Political opposition was also a factor that placed the republic in a dire situation. Terrorism and rebellions from both the left and right wing posed serious problems for the republic. There were three attempts at overthrowing the government. Firstly, in January 1919 the Sparticist uprising from the left was a rebellion in Berlin led by Rosa Luxemburg and Karl Liebknecht. It was a futile gesture against the government and was suppressed when the government led by Ebert called on the Freikorps to crush the rebellion. Luxemburg and Liebknecht were murdered. Secondly, in March 1929 Wolfgang Kapp led the Kapp Putsch from the right. 12, 000 Freikorps marched into Berlin rebelling against the signing and humiliation caused by the treaty of Versailles and tried to bring back the Kaiser. It was a direct threat to Weimar’s new government. This attempted overthrown could only be put down by a general strike called on by Ebert, which brought the capital to a halt. The success of this strike was crucial in indicating that the people of Berlin were willing to support Ebert’s government rather than a right-wing government. Thirdly, in November 1923 the Nazi Party led by Hitler tried to seize power in Munich in what became known as the Beer Hall Putsch. Police fired on the rebels and the rebellion broke up in chaos.
The political situation appeared poor in the Weimar Republic especially during 1918 – 1923. The political opposition was suppressed which was very influential in promoting the survival of the republic. The political weaknesses were not however solved until the second phase of the Weimar Republic (1923 – 1929). When a new government took power under Gustav Stresemann and began a period of prosperity. This was fundamental in Weimar’s survival from 1919 – 1929. It was ‘strength at the centre’ that Stresemann promoted which united the republic together. This was how Stresemann overcame the problem of proportional representation – the government had enough members of the Reichstag supporting it to pass laws it needed.
The Weimar Republic not only faced many political problems that exacerbated the risk of the republic’s collapse but also had to face many economic issues. The treaty of Versailles, which formally ended the war, was imposed on Germany and was considered to be very harsh. The treaty of Versailles was an economic burden to Germany in many ways. Germany was forced to give up 13% of its territory and hence lost a portion of its population. This also resulted in the deprivation of natural resources, ships, trains and even factory equipment. The treaty limited Germany’s armed forces. One of the most important clauses of the treaty, the war guilt clause, stated that Germany must accept responsibility for loss and damage caused by the war. This meant Germany could be forced to pay reparations. This would prove to be the cause of Germany’s hyperinflation and the crisis of 1923 and Germany’s biggest economic burden. The government struggled pay its reparation payments and as a result printed more money, causing inflation. Germany’s Mark was becoming weaker and weaker. In January 1923, Germany failed to make a payment to Belgium and France. As a result, France invaded the Ruhr, Germany’s most valuable industrial area. This humiliated the government, whom ordered a general strike and passive resistance was encouraged. The strikers were paid by printing more money, fuelling a period of rampant hyperinflation. By 1923 the German Mark was virtually worthless. In 1919 4.2 Marks was equal to 1 U.S. Dollar. On November 16th 1923, 4, 200, 000, 000, 000 Marks was equal to 1 U.S. Dollar. George Grosz said, “Lingering at the [shop] window was a luxury because shopping had to be done immediately. Even an additional minute meant an increase in price”. These punitive reparations not only severely damaged the German economy, but also caused great consternation and resentment from the German populace.
The Weimar government’s economic crisis continued from 1919 – 1923 (as did its political weaknesses) until a new government took power. This government led by Gustav Stresemann brought Weimar into a period of growing economic stability and prosperity. This period from 1924 – 1929 would become known as the ‘Golden era’ or the ‘Stresemann era’. It marked the beginning of an economic recovery and a turning point in the survival of the Weimar Republic. Stresemann’s first move was to combat hyperinflation, which was crippling German society and economy. Stresemann did this by introducing a new currency, called the Rentenmark (rate of 1, 000, 000, 000, 000 old Marks for 1 new Mark). To further stabilise the economy he reduced spending and bureaucracy and increased taxes. During this period the Dawes Plan was introduced between America and Germany in 1924. This plan called off the Ruhr strike and Germany was able to start to pay reparations again. This plan also gave Germany longer to pay its reparation debts. Stresemann also signed the Young Plan in 1929, which reduced Germany’s reparation payments. Stresemann introduced a time of great possibility and was a symbol of stability. Cultural life also boomed under his guidance (the roaring twenties). Stresemann proved to be a key figure in the survival of the Weimar Republic from 1919 – 1929.
The Weimar Republic faced many social problems. It was burdened by the fact that throughout its existence it suffered from a ‘negative consensus’, were it never gained a majority supporting democracy. Due to that it proved to always be a struggle for the government to satisfy its people. A portion of the population that was anti-democratic included the army (led by right-wing General Seeckt). This made survival of the Weimar republic extremely difficult as the government rarely gained enough support, especially in times of need. The army was not fully unde the government’s control and it failed to support the government during the Kapp Putsch of the crisis in 1923. Due to the political and economic crises the government went through, it lost a lot of its support. Economic problems lead to massive unemployment and a decrease in living standards. The middle class never forgave the Weimar republic for the hyperinflation of 1923. Many workers gave their support to the communists in a bid to work for the common good.
Most of the social problems encountered by the Weimar Republic had evolved from weaknesses and inefficiencies from the government. Although many problems were solved during the ‘golden era’ which promoted to survival of the Weimar republic. Stresemann introduced reforms to make life better for the working class through labour exchanges and unemployment pay.
At the end of WW1, Germany was blamed for many losses and damaged which they were forced to compensate for through the treaty of Versailles in the form of reparations. WW1 was a disaster for Germany, not only were they defeated, damaged and economically burdened, their new republic was forced to deal with the consequences of such actions. The new Weimar Government was affected in relation to foreign affairs, as well as being affected economically and socially from the moment it rose to power. Germany’s international status and respect from other nations was very low. The treaty of Versailles, decided on by other countries and imposed on Germany, limited their army, took some of their territory and forced Germany to pay reparations.
It wasn’t until the ‘golden era’ (5 years after the end of WW1) that Germany could do anything regarding these foreign issues. Stresemann improved Germany’s international standing by signing the Locarno Treaty in 1925, agreeing the lose of Alsace Lorraine. In 1926, Germany was allowed to join the League of Nations. Under the new government led by Stresemann Germany had become a world power again.
Weimar’s ‘golden era’ can be viewed very differently by different historians. It can be viewed as the period that led to Weimar’s survival between 1919 – 1929. “Success in foreign policy created a stable economy and Cultural Revolution and suppressed political violence” (Dixon). An alternative view is critical of Stresemann’s actions. For example, in domestic politics there were constant shifts on power adding to the period’s instability. As a result, “discontent with party and parliamentary government became widespread, already foreshadowing the transformation into an authoritarian presidential regime” (Kolb, 1988)
By the end of 1924, the Weimar Republic appeared to have survived its crisis and to have entered a period of stability. In the first five years of the Weimar republic, survival was a struggle. It had to overcome political (weaknesses, opposition), economic crises, and social and foreign issues. The survival of the Weimar Republic from 1919 – 1929 can be reduced down to the overcoming of rebellions and major achievement in the fields of welfare, culture, politics and economic growth after 1923.