Successes and failures of the Weimar Republic

Weimar Republic

Explaining the Successes and Failures of the Weimar Republic

The years which saw the conclusion of World War I and the war's peace process were met with tremendous political, economic and social instability in Germany. As the German state struggled to find leadership that had the support of a majority of the countrymen, Germany dissolved into a state of revolution throughout November 1918 and into early 1919. As a result, the regime that emerged, the Weimar Republic, faced a long list of challenges and obstacles that would shape its future in the next fifteen years. Specifically, Weimar experienced a period of initial instability, followed by a period of relative success and prosperity, and ultimately a period of utter decline and failure which lead to the rise of fascism and the Nazi Party under Adolph Hitler.

The period of which immediately preceded the installation of the Weimar requires analysis in order to best understand the creation of Weimar and the difficulties it faced in its first few years. After being devastated by war in all respects, and in fact before the war ended and the Treaty of Versailles was signed, the German government collapsed in revolution in November 1918. In response to the German government's effort to establish a British style of parliament, German sailors and soldiers revolted. The Social Democrats modeled the revolution around the Russian Revolution of a year earlier.

Throughout the remainder of 1919, while the Treaty of Versailles was being negotiated and before it was presented for ratification, the Weimar Constitution came into effect. The German public became extremely fragmented and supported a number of different political regimes, some mildly different in ideology, like the DNVP and DVP (114) parties and some radically different, like the Center Party and any of the three Marxist parties (115). Under this backdrop, it is not surprising that Weimar struggled early to win the confidence or support of the people.

Instability and Inflation

This mix of political ideologies created what seemed to be widespread support for the Weimar constitution, three out of four German voters voted in favor of it (117), however, those that were opposed to it proved to be a volatile mix of dissenters. From the start, the factions could not agree on the significant issues, or symbolic ones like the colors of the new national flag (117). The flag crisis was followed immediately by the Treaty question: Would Germans ratify a treaty that was militarily, geographically, diplomatically, and economically oppressive to this 'new' German state (119)? Germany did ratify the Treaty and thus owed tremendous reparations to the Allied countries as the aggressor of the war.

Domestically, the economy was another source of early instability. Although, workers were eager to jumpstart Germany's industrial machine, a demand for high wages led to labor strife and exacerbated already high inflation rates. Compounding the trouble, Germany acquired massive foreign debt during the war which was now payable at a high rate of interest (123). Furthermore, in an effort to establish stability among the working class by creating price and rent controls, the new government alienated the large farmer and landlord classes. The return of soldiers and officers to civilian life created additional competition for jobs and wages (124) As all of these forces converged and developed, the German economy continued to struggle through 1923.

In 1923, in an effort to thwart the allies punitive measures aimed at enforcing the reparations, the German government began to print money to finance its own domestic economy. The result was an inflation rate that brought the value of the German mark down to virtually zero and for nine long months the country languished in a state of economic starvation, hoping for leniency from the Allies. With none forthcoming, the present regime resigned and the new "Reich" coalition party assumed control of the government under the helm of Gustav Stresemann (127).

Conclusion

While the Weimar is often seen in a foreboding and ominous light, as the 'cause' of the rise Nazi Germany, it does deserve praise for what it managed to accomplish in its 14-year existence. Faced with enormous constraints and no allies to turn to, Weimar kept Germany a viable German state throughout the 1920s. Signs pointed to continued growth, at least in the short-term, before the Great Depression brought about its demise. Sadly, Hitler and the Nazi's used the German's ultimate (and perhaps inevitable) failures as a scapegoat to launch his dictatorial campaign of hate.

Work Cited

Orlow, Dietrich. A History of Modern Germany. Prentice Hall, 5th ed. (2001).