of many Germans. They never accepted the fact that they have been defeated and they
considered the Treaty of Versailles a “stab in the back” by Jews and socialists.
According to historian Brooman, the first years of the Weimar Republic were very
violent because the people feared the spread of communism, but they also feared the
socialists as the Treaty of Versailles presented their impression as the “November
Criminals”. The fear drove them to resort to violence and bloodshed in the Weimar
Republic.
The political instability in the Weimar Republic is displayed through the
chancellorship of Bruning, who imposed wage cuts, increased taxes in order to cut
costs. But this programme proved to be deflationary and also lost the support of the
working class. Schleicher’s chancellorship too proved to be precarious from the outset
because he did not have the trust of the president and also Von Papen had joined forces
with Hitler to plot revenge. According to historian Alan White, This political instability
was well made use of by Hitler who legally came to power when he was appointed
chancellor. Therefore Germany’s multi party system, the lack of political leadership can
be seen as causes of the Weimar Republic’s failure.
The Nazi party made the use of the political instability in the Weimar Republic.
The economic depression made the Nazi offerings seem very attractive to the people.
Their offerings of national unity, prosperity, full employment, the promise to overthrow
the Treaty of Versailles attracted the people’s vote. According to Robert Wolfson and
John Laver, Hitler’s political ability, and their aim to rid Germany of communism won
the support of wealthy landowner and industrialists, also the social depression
contributed towards the rise of Nazism and the fall of the Weimar Republic.
Stresemann stated in 1928, “Germany is dancing on a volcano”. The “volcano”
erupted when the Weimar Republic took the impact of the Wall Street crash. Historian
Stephan J. Lee states that Germany’s industry and economy was heavily dependant on
the loans from the United States. The Wall Street crash resulted in the foreign loans
being withdrawn and eventually the banking system collapsed. Bankruptcies and
unemployment rose and the golden progress of the Weimar Republic came to a grinding
halt.
In conclusion, it can be said that internal as well as external factors led the
Weimar Republic to its failure. The lack of support from the people due to the fear of
communism and their attitude towards the socialists led them to support Hitler, who
manipulated the situation of the Weimar Republic and came to power and ended the
Weimar Republic. But it can be stated that one of the greatest reason for the collapse
was the Wall Street Crash as it was fatal blow on the economy. After the careful and
chronological analysis of the events which played a part in the collapse of the Weimar
republic, it can be stated that the misfortune of the republic was well made use of by A.
Hitler in his rise to power.
