The Weimar Republic

Timeline
1919- Adoption of Weimar Constitution

1923- French Occupation of the Ruhr

1923- Gustav Stressemann becomes chancellor, ends passive resistance in Ruhr

1923- Hitler's beerhall putsch fails

1924- Introduction of the Dawes Plan

1925- Locarno Treaties- Stresemann volunteers to freeze Germany's western borders to prevent separatism in the west.

1926- Germany admitted to League of Nations

1929- Wall Street Crash/Great Depression

1930- Nazi Party wins 107 seats in Reichstag

1936- Anti-Comintern Pact signed between Germany and Japan

Summary
The Weimar Republic was the main governing body in Germany before, during and immediately after WWI. It was a sort of security blanket government, based on ancient German traditions of social democracy and constitutional government, and the rule of law. The Social Democrats were quickly brought back into power in 1918, when the German generals sued for peace and began an unsuspected alliance with the Social Democrats. Since social democracy was seen to be so successful in peace-time, they were the natural choice post-war.

There arose however many post-war consequences and social changes that were unexpected: They had to deal with the war guilt placed upon Germany by the Treaty of Versailles, and had to compete with growing separatist and fascist parties who believed signing the Treaty was a sign of defeat. Adolf Hitler was the leader of a hyper-nationalistic group who believed that Germany was the true victor in the war. He staged a putsch in a beerhall as an attempt to overthrow Gustav Stresseman and his governing party.

Hitler failed, and was jailed for one year. Despite things like these, the Weimar Republic managed to survive, mostly because of the backing of conservative factions like the army. Also,as much as the German nationalists detested the Weimar Republic, the greatest evil at the time was Russian communism, and the German people would do anything to eradicate it.

The French occupation of the Ruhr also helped strengthen the Weimar Republic's standing in the Reichstag by increasing German patriotism. Germany's economy was suffering greatly, and Gustav Stresemann ended passive resistance in the Ruhr to try and get the economy back on track. When the Wall Street Crash occurred in the United states in 1929, it dealt a major blow to the Weimar Republic. Germany lost much of the funds that were helping them pay off reparations to France, plunging them again into recession and causing the Republic's popularity in the polls to drop. The National Socialist (Nazi) Party, led by Adolf Hitler used this opportunity to gain more influence and eventually power in the Reichstag.

Putsch- Small uprising or rebellion that is unsuccessful

Reichstag- German Parliament