Weimar government Essay Example

parties (like the NSDAP) to gain seats in the Reichstag. This undermined the very institution which allowed them to attain governmental power. Failure to fully reform traditional German institutions resulted in long-term negative consequences for the Republic. The army and judiciary, in particular, served their own political interests and alienated the KPD, whose views differed from those of the left-wing.

Consequently, the NSDAP's ascendancy was aided by the absence of a cohesive left wing opposition due to these circumstances. The fragility of Weimar's economy exacerbated existing discontent with democracy in German society. Post-war reconstruction responsibilities and unpopular reparations imposed by the Treaty of Versailles restricted the government's ability to act. This economic turmoil resulted in a discrepancy between the republic's 1919 promises and their fulfillment. The welfare system's inability to cope with the challenges faced from the beginning of the republic is indicative of this.

Due to the significant costs required to address post-war societal needs, the German welfare system failed to deliver as promised and instead became a tool for discrimination and control. This resulted in disappointment from the German people and contributed to inflation. The Republic's commitment to social stability was challenged by economic instability, with the Depression leading to high unemployment rates, with one in three workers registered as jobless. These social consequences intensified anti-democratic sentiments.

Despite arguments from Evans (2003, pg 243) that the Communist threat lacked substance, the middle class felt a sense of impending communist revolution. This led bourgeois sympathies to initially side with the SPD in 1919, but now generally side with the Nazis. Bruning's deflationary economic policy caused a significant decrease in farmers' income, resulting in many of

them turning to Nazism. Nicholls observed that attacking Bruning's policies as counter-productive became fashionable.

According to Nicholls (pg 111, 1968), Bruning's policies may have exacerbated the crisis and increased unemployment rates. This could partially justify public resentment towards the government. However, Bruning aimed to revive the economy by instilling confidence in investors and manufacturers. Nicholls (pg 111,1979) and Newton (pg 149, 1990) agree that deflationary policies were used by many other Western countries to address the economic crisis. The government's actions were influenced by circumstances beyond their control, such as the unexpected global economic downturn that resulted in foreign loans during prosperous years. These factors contributed to further unpopularity and illegitimacy for the government which eventually allowed NSDAP to exploit political and social unrest caused by the Depression.

The fragility of democracy was evident when the NSDAP became the largest party in the Reichstag in July 1932. It was made possible by the dissolution of the election of 1930 by Bruning, which gave an opportunity to NSDAP to become the second-largest party in Reichstag. The rise was supported by voters who were dissatisfied with the Republic and affected by economic depression, including farmers struggling with working-class incomes, educated middle class threatened by communism due to depression, and lower middle class greatly impacted by unemployment who found NSDAP appealing.

The NSDAP rose to power by exploiting the economic upheaval and resentful mentality of the German people, which undermined the legitimacy of Democracy. The fragile democracy's disaffection provided an opportunity for the NSDAP to broaden its influence and gain widespread support. By employing effective campaigning and propaganda, they were able to position themselves on policy issues to appeal

to various groups and transcend class divisions. According to Schoenbaum, the NSDAP mobilized the disaffection of millions of Germans through their willingness and ability to exploit democracy and attain power through the electoral system (Schoenbaum, pg 200, 1966).

The NSDAP became popular due to its sympathies towards small businesses while also being open to big businesses. Its extreme nationalism and resentment towards the Treaty of Versailles made it an attractive party. With rallies, slogans, Hitler's oratorical skills, and symbols, the NSDAP projected an image of strong and decisive leadership that met the German society's desire for a return to authoritarian rule. In addition, it overshadowed other political parties' propaganda efforts. The NSDAP's vagueness, mixture of old and new ideas, and inconsistency paved the way for the people to form their interpretations. Therefore, "the Nazi Party became the first truly national party of postwar Germany" (McCallum, 1992, pg66).

In addition, the NSDAP's ascension in power and influence was credited to their proactive efforts in infiltrating German society and establishing legitimacy. Their involvement in the Harzburg Front, a coalition against the Young Plan, resulted in great benefits. Partnering with Hugenberg and his media empire provided Hitler with publicity and exposure. Along with aligning themselves with acceptable right-wing factions like DNVP, the NSDAP acquired a sense of respectability they previously lacked. The NSDAP was also able to exert influence over various social and professional groups within German society, as evidenced by the National Socialist Factor Cell Organisation designed to penetrate the working class.

Besides the Nazis' broad appeal, other organizations like the League of Nazi Lawyers, League of Nazi Doctors, and League of Nazi Schoolteachers had their

sights set on middle-class citizens. Despite the NSDAP's popularity, groups such as SPD, KPD, industrialists, conservative elites, and the Church opposed them. However, these groups did not work together cohesively to thwart the NSDAP's ascent. Concurrently, leftist parties were experiencing internal strife due to a compromise between SPD and old order factions.

According to Evans, despite the Catholic Church's opposition to different parts of Nazism, their opposition weakened with the fading threat of communism. Likewise, although left-wing parties were ineffective in combating National Socialism due to their inability to unite, the threat of communism towards big business and free enterprise also caused industrialists to exercise caution against the NSDAP.

Despite the inclusion of "socialist" elements in the program, Hitler clarified in 1930 that they would not be implemented. The Republic faced fragmented opposition which did not effectively restrain the rise of the NSDAP. Opposition from industrialists and the church diminished due to promises of non-socialist policies and a recession in communist threat, showing a lack of willingness to defend the dying Democracy. The rise of the NSDAP can be attributed to the "failure" of the Weimar government, making this explanation of the phenomenon valid.

In essence, the challenges faced by the Weimar government led to its failures during the Weimar era. These difficulties weakened the Republic and fueled social discontent that was exploited by the NSDAP. While it may be argued that the NSDAP did not come to power outright, this overlooks the effective strategies employed by the party to capitalize on the vulnerabilities of Weimar. By establishing its legitimacy and respectability, the NSDAP gained more support among Nationalist right-wing parties than any other.