Describe the problems faced by the Weimar Republic.

Describe the problems faced by the Weimar Republic.

Ans.

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) Form the onset the republic was financially crippled by the war compensation imposed on Germany.

(iii) The republic was subjected to aggressive war propaganda and national honour occupied centre stage in public sphere.

(iv) Authoritarian groups and revolutionary parties began to emerge which denounced democracy and popular support grew for conservative dictatorship. One such party was the Nazi Party.

(v) Problem of political radicalization was heightened by the economic crisis. It was during this period that Nazi party which was no more than a conspiratorial group became a mass movement.

(vi) Economic problems were aggravated by provisions of the treaty of Versailles and attitude of some European powers.

(vii) When in 1923 Germany refused to pay the indemnity, France retaliated by occupying the leading industnalarea of Ruhr and Germany retaliated by passive resistance.

(viii) German government’s economic reforms (e.g., printing of enormous paper money) in 1923 led to hyperinflation; 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.

(ix) The political fragility of the Weimar Republic added to the problem. Rule by coalitions made the republic unstable and vulnerable to dictatorship.

(x) The republic was unable to inspire confidence of the people in the democratic parliamentary system.