Strengths+and+weaknesses+of+Weimar+Germany+(1919-1932)

John Steigerwalt

November 30, 2009

Research Topic #10

Strengths and Weaknesses of Weimar Germany (1919-1932)

After World War One the entire world was scrambled. Counties were in massive debt and many lives were lost. But in Germany a new government was formed. The new Weimar Republic came into Germany with debt, with the reparations, and embarrassment, with World War I and the Treat of Versailles. Although entering such hard times the Republic had many strengths and good ideas, such as the attempt of the Weimar Constitution and political equality, yet they also had a lot of weaknesses, such as a lack of a persuasive leader, uneven balance of economic growth, ongoing economic problems and limited base of popular support. Although people might argue that the Weimar Government between 1919 and 1932 was a complete failure, they did have some strengths and good ideas, such as, the formation of a Weimar Constitution and their political equality. The new National Assembly “met at Weimar from Feb. 6 to Aug. 11, 1919, and drew up a new constitution”1. Then, “On 31 July 191, the Reichstag voted strongly in favor of the constitution and on 11 August the president ratified it”2. This new constitution was said to be, “the most modern democratic constitution of its day”3. This constitution included a Bill of Rights. This Bill of Rights outlined the broad freedoms of the German citizens. These broad rights included personal liberty, the right of free speech, censorship was forbidden, equality before the law of all Germans, religious freedom and conscience, and no state church was allowed. This Bill of Rights also had social rights such as welfare provision, and protection of labor. The constitution also created a Supreme Court, which was to, “settle different interpretations of law”4. Another strength of Weimar Germany was their political equality. This political equality allowed small parties, such as the Nazi Party, to join coalitions and to have their voice heard. Although this was a strength for Weimar Germany this was a main reason why the Nazi Party gained power of Germany. And then when the Nazi party controlled Germany there was no political equality and if you went against the government you were most likely going to get killed. Some of Weimar Germany's weaknesses include the lack of a persuasive leader, uneven balance of economic growth, ongoing economic problems and limited base of popular support. A main reason why Weimar Germany did not strive in Europe was because of their limited base of popular support. Weimar democracy never enjoyed widespread political support. A reason for that could be very few countries, if any, recognized Germany as a democratic nation. Countries still associated the Weimar Republic with the, “defeat and the humiliation of the Treaty of Versailles and reparations”5. And within Germany, " Many Germans identified the republic with the despised Treaty of Versailles" 6. Another weakness of Weimar Germany is their uneven balance of economic growth and their ongoing economic problems. After World War I the Weimar Republic was inherited with the, “enormous cost of the First World War followed by the burden of post-war reconstruction”7. Germany was held responsible for all losses and damages suffered by the Allies. This led to the inflation crisis of 1923. Another problem with Germany's economy was that the, “value of imports always exceeded that of exports”8. "Germany's prosperity remained unsound. It was based too much on foreign credit. The stock-market crash in 1929 plunged the whole world into a severe depression"9. These show how Germany's economy was based on exports and foreign credit, so when the market crashed in 1929 the whole world fell into a depression, including Germany. And the final weakness I have for Weimar Germany is their lack of a persuasive leader. There was no single person who persuaded Germany or lead Germany. There was no Benito Mussolini or a Adolf Hitler for the Weimar Republic. “There was a lack of confidence that weakened the Republic’s position in its hour of need”10, and nobody stood up to take control of Germany within the party. But somebody outside the party decided to stand up and take control of Germany: Adolf Hitler. His persuasive skills was a major reason how he took control of Germany. Between 1919 and 1932 Weimar Germany had strengths and good ideas such as, the formation of a constitution and political equality; yet Weimar Germany had more weaknesses such as no persuasive leader, uneven balance of economic growth and ongoing economic problems, and a limited base of popular support. In all the timing of the Weimar Republic was wrong. The loss in World War One, the embarrassment of the Versailles Treaty, world economic problems, and reparations gave the Weimar Republic a very small chance of being successful.

1 "Weimar Republic." Compton's by Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica Online School Edition. Encyclopædia Britannica, 2009. Web. 7 Dec. 2009 .

2 Layton, Geoff. Weimar and the Rise of Nazi Germany. 3rd Edition. London. Hodder, 2005. pp. 24

3 "Germany." Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica Online School Edition. Encyclopædia Britannica, 2009. Web. 7 Dec. 2009 .

4 Layton pp. 25

5 Ibid pg. 141

6 "international relations." Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica Online School Edition. Encyclopædia Britannica, 2009. Web. 7 Dec. 2009 .

7 Layton pp. 141

8 Ibid pp. 72

9 "Germany." Compton's by Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica Online School Edition. Encyclopædia Britannica, 2009. Web. 7 Dec. 2009 .

10 Layton pp. 135