The Recovery of the Weimar Republic

The mid-1920s saw a period of recovery and stabilization for the Weimar Republic, largely due to the efforts of Foreign Minister Gustav Stresemann. Several key international agreements helped improve Germany's standing on the world stage.

The Locarno Pact - 1 December 1925

On December 1, 1925, Stresemann signed the Locarno Pact, a treaty agreed upon between Germany, Britain, France, Italy, and Belgium. This agreement had several important provisions:

1. Germany accepted its border with France, and France promised peace with Germany.
2. The Rhineland would be demilitarized.
3. Germany was allowed to become a permanent member of the League of Nations.

Highlight: Stresemann was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1926 for his efforts in negotiating the Locarno Pact.

The Locarno Pact was significant because it marked Germany's return to being treated as an equal among European powers. This increased the confidence of many Germans in their new democratic government.

The League of Nations - September 1926

In September 1926, Germany became a permanent member of the League of Nations. This further boosted the confidence of the German people and reinforced Germany's status as an equal among nations.

Kellogg-Briand Pact - August 1928

On August 27, 1928, Germany and 61 other countries signed the Kellogg-Briand Pact. This agreement:

1. Promised that states would not use war to achieve foreign policy aims.
2. Showed that Germany was now included among the main world powers.
3. Served as a sign that the Weimar Republic was a respected, stable state.

Quote: "The Kellogg-Briand Pact increased the confidence that Ebert's party could be trusted to make Germany strong."

However, some Germans believed that these agreements did nothing to remove the most hated terms of the Treaty of Versailles, which still restricted Germany's strength.

Hitler's Rise to Power 1932-1933

The final stages of Hitler's rise to power occurred between 1932 and 1933, culminating in his appointment as Chancellor.

Political Maneuvering

Several key events and decisions led to Hitler becoming Chancellor:

1. President Hindenburg initially refused to appoint Hitler as Chancellor, preferring Franz von Papen.
2. Von Papen's government failed to gain support, leading to another election in November 1932.
3. After this election, von Papen and other conservative politicians convinced Hindenburg that Hitler could be "controlled" as Chancellor.

Hitler Becomes Chancellor

On January 30, 1933, President Hindenburg appointed Hitler as Chancellor. Key points about this appointment:

1. Hitler was the leader of the largest party in the Reichstag.
2. Conservatives believed they could use Hitler's popularity while limiting his power.
3. Only two other Nazis were included in the cabinet, with von Papen as Vice-Chancellor.

Quote: Von Papen famously declared, "We have hired him," believing Hitler could be controlled.

The Reichstag Fire

On February 27, 1933, the Reichstag building was set on fire. This event had significant consequences:

1. Hitler used the fire as evidence of a communist plot against the government.
2. He convinced Hindenburg to pass the Reichstag Fire Decree, which suspended civil liberties.
3. This decree allowed the Nazis to arrest political opponents and suppress dissent.

Definition: The Reichstag Fire Decree was an emergency decree that suspended many civil liberties in Germany, including freedom of speech, press, and assembly.

The Enabling Act

On March 23, 1933, the Reichstag passed the Enabling Act:

1. This law gave Hitler's cabinet the power to enact laws without the consent of the Reichstag for four years.
2. It effectively made Hitler a dictator, as he could now rule by decree.
3. The Act was passed with the support of other parties, who were intimidated or misled about its implications.

Highlight: The Enabling Act marked the end of democracy in Germany and the beginning of the Nazi dictatorship.

These events in early 1933 allowed Hitler to rapidly consolidate his power and transform Germany into a totalitarian state.

The Origin of the Weimar Republic 1918-1929

The Weimar Republic was Germany's first attempt at democracy following World War I. It had several key strengths that made it a genuine democracy, including regular elections and guaranteed civil liberties. However, it also suffered from structural weaknesses that would ultimately contribute to its downfall.

Strengths of the Weimar Republic

The Weimar Republic established a true democratic system with regular elections for both parliament and president every 4 years. All German citizens over the age of 20 were given the right to vote, marking a significant shift towards universal suffrage.

The Reichstag (parliament) was given substantial powers under the new constitution. It was responsible for appointing the government and making laws, which represented a major change from its limited role under the Kaiser's rule.

Highlight: The Weimar Constitution included a bill of rights that guaranteed every German citizen freedom of speech, religion, and equality under the law.

Weaknesses of the Weimar Republic

Despite its democratic foundations, the Weimar Republic had several structural weaknesses that would prove problematic:

1. Proportional representation: While intended to ensure fair representation, this system led to the proliferation of many small parties in parliament. This made it difficult to pass laws and often resulted in weak, short-lived coalition governments.

2. Article 48: This provision gave the president emergency powers to act without parliamentary approval. While intended for use in genuine crises, it was often overused and ultimately weakened Germany's democratic institutions.

Definition: Proportional representation is an electoral system in which parties gain seats in proportion to the number of votes cast for them.

These weaknesses would contribute to political instability and eventually provide opportunities for extremist parties like the Nazis to gain power.