The Rise and Fall of the Weimar Republic
Germany's new democracy didn't get off to a great start. After the Kaiser fled in November 1918 and Germany signed the armistice, many Germans felt betrayed by the "stab in the back" theory - blaming politicians rather than military defeat for their loss.
The Weimar Constitution was finalised in 1919 and had some brilliant ideas for its time. Both men and women could vote at 20, and Germans enjoyed freedom of speech and religion. The president served seven-year terms, making the system seem stable.
However, the constitution had serious flaws that would later prove deadly. Article 48 allowed the president to make laws without parliament during emergencies - a loophole that would be exploited. Many army generals and judges were the same people who had served the Kaiser and actively opposed the new republic.
The timeline from 1918-1925 shows constant crisis: the Spartacist uprising (1919), Kapp Putsch (1920), hyperinflation (1923), and French occupation of the Ruhr. The Freikorps - private armies of ex-soldiers - added to the chaos by operating outside government control.
Key Point: The Weimar Republic was doomed from birth because it was blamed for Germany's defeat and had to deal with impossible economic and political pressures.
