MH-AT2 Martin Shankland

Why did the Weimar Republic Collapse?

The Weimar Republic was disadvantaged from its inception by issues embedded in Germany’s
history that hampered growth from the beginning, specifically referencing the debilitating and
divisive Versailles Treaty along with the German public’s pessimistic attitude to a parliamentary
democracy general. On top of this there are 4 key reasons as to why Weimar collapsed.
The infant government was unable to quell violent outbreaks through the forms of Putsch’s,
revolutionary mutinies and eventually assassinations. To combat the aggression, the
Government had to outsource manpower to independent volunteer regiments that discredited
Weimar as a viable and stable force. 
Subsequently the most critical reason was that (initiated by the Treaty of Versailles), Weimar was
continually being plagued by economic problems that resulted in bankruptcy. Later, a devastating
blow to German industry promulgated by the French in the Ruhr furthered economic instability. 
In saying this, there was a point which can be credited to the Dawes Plan where the currency
was stabilized however this was short lived as the USA began to reclaim reparations and the loss
of working class support led to the establishment of Hitler and the Nazi Party as a supposed
strong authoritarian government that would maintain strict order which lulled the people thinking
that this was an attractive alternative to Weimar. 
This culminated in the welcoming of Hitler into a coalition government with the conservative and
nationalist coalition, which can only be blamed on a small coterie of right-wing politicians
supported by the Reichswehr otherwise known as the German armed forces.

Weimar’s Collapse began in its acceptance of the unpopular and shameful Versailles Treaty, the
lack of respect for a democratic form of governance as well as the disorganized party
configuration where members couldn’t compromise inhibiting growth from the beginning.
The Versailles Treaty entailed a limitation of arms, expensive reparations and a war guilt clause
which created the association of a death by dishonour. Leaving German nationalists unforgiving
and bitter. In 1919 there was a view being spread that the army was not rightfully defeated,
rather it had been “stabbed in the back” or Dolchstoßlegende by democrats who had
unnecessarily agreed to the treaty. What many Germans didn’t realize was that it was General
Ludendorff who requested an Armistice. However, Dolchstoßlegende was still ardently fostered
by enemies of the republic. A reason that this myth didn’t fall upon deaf ears, was that already a
normal and conventional coarseness and sense of contempt was directed towards a democratic
government, the honour and admiration was reserved for the army and the “officer class” were
the warranted leaders of Germany. The Weimar constitution was organized on a system of
proportional representation so that all political groups would have a fair representation.
This was a serious weakness, there was such a vast array of ideologically divergent political
groups that none could attain an overall majority. A cycle of coalition governments was
unavoidable. Conservatives, Nationalists and Communists within the system did not believe in its
validity and scornfully refused to assist the Social Democrats. As a result of the excessive conflict
within the Republic, led to parties organising private armies escalating the risk of civil war.
Parties were unable to implement a plan of action. Another inherent issue was that most of these
parties had no insight or experience in managing a democratic parliamentary system because
pre-1919 the Reichstag had no control over policy where the Chancellor had the final say. An
important note in the significance of the transition to a Republic was that the Chancellor was now
responsible to the Reichstag. The combination of the above led to…
Violent outbreaks such as the Spartakusaufstand uprising and Putsch’s which the government
found draining to quell leading to unfaithfulness from the people exemplifying its incompetence.
In January 1919 communists roused by the triumphs of the Russian Revolution steered by Karl
Liebknecht and Rosa Luxemburg protested and occupied all the major cities in Germany. This
became known as the Spartacist Rising. After the President found himself beleaguered inside the
Chancellery, the Government revamped their efforts, accepting the assistance of the Freikorps
which were independent citizen-participant regiments, formed by veterans who were anti-
communist. The acceptance of Freikorps managed is a considerable marker, that Weimar did not
have the means to maintain the country leading to its collapse.
The leaders of Spartacist ended up being stoned to death by Freikorps members, showing latent
signs of Barbarism, not receiving a fair trial. After the government tried to disperse the Freikorps,
they received backlash leading to an attempted seizure of power. The right-wing managed to
establish Dr Wolfgang Kapp as chancellor.
The Reichswehr (which had an anti-Weimar mindset shared by those in legal and teaching
professions), made no attempts to combat the Putsch which was a debilitating handicap in the
goal of maintaining cohesion. Workers went on strike, paralysing economic activities and routes,
until Kapp bowed down and the Social Democrat government was reinstated.
The Freikorps continued to be hostile toward the republic and there is evidence to suggest that
later members would join Hitler’s private armies. After the Weimar cabinet returned from their
fleeing. Their incompetence and weakness were on full display to the public, as Kapp was the
only member who faced any form of punishment. 
Other forms of violence included the assassination of Walter Rathenau a Jewish foreign minister
and Gustav Herzberger the leader of the armistice delegation while neither of these men were
pivotal players. This represented animosity, fear and loathing that was directed at Weimar. The
assassinations were carried out by ex-Freikorps participants, sympathised with by right-wing
parties though the government sought out repercussions the courts allowed the offenders of
lightly. Another threat to Weimar came through the form of Hitler aided by General Ludendorff
hoped to control the Bavarian government in Munich, from then spring boarding themselves to
oversee a nationwide revolution. This became known as the Beer Hall Putsch, which the police
easily disbanded. 
Hitler was sentenced to 5 years imprisonment but because the Bavarians sympathised with his
cause he only served 9 months. The Putsch came from public dissatisfaction and anger direction
towards the French occupation in the Ruhr and the steady decrease in currency. A brief period of
peace continued from 1924 to 1929, however this was short-lived as unemployment began to
sue in the 1930s. Culminating in excessive street violence between communists and Nazis. 
Weimar was seen as an embarrassment unable to maintain law and order. Minimising any
semblance of respect, it once had.

Germany was plagued with economic issues that Weimar had little hope of resolving, based off
all the above the people began to prefer or fantasize a stronger, authoritarian government which
would maintain stringent social order. In 1919 Germany was on the brink of bankruptcy because
of the industry hit and financial cost of the war slotted in with the reparation instalments.
Germany pleaded for a hiatus on payments in August 1921 after paying 50 million marks until
economy recovery. France