(855) 4-ESSAYS

Type a new keyword(s) and press Enter to search

Nationalism and the Weimar Republic

            Nationalism was an integral factor in the downfall of the Weimar Republic, which in turn ensured the failure of democracy in Germany during 1918-1934. The sense of loyalty and devotion to one's nation that the German people felt in their militaristic past, was ultimately devastated by the consequences of WWI. Nationalism hence became the driving force of many other factors that lead to the failure of democracy, including the Treaty of Versailles, the Reparations Bill and the occupation of the Ruhr. Several attempts to install nationalistic beliefs back into the government manifested itself into the violent Kapp Putsch by the right-wing nationalists and the Munich Beer Hall Putsch by the Nazi Party. The disillusionment felt by the people of Germany and their need to restore pride in their nation can thus be perceived as the most important factor, as it influenced many other events and ideas that led to the collapse of the Weimar Republic and the rise of Adolf Hitler.
             The shattering defeat experienced by Germany in WWI lead to the abdication of Kaiser Wilhelm II's monarchy in favour of a republic. These unstable political conditions were further worsened when the Treaty of Versailles was signed by the Weimar Republic, causing the majority of German citizens to despise the newly established form of government, as the Treaty ensure that Germany would never regain the economic and militaristic strength needed to return to dominance in Europe. This loss of nationalistic beliefs paved the way for the 'Dolchstosslegende myth' (the 'stab in the back' mentality), meaning that neither the army nor the Kaiser was to be blamed for the WWI defeat. The myth undermined the faith that many Germans had in the new republic and was used to attack the new democracy that lacked the moral support of the German citizens.
             This lack of public support can be further attributed to the dramatic change from the stable autocratic leadership of the 'military-like state' of Germany's old political structure, to the unstable state of democratic Weimar Germany.


Essays Related to Nationalism and the Weimar Republic

1. Failures of the Weimar Republic

Under their almost complete control, the era of the Weimar Republic of Germany began in 1919. ... However in just 14 short years, the Weimar Republic fell under the leadership of Adolf Hitler. ... The Weimar Republic felt the humiliation of defeat and the shame of surrendering from many. ... The Weimar Republic faced numerous opponents who wanted a new regime. ... The conflicts generated more public distrust towards the Weimar Republic. ...

  • Word Count: 943
  • Approx Pages: 4
  • Grade Level: Undergraduate

2. "In the years 1924-1929 the Weimar Republic grew in strength

The Weimar Republic grew in strength because of many things: Gustav Stresemann was a major influence when the Weimar Republic was growing. ... This was a major success for the Weimar Republic and it gave the nation confidence in the government. ... All of the new culture that has been mentioned showed the Weimar Republic grew in strength because it was doing new things that had never been done before under any other government, which showed that the Weimar Republic was moving forward with the times. ... Some people in Germany felt that the new cultures developing undermined the work of the...

  • Word Count: 1905
  • Approx Pages: 8

3. Germany

Historically, Versailles's reparations have taken the complete blame for the Weimar's years of hyperinflation; however, Versailles only tells half of the story and the Weimar's economic break down desires a critical examination of the Reichstag's macroeconomic policies. ... Economists like Ferguson speculate that Weimar structure and inability to deal with criticizes were to blame for the great inflation. ... Writing for the Arthur van Riel and Arthur Schram support this argument and contend that the Weimar contraversal orgins and subsqental need to appease the masses exp...

  • Word Count: 1145
  • Approx Pages: 5
  • Grade Level: Undergraduate

4. Nationalism in Europe

Nationalism often inspires states to unify as one. ... Giuseppe Garibaldi who aimed for and Italian republic handled the next priority. ... Nationalism in Europe was not always for the better; in Nazi Germany there was a negative example of nationalism. ... In 1919 Germans constituted the Weimar republic. This republic was not very successful and on top of that Germans were already upset about the Treaty of Versailles. ...

  • Word Count: 960
  • Approx Pages: 4

5. Adolf Hitler and the Nazi PArty

Lastly, there were many problems within the Weimar Republic that eventually paved the road for the Nazi regime. ... The collapse of the Weimar Republic opened the door for the Nazi takeover in January 1933. ... Many attempts to destroy the Weimar Republic were present. ... Eventually the depression led to the paralysis of the Weimar Republic. ... The collapse of the Weimar Republic is no doubt one of the reasons for the Nazis triumph. ...

  • Word Count: 1601
  • Approx Pages: 6
  • Grade Level: High School

6. What if Hitleer is Executed for Treason in 1923

World War I ended in disaster for the Germans, The policies of the Weimar Republic, the government that replaced the Kaiser, led to inflation and compete economic chaos due to its inability to pay back reparations outlined in the Treaty of Versailles. ... What went right for Hitler and wrong for the Weimar government that led to this incident? ... By blaming the Jews, he restored nationalism to a defeated people; and by blaming the Weimar government and its economic/foreign policies, he made the masses hunger for change. ... The public trial was a forum for Adolf Hitler to spread his infec...

  • Word Count: 1181
  • Approx Pages: 5

7. HELL IN THE CELL

This idea was Nationalism - "the belief that loyalty to a person's nation and its political and economic goals come before any other country's." ... The Weimar Republic was set up and many were left more or less hopeless. ... The Weimar Republic was set up after the war, and was seen by many as a joke. ... Hitler began to tell German citizens that the Weimar Republic was only put in place to help the Jews. ...

  • Word Count: 874
  • Approx Pages: 3
  • Has Bibliography
  • Grade Level: High School

8. History of Nazi Germany

Although the majority of his followers shared his dislike of the Weimar Republic's liberal democracy and anti-Semitic agenda, his party support, due to it's small size, was limited to the Bavarian region of German, this would prove to be a limiting factor when Hitler attempted to seize control of the provincial Bavarian government during his Beer Hall Putsch in November 1923. ... Faced with a temporary improvement of the German economy by the Weimar Republic's ability to secure loans and investments (mostly from America), Hitler was forced to wait until economic conditions worse...

  • Word Count: 1218
  • Approx Pages: 5
  • Grade Level: Undergraduate

9. Rise of Nazism

The surge of German nationalism, build up over the war, was crushed at their desperate submission to the allies. ... Two days after the surrender of Germany in 1918, Kaiser Wilhelm fled the country, leaving Germany to become a republic after years of autocratic rule. ... After the war, The Weimar republic was formed. ... There were many attempts to overthrow the Weimar government, by the communists, and in 1923, the "Munich Putsch-, headed by Hitler himself. The Weimar government made the Germans feel uneasy and confused, they were in need of a stable, autocratic government that would help the...

  • Word Count: 830
  • Approx Pages: 3
  • Grade Level: High School

Got a writing question? Ask our professional writer!
Submit My Question