The economic problems happening at this time introduced bad feeling among the German people. The Treaty of Versailles caused hyperinflation due to the reparations payments that Germany had to make leading to the French and Belgian occupation of the Ruhr. This made wages, bank savings and the German Mark worthless. People could not afford to buy food and had to take their wages home twice a day in a wheelbarrow. It also initiated the desperation which eventually led them to turning to the Nazi party. The closures of banks and industry left many people unemployed and a lot of people who had savings in banks lost there money.
The Treaty of Versailles caused a lot of hatred toward the Weimar Government, as they had to accept guilt for the war and many German people did not agree with this. The German people also resented the loss of territories as they often had relatives living in areas that were no longer classed as being Germany. Most Germans denied that they had lost the war and blamed the ‘November Criminals’ for signing the Treaty and agreeing to the Armistice.
The decline of Parliamentary Government began with the discussion of President Hindenburg and his associates to introduce a more authoritarian system, even before the depression. They would then be allowed to use Article 48 to pass laws and would no longer have to consult the Reichstag resulting in a less democratic government. Democracy declined gradually, and under each new chancellor the government was less and less democratic, this began when Hermann Müller resigned due to a lack of support from President Hindenburg when he wished to use Article 48. He was the last truly parliamentary chancellor. This resignation shows that he lacked faith in himself, and agrees with the statement made in the title. Müller was followed by Heinrich Brüning, who was the first to use Article 48. He used it to introduce a finance bill which had previously been rejected by the Reichstag. He then persuaded Hindenburg to dissolve the Reichstag and try to begin a new one.
Brüning tried to get reparations ended but, he paid little attention to the slump. He was nicknamed the hunger chancellor, as during his time in this position people suffered extremely badly. Brüning however, did not show a lack of faith in himself, he showed great confidence in trying to reduce reparations and introducing many problem solving measures, Hindenburg turned against him personally, not his policies.
In May 1932, Franz Von Papen succeeded Brüning as chancellor, and his government was less parliamentary still, this was seen as the final transition to a presidential government as his new government contained no members of the Reichstag. Papen completely took apart democracy in Germany, by lifting the ban on the SA. This was the final blow in the failure of the Weimar Republic as it meant the end of democracy in Germany. Papen was swiftly followed by Schleicher and finally Hitler.
In conclusion, the Weimar Republic did not fail for one reason in particular, they are all equally responsible. The politician’s lack of faith in themselves caused the changing of the chancellor regularly, particularly with Brüning as he resigned. Also, the use of Article 48 caused politicians to lack faith as well as undermining democracy. The decline of parliamentary government was also due to a lack of faith from politicians, but without the changing of chancellors due to who Hindenburg sacked and who resigned, therefore we can also say that the actions of President Hindenburg contributed to the decline of the Weimar Republic. The economic problems at the time had a major influence on the failure of the Weimar Republic. The slump caused unhappiness in the German people and caused them to vote for more extremist parties such as communists and the Nazis. Also, proportional representation had a very big impact on how the Weimar Republic declined. If laws were not so difficult to pass within the Reichstag due to the amount of parties, Article 48 would never have been considered. This would have resulted in Brüning not resigning at this point and could have saved democracy in Germany.