The Survival Prospects of the Weimar Republic

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The Survival Prospects of the Weimar Republic

The statement that by the beginning of 1929 the survival prospects of

the Weimar republic looked good brings many different political,

economic and social views of the events and attitudes of that year and

the 4 years (from 1924) leading up to it to a head. This essay will

argue that while the statement can be evidenced by several

improvements in different sectors, these improvements were only on the

surface. If the fundamental flaws of the republic (exhibited in

destabilizing factors to be discussed) are looked at accurately, its

failures were inevitable. The great depression merely accelerated this

inevitability.

One argument that that supports the idea that survival prospects of

Weimar looked good by 1929 is economic. The terror that the German

people felt when faced with reparations was to be allayed by foreign

minister Gustav Stressemans orchestration of the introduction of the

Dawes plan in1924 (tailored to his policy of fulfillment of the

Versailles treaty). The newly establish Rentenmark currency was

stabilized by this influx of almost 25.5 billion marks worth of

foreign capital. It also set the stage for the Young plan, established

in 1928. This plan “parceled” reparations payments into easily payable

chunks, another move of Stressemans that seemed a viable step towards

encouraging the motivation of the German people to get the states

economic house in order. These factors were obvious opportunities for

Germany to grow and prosper. Indeed, it can be seen why noted

historian M. Fullbrook could say that “under Stressemans’ guidance, it

might appear that a considerable amount h...

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...KPDs’ rural membership by 10% in 1928). It can be seen

that by 1929, all was definitely not positive economically and that

this would not mean well for the prospects of Weimar’s’ survival, even

with out The Great depression of 1931.

In conclusion, it can be seen that while there were some positive

economic, political and foreign policy developments from 1924 to 1929,

these were merely on the surface and covered innumerable flaws in the

Weimar system. The lack of understanding of democracy in German

society, the negative perceptions and revisionist ideals leftover from

the Versailles Treaty and the structurally induced economic weaknesses

were all evident throughout the time period, and would have caused the

republic eventual downfall. The great depression of 1931, while it

sped up this process, was merely a catalyst.

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