country was a success. However, once the Depression came into play their whole economical structure would
be destroyed as there would be no demand for Germany employment due to the stop of the Dawes Plan.
Meaning that many working class people would have turned to extremist parties such as the Nazis with the
use of such slogans like "work and bread" which would have lured many.Making the social democrats less popular
because from my own knowledge as much as 6.1 million people were unemployed.Furthermore, the chancellor during
this time knew that if the country printed more money and increase Government expenditure it would lead
to one way out of the depression. However, all the Weimar politicians knew that these were the policies
which before had led to the disastrous inflation of 1923. Meaning that the Government had to use
hard line measures such as raising taxes, cutting wages and reducing unemployment benefits.The use of such hard line
policies would have hardly won the admiration or support of the German people. This Meant that after the Depression
it's economical policies were just one point to the downfall of the Weimar Republic.
Due to the failing policies of the SPD. The Nazis were becoming extremely popular but hadn't yet won a majority of the vote.
Therefore, the Nazis used aritcle 48 to make sure that the Nazis could keep a definite position of Government power.Because,
Hitler didn't have the absolute power that he needed. As a result, the Nazis orchestrated the burning of the
Reichstag in 1933. Hitler and the Nazis party were able to contend that they knew about the burning in advance, but could do
nothing to prevent it because they lacked the power under the Constitution. President Hindenburg then allowed
Hitler to apply Article 48 under the Weimar Constitution. This article allowed the president to rule by decree during national emergencies.
Hitler was able to use this to his advantage by arresting those who opposed the Nazi regime (particularly Communists). Hitler
is further able to get the Reichstag to issue the Enabling Act which will allow him to function essentially issue as Dictator.Showing
to us historians that the presidential rule and use the use of article 48 made the Nazis gain more power before they failed to gain an overall victory.
Which Hitler knew he couldn't take by force or action due to the failure of The Munich Putsch.Showing that due to the depression
other political parties e.g. the Nazis could manipulate certain situations to gain dictatorship which would be the catlyst for
the downfall of the Weimar Republic.
The rise of extremism was also another cause of the downfall of the Weimar Republic. This extremism was caused by the catlyst of the
Depression. Which in turn meant that unemployment was the main issue which can be higlighted in this paragraph. To many German's
at the time of the depression believed that the depression was the hopeless mess handled by the Republic.Furthermore, those who did not vote before now
became involved because now politics did matter in a time of huge unemployment and benefit cuts.Many far right and left wing parties
began to make the voters believe they were speaking for them. For example, the communists believed that the Depression showed
that the capitalist system was doomed and that only communism is the answers. While on the far right the Nazis blamed the
Weimar Republic, the treaty of Versailles, the Jews and the Nazis promised to get "rid of the enemys within." Furthermore,
the Nazis were reknown for using propaganda phrases e.g work and bread. Highlighting how extremism led to many voters believing
the Social Democratic Party as a failure.This rise of extemism highlighted the weaknesses of the Weimar Republic as there was fighting
during the elections and many town halls were bombed by the Nazis.
In conclusion, the Depression sparked or supposedly was the catylyst for the downfall of the Republic as mentioned above.
For example, unpopular economic policies like the Dawes plan which tied Germany to America heavily affected the
German economy. Furthermore, the failing policies such as article 48 which could manipulate in dangerous times of politics only
one party to win which wasn't democratic. Furthermore, extremism disillusioned people by thinking it could solve all the problems
of Germany which linked indirectly to the Wall Street Crash and the Depression