The Weimar Republic did not want war nor did they run it, nevertheless they were blamed relentlessly for it, the war and the treaty, a blame that lasted 4 years. Primarily the political burden which they took on was immense, an unavoidable consequence of defeat in war. Germany’s internal powers began to fight for political power, from both the left and the right. The army itself was a political power, anti-democratic but obedient to an extent to the Weimar Republic and was on a steeper slope to fame and power.
The government was inclined to the left wing more than the right, they were known as the social democrats (SPD) and the communists were the established far left wing movement. The communists in particular were further signs of great weakness in the Weimar Republic; they desired to come under a communist state. This fact ultimately led to insurgence in Germany; they were determined to take control by force under the flag of Spartaciscm and Communism. The ruling leaders, Ebert at the time, needed to take instantaneous action or their power would be abolished and forcefully taken off them To re-instigate peace they called upon the army to degrade the communists. This led the Weimar Republic to seem weak where the army looked strong and as a significant political force in Germany, this strengthened the nationalists who supported the army.
The government was gradually becoming weaker with inevitable emergences of more problems. Already opposed and under great pressure politically and economically, the government had acted accordingly but at a price. More groups were inspired to attempt takeover, again from the left. The government again called upon the army which resulted in the same attitudes: the army was raised to a higher state of power, additionally the government seemed great dependant on the army, this second revolt created more distrust and hate of the new government.
Arracks from the left had left the government with few options; attacks from the right were bound to happen. And it did, now the government was in a dilemma, they could not call upon the army, a right winged army would not fight another right winged party or kill their ‘own’ people. The Kapp takeover, 5000 ex-marines marched and occupied buildings in Berlin declaring their nationalism, they soon won support from army leaders and people. The government called upon the workers of Berlin for a strike. This subsequently meant Germany came to a ‘stand-still’ stopping all forms of transport and business to stop in Berlin. Kapp eventually resigned. This left the government successful without the aid of an army, but now the army was considered untrustworthy. Weaknesses appeared in the courts of Berlin, the judges seemed to be in favour of the right winged party.
Politically the country may be devastated but physiologically the country was scarred for eternity. Germany had lost over 2 Million fathers, husband and sons not to mention the ¾ million civilians that starved. ‘So it had all been in vain. In vain all the sacrifices,’ the bitterness of Hitler’s words represents the bitterness of the entire country. Defeat came and stabbed them from behind, having been engrossed and hammered with propaganda of Germany’s victory; the country could not tolerate such humiliation but above all utter defeat. Dangerous myths and made up analogies were created to soften the blow of defeat, to play the ‘blame game’ to make themselves feel better. Thoughts arose, such as Germany being betrayed by Jews and the new government betraying Germany to have power and be called political leaders.
Economically the state was in a situation of desperation, the war added an un-repairable dent in the economy of Germany. The cost of starting and running of the war in itself was immense. The loss of war meant compensating victims, ultimately this came in the form of reparations i.e. paying countries for the damage caused. This mandatory payment was an early sign of the weaknesses evident in Germany, but also the weak state the government was heading towards. The reparations were funded by loans; this meant that that the ratio of money borrowed and going out was greater than the ratio coming in. They were increasing in debt and decreasing in income. This inevitably would lead to the highest weakness of Germany’s already frail state.
Inevitably they had exhausted all their money to fund reparations. Payments were stopped and the victims: France and Belgian became angry. They were motivated to march into Germany, armies entered with the intent of taking what ‘income’ was theirs from Germany’s primary source of income, Europe’s largest industrial site: Ruhr. Under order of the government the workers neither co-operated nor did they fight otherwise known as passive resistance, thus Germany’s main source of income was put to a dead stop. The economy of Germany had really become the ‘Achilles heel of Weimar Germany.’
Germany’s answer was to simply print more money to clear debts. This drastic action had many consequences and drawback. Inflation was already and issue in Germany before the new government but this action took inflation to hyperinflation. The value of the German mark dropped stupendously. Possessions and property had more value than millions of marks, this led to serious problems, mainly the middle class people were affected to their life-savings being completely wiped clean, and jobs were also lost in both the working and middle class. Least affected were the upper class people whose possession were a means of survival for them not to mention they were already wealth. The Weimar Republic responded by introducing a new currency abolishing the old mark thus making all old marks worthless. These actions introduced newfound bitterness amongst Germany’s people adding to their already bitter attitudes.
To summarise, the conjoined effects of political, physiological and economical had left Germany shattered, divided and bitter. When one consequence could have destroyed a country, three joined efforts devastated Germany. Politically Germany was being pressured from the left and the right, the government did not want to come under the flag of either country but to stay as democratic as it is. It seems they cannot fight such oppositions forever. Economically Germany was going down an extremely slippery slop, the Mark’s value was plummeting, unemployment was rising and starvation was rampaging Germany. Reparation weren’t forgiven although Germany was in such a state. Physiologically the people’s mind would never appreciate this government nor will they forgive them, World War 1 had left them brutalised. This experience would not disappear from the annals of history nor will would the people adapt the democracy and way of life the Weimar Republic has brought. These early weaknesses were a sign of the government’s future, it would be a very short and hard life governed in vain.