Short Notes on the Problems faced by the Weimar Republic

Short Notes on the Problems faced by the Weimar Republic

From its very inception the Weimar Republic was faced with many problems:

(i) Many Germans held the new republic responsible not only for the defeat of Germany in World War I but also for the national humiliation at Versailles.

(ii) From the onset the republic was financially crippled by the war compensation imposed on Germany.

(iii) German government’s economic reforms (e.g., printing of enormous paper money in 1923) in 1923 led to unimaginable, inflation; with disastrous consequences for many sections of the population. The Great Economic Depression (1929-1934) worsened the situation. Big businesses, middle class, workers, peasants all were badly affected. Economic crisis led to political radicalisation.

(iv) The inherent defects in the Republic i.e., rule by coalitions made it unstable and vulnerable to dictatorship. The Republic saw twenty cabinets coming and going.