How Stong Was the Weimar Republic by 1929?
This essay will begin with a brief description of the problems faced by the Weimar Republic prior to 1924.It will then outline and examine the arguments put forward by two historical schools of thought; hereafter referred to as the "optimists" and the "pessimists," The Weimar Republic, established in 1919 under the Treaty of Versailles, came to power in a climate of social, political and economic disarray. From the outset the German people were deeply resentful and distrustful of a government, who, having signed the treaty and accepting the clauses contained within, had apparently robbed Germany of its right to victory, stripped it of its military prowess, virtually given away its territories and plunged the country into serious debt by agreeing to pay reparations to the allies. This, together with the sheer cost of the war and the added problem of the millions of demobilised and disillusioned soldiers returning from the front to a country beset with high unemployment and inflation, led to a wave of armed riots and political assassinations. By January 1923 the crisis had come to a head. Frustrated at Germany's inability to meet the demand for reparation payments, France and Belgium ordered their troops to enter the industrial
They argue that world economic conditions did not favour Germany, which had traditionally relied upon its exports for growth. In fact by 1929 Berlin had come to rival Paris as a centre for art and culture. In overseas trade, because of the imposition of protective tariffs, the value of imports always exceeded those of exports. This, together with the loss of valuable territories such as Alsace and Silesia, led to a decline in German exports. Problems persisted in the economy but were hidden by an increasing reliance on foreign capital. Within the government itself both the left and the right remained suspicious of each other's motives and this weakened coalitions. The success of his economic policies had brought the German people a newfound wealth and security, which they hitherto lacked. Therefore any collapse in the world economy would inevitably have a detrimental effect on Germany. When compared to the years immediately following the First World War and the Great Depression, this period does appear to be relatively stable. Finally, far from being viewed as a reflection of hope and prosperity, the pessimists believe that many Germans felt that culturally the country has descended into decadence and immorality. If the loans are called in, a large section of our economy will collapse. He also ordered the government to curtail expenditure by sacking thousands of civil servants and increasing taxation. Indeed the overall improvement of the economic situation meant that people were able to enjoy a higher standard of living and so they flocked to the avant-garde theatres, cubist exhibitions and the newly established cinemas, thus encouraging and inspiring creative talent. Certainly the years between 1924 and 1929 were a high point for the Republic. According to the pessimists, the election of Hindenburg as president in 1925, who was openly critical of the Republic and democracy, provided a focus for these sections of society and for right-wing ambitions.
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