used to delegitimise the Weimar Government and its leaders, whom the far-right accused of betraying Germany by signing the Treaty of Versailles. The myth contributed to the rise of nationalist and extremist groups, including the Nazis, who promised to restore Germany's honour and reverse the treaty's terms. It fuelled anti-Semitism and anti-communism, becoming a central element of Nazi propaganda.

• The pervasive belief in the "Stab in the Back" myth deepened divisions within German society and eroded trust in democratic institutions. It created a fertile ground for radical ideologies and violence, as many Germans sought scapegoats for their country's suffering. This myth significantly weakened the Weimar Republic's ability to build a stable and unified nation.

Threat of Revolution

Left-Wing Threats

• The Weimar Republic faced significant threats from left-wing revolutionaries, particularly the Spartacists, a radical socialist group led by Rosa Luxemburg and Karl Liebknecht.
• In January 1919, the Spartacist Uprising attempted to overthrow the Weimar Government and establish a communist state.
• The government, with the help of the Freikorps (paramilitary groups), violently suppressed the uprising, resulting in the deaths of Luxemburg and Liebknecht and the defeat of the revolutionaries.

Right-Wing Threats

• In addition to left-wing threats, the Weimar Republic also faced dangers from the far right. The Kapp Putsch in March 1920 was a significant coup attempt led by Wolfgang Kapp and supported by parts of the military.
• The putsch aimed to overthrow the Weimar Government and establish an autocratic regime.
• Although the coup failed due to a government-called general strike, it highlighted the fragility of the Weimar Republic and the ongoing threat from reactionary forces.

Political Assassinations and Instability

• The period from 1919 to 1923 saw numerous political assassinations, including that of Foreign Minister Walther Rathenau and Finance Minister Matthias Erzberger, both of whom were targeted by right-wing extremists.
• These assassinations, along with frequent uprisings and violence, created a climate of fear and instability, undermining the government's efforts to establish a stable democracy.

Economic Crises and Hyperinflation

• Severe economic crises, including hyperinflation in 1923, marked the Weimar Republic's early years.
• The economic instability fuelled social unrest and political extremism, as many Germans lost their savings and livelihoods.
• The government's inability to address these crises effectively eroded public confidence and increased the appeal of radical solutions offered by both the far left and the far right.