Collapse of the Weimar Republic and the rise of the Nazi Party

The Weimar RepublicOn Feb 1919 a new democratic republic led by Friedrich Ebert emerged from the ashes of WW1

Political weaknesses 1Treaty of Versailles illegitimate child of defeatCoalitions/proportional representationLack of law and orderNo support from landowners, army, civil service and big business

Political weaknesses 2 Attacked by left wing parties German revolution 1919Attacked by right wing parties eg Kapp Putsche 1920Also Hitlers Munich Putsch of 1923

Political Weaknesses 3A republic without republicans Bookbinderthe stability of Weimar rested on shaky foundationsBessel an accidental republic .that few Germans understood or appreciatedFischer

Economic Weaknesses 1Treaty of Versailles>Iron>coal>industry>reparations

Economic weaknesses 2Hyperinflation 1923-4>savings of middle classes wiped out like leaves in a galeWall St. Crash in USA effect on Germany 1931.>Unemployment>support for extremist parties

Economic Weaknesses 3the slump had a major effect on the Weimar republic Hite and HintonThe chances of Weimar democracy surviving were virtually nil Hite and Hinton

Attraction of Hitler and Nazis Charismatic leaderSimple message Versailles, anti semitism, anti communismPropaganda

Attraction of Hitler and the Nazis 2the only party cutting across the political spectrum Muhlbergerthe Nazis could claim to be a volksparteiChilders

Political IntrigueGroups like the army, landowners and big business hoped to use Nazi support for their own endsConservative politicians miscalculated Hitlers ambitionssordid political intrigueAJP Taylorin two months time we will have pushed him.into the cornerVon Papen