Weimar Republic

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Weimar Republic

There were various factors that contributed to the failure of the Weimar Republic of Germany and the ascent of Hitler’s National Socialist German Workers Party into power on January 30, 1933. Various conflicting problems were concurrent with the eventuation of the Republic that, from the outset, its first governing body the socialist party (SPD) was forced to contend with.

These included the aspect of German imperialism, the unresolved defeat of 1918, financial collapse and the forced struggle against the activities of the National party as well as inflation. Other factors which influenced the failure of Weimar were the structural weaknesses induced by the constitution and the basic lack of support for the Republic among the German people particularly amongst the elite. These aspects were the major causes which doomed the Weimar republic to ultimate failure and the eventual ascent of Hilter’s nationalist party to power.

The new socialist government of Weimar (SPD), whose constitution was adopted on July 30, 1919, entered a situation they by no means created. The period during which they were appointed to rule was associated with defeat and misery, and when disorder was nationwide. The situation then, was that of revolution. However, rather than to make a socialist revolution they co-operated with the liberals and with the catholic center party to lead Germany in a reformed version of her old self. In June 1919, they voted to comply with the treaty of Versailles (the vindictive settlement imposed by the Paris peace conference). However, the signing of the Treaty served to promote protest and unrest amongst the soldiers, sailors, German people, and democracy thus resulted in becoming an alien device.

The ...

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...c failed to resolve these issues and these issues created the context that made the failure of the Republic and the rise of a dictatorial leader to power possible.

Bibliography:

Bibliography

Fischer. F., (1986), From Kaiserreich to third Reich, Oxford University Press, London.

Gilbert. M.,(1997), A history of the twentieth century: Volume one: 1900-1933, Bath Press, Great Britain.

Gill. A., (1994), An honourable defeat, William Heinemann Ltd, London.

Ramm. A., (1984), Europe in the twentieth century 1905-1970, Longman Group Ltd, USA.

Simon. T., (1983), Germany 1918-1933 revolution, counterrevolution and the rise of Hitler, Oxford University Press, London.

Peukert. D., (1991), The Weimar Republic, Penguin Press, London.

Traynor. J., (1991), Challenging history: Europe 1890-1990, Macmillan education limited, London.

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