why did the weimar republic govt. failure?
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The Weimar Republic was Germany’s first experiment in democracy. It was founded after the aftermath of the German defeat in World War I. The Republic faced many challenges during its short life. It was undermined by right and left wing extremists and the military. Many have seen the fall of the Weimar Republic as inevitable. However, it could have succeeded but for the economic calamity of the ‘Great Depression’.
Despite the Revolution in 1918, many on the left believed that it did not go far enough. The radical left wanted a communist system in Germany. Revolutionaries established the Communist Republic in Bavaria and later seized control the Ruhr. These were both defeated by the German army and right wing-militias the Freirkorps. In 1919, Communists led by Rosa Luxembourg tried to stage a revolution in Berlin. The army also defeated this with great brutality. It was not only the left that was a threat to the Weimar Republic.
The far right also sought to overthrow the Republic. They blamed the Weimar Republic for the predicament of Germany and the ‘infamous’ Treaty of Versailles. There was an attempted right-wing coup in Berlin in 1919, the Kapp Putsch. In 1922, Adolf Hitler and the Nazi’s tried to seize control in Munich but was quickly defeated by German troops.
The Weimar Republic was able to resist the extremists’ attempts to seize power.However, the Republic because of its poor economic decisions and the effect of reparations resulted in hyperinflation. Inflation rose, and the price of essential goods rose dramatically. Inflation caused bankruptcies, strikes and extraordinary poverty. Many Germans starved at this time. Yet the Weimar Republic was resilient and survived the challenges. In part because many Germans feared that it would be replaced by something worse such as Communism.
Despite the hyperinflation and extremist violence, the Weimar Republic survived, and democratically elected governments were able to make significant changes to the German economy and society. Able politicians like Gustave Stresemann were able to secure changes to the financial clauses of the Versailles Treaty, and this helped the economy to improve. He was also able to secure loans from the United States to help Germany recover from the war and hyperinflation.
The Weimar Republic was also able to improve relations with other countries such as France. German culture also flourished at this time, and Berlin became a famous artistic center at this time. By 1928, it appeared that the Weimar Republic was a success and would provide Germany with a stable and democratic form of government for many years to come. The left and right wing extremists during these years had been marginalized, but they still had significant popular support.
Despite the Revolution in 1918, many on the left believed that it did not go far enough. The radical left wanted a communist system in Germany. Revolutionaries established the Communist Republic in Bavaria and later seized control the Ruhr. These were both defeated by the German army and right wing-militias the Freirkorps. In 1919, Communists led by Rosa Luxembourg tried to stage a revolution in Berlin. The army also defeated this with great brutality. It was not only the left that was a threat to the Weimar Republic.
The far right also sought to overthrow the Republic. They blamed the Weimar Republic for the predicament of Germany and the ‘infamous’ Treaty of Versailles. There was an attempted right-wing coup in Berlin in 1919, the Kapp Putsch. In 1922, Adolf Hitler and the Nazi’s tried to seize control in Munich but was quickly defeated by German troops.
The Weimar Republic was able to resist the extremists’ attempts to seize power.However, the Republic because of its poor economic decisions and the effect of reparations resulted in hyperinflation. Inflation rose, and the price of essential goods rose dramatically. Inflation caused bankruptcies, strikes and extraordinary poverty. Many Germans starved at this time. Yet the Weimar Republic was resilient and survived the challenges. In part because many Germans feared that it would be replaced by something worse such as Communism.
Despite the hyperinflation and extremist violence, the Weimar Republic survived, and democratically elected governments were able to make significant changes to the German economy and society. Able politicians like Gustave Stresemann were able to secure changes to the financial clauses of the Versailles Treaty, and this helped the economy to improve. He was also able to secure loans from the United States to help Germany recover from the war and hyperinflation.
The Weimar Republic was also able to improve relations with other countries such as France. German culture also flourished at this time, and Berlin became a famous artistic center at this time. By 1928, it appeared that the Weimar Republic was a success and would provide Germany with a stable and democratic form of government for many years to come. The left and right wing extremists during these years had been marginalized, but they still had significant popular support.
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