The Collapse of the Weimar and Hitler's Rise to Power
Modern History Essay
Assess the view that the collapse of the Weimar Republic was primarily due to the appeal of Hitler and the Nazi party.
Although Hitler and his Nazi party were contributing factors in the collapse of the Weimar Republic they were not primarily responsible for the collapse of the Weimar Republic. A combination of the incompetence of the Weimar and Hitler’s formative influence on the population collapsed the Weimar. During the early 1920s, Germany was struggling with economic instability and political uncertainty. Germany, after being defeated in the Great War, was forced to sign the unforgiving treaty of Versailles, which the Weimar Republic was held responsible for. This brought forward feelings of fear, anger and insecurity towards the Weimar Republic. Hitler built on these feelings and appealed to the various classes in society at the beginning of the depression.
After having signed the dreaded treaty of Versailles the Weimar had lost credibility amongst the German people having been called the ‘November Criminals’. This made the Weimar appear weak. Because of misleading German propaganda, the loss of the war came as a shock to the Germans. Citizens in Kiel even turned to mutiny after the signing of the treaty.
During the 1920’s the people of Germany lost faith in democracy. The hyperinflation and shortage of food and unemployment was a consequence of the Weimar’s poor economic management. The Weimar’s decision to keep printing worthless money led to the hyperinflation and citizens having to carry a wheelbarrow heaped with German Marks to purchase one loaf of bread. The recently lifted blockades around Germany left the German people with little food; some citizens had to fill sausages with sawdust for nourishment. The French occupation of the Rhineland discouraged the Germans from mining coal, meaning that the unemployment dramatically rose. These were all contributing factors in the people’s loss of faith in the Weimar.
Furthermore the
Assess the view that the collapse of the Weimar Republic was primarily due to the appeal of Hitler and the Nazi party.
Although Hitler and his Nazi party were contributing factors in the collapse of the Weimar Republic they were not primarily responsible for the collapse of the Weimar Republic. A combination of the incompetence of the Weimar and Hitler’s formative influence on the population collapsed the Weimar. During the early 1920s, Germany was struggling with economic instability and political uncertainty. Germany, after being defeated in the Great War, was forced to sign the unforgiving treaty of Versailles, which the Weimar Republic was held responsible for. This brought forward feelings of fear, anger and insecurity towards the Weimar Republic. Hitler built on these feelings and appealed to the various classes in society at the beginning of the depression.
After having signed the dreaded treaty of Versailles the Weimar had lost credibility amongst the German people having been called the ‘November Criminals’. This made the Weimar appear weak. Because of misleading German propaganda, the loss of the war came as a shock to the Germans. Citizens in Kiel even turned to mutiny after the signing of the treaty.
During the 1920’s the people of Germany lost faith in democracy. The hyperinflation and shortage of food and unemployment was a consequence of the Weimar’s poor economic management. The Weimar’s decision to keep printing worthless money led to the hyperinflation and citizens having to carry a wheelbarrow heaped with German Marks to purchase one loaf of bread. The recently lifted blockades around Germany left the German people with little food; some citizens had to fill sausages with sawdust for nourishment. The French occupation of the Rhineland discouraged the Germans from mining coal, meaning that the unemployment dramatically rose. These were all contributing factors in the people’s loss of faith in the Weimar.
Furthermore the