The Weimar Republic1919-1933

Doomed from the beginning?

Growing discontent among the German people resulted

in a revolutionary situation in October of 1918. The Kaiser abdicated and fled. Germany was declared a

republic on November 9, 1918. However, the revolution was not unified and several

factions had different aims/agendas. A Spartacist uprising caused chaos in Berlin, therefore

the small town Weimar hosted the first meeting of the newly elected National Constituent Assembly in February 1919.

Thus, the Weimar Republic was born.

Origins

Proclamation of the RepublicNovember 9, 1918

Immediate Problems facing the young Weimar Republic

2.5 million deaths from the war and 4 million wounded

Hostile view of the new government “Stab in the back”

myth – November Criminals

Economic woes Result of the Treaty

of Versailles

The Years of Crisis (1919-1923)

Ineffective Constitution Article 48 gives the president vast “emergency powers Proportional voting means lot of small, powerless

parties – prevented one party from getting a majority Rebellions

Groups such as the Spartacists led revolts and rebellions throughout the German territory

Putsch Invasion and Inflation

France invaded the Ruhr Valley – workers went on strike, hyperinflation caused by money printed to pay strikers

3 Phases of the Weimar Republic

The Years of Stability/Prosperity (1924-1929)

Freikorps and army successfully put down Communist revolts

Gustav Stresemann named Chancellor Negotiated the Dawes Plan and Young Plan Controlled inflation Persuaded French to leave Ruhr Valley Encouraged economic growth Introduced reforms to help ordinary people

The Years of Collapse (1930-

1933) Great Depression caused by

US Stock Market Crash German dependence on

American loans results in shutdown of businesses and mass unemployment

Extreme parties gain support Nazi party grows

tremendously in membership and Reichstag seats

Nazi leader Adolf Hitler named Chancellor January 1933.