The Weimar Republic, born in January 1919, was Germany’s first-ever democratic government. From the dawn of the new government until its end in January 1933, Germany faced numerous challenging problems that some argue could not have been overcome without the new republic taking action. The creation of a democracy was a huge step for German society, which had been a monarchy for hundreds of years. Some welcomed the new rights and freedoms but others were against change; nationalist parties and organizations began to surface. Many hoped for the return of the Kaiser, believing that Germany needed a leader, not a democracy (Allsop, Scott).
The big question remains: was the government actually successful? Under this constitution, Germany was divided into nineteen states and all citizens had the right to vote (Class Notes). Most historians agree that it was a true democracy and that the Weimar Constitution was a brilliant document. However, it can be argued that it was destined to disappoint: the government faced serious financial challenges and there were too many political parties. Was the …show more content…
It was neither the impact of the Depression alone, nor the actions of certain powerful individuals. It was the circumstances and peculiar combination of these events that caused the final outcome. I do not believe that the Weimar Republic can be placed into the box ‘unwanted and unloved’ because not everyone was against it. Many people benefitted from the new government, and Germany as a whole developed and thrived. However, it is obvious that others were very much against democracy and were delighted when the Weimar collapsed in January 1933. Maybe the government was doomed to fail because the public was so against change. In addition, persuasive opposition leaders and parties may have been using propaganda to plot its downfall from the
The big question remains: was the government actually successful? Under this constitution, Germany was divided into nineteen states and all citizens had the right to vote (Class Notes). Most historians agree that it was a true democracy and that the Weimar Constitution was a brilliant document. However, it can be argued that it was destined to disappoint: the government faced serious financial challenges and there were too many political parties. Was the …show more content…
It was neither the impact of the Depression alone, nor the actions of certain powerful individuals. It was the circumstances and peculiar combination of these events that caused the final outcome. I do not believe that the Weimar Republic can be placed into the box ‘unwanted and unloved’ because not everyone was against it. Many people benefitted from the new government, and Germany as a whole developed and thrived. However, it is obvious that others were very much against democracy and were delighted when the Weimar collapsed in January 1933. Maybe the government was doomed to fail because the public was so against change. In addition, persuasive opposition leaders and parties may have been using propaganda to plot its downfall from the