Why did Germany's Weimar Republic fail? And why is it still relevant today? Because we often think that this was pretty much inevitable, right?
But consider this. The Weimar Republic managed to survive four communist revolutions, three attempted coups, and one of the worst cases of hyperinflation in history. What's more, Germany's defeat in World War I and the subsequent Treaty of Versailles left the nation humiliated and economically crippled. And despite all of this, the Weimar Republic managed to continue functioning and survive. All the way till 1933 when the Nazis and a certain failed Austrian painter finally seized power and ushered in a dictatorship.
So how could it end like this? How could the republic survive so much chaos, so many challenges, only to collapse after just a few election cycles? Well, the seeds of this catastrophe began in 1929 with the onset of the Great Depression and the inability of German politicians to manage the crisis.
In September 1930, the National Socialist German Workers'Party, more commonly known as the Nazis, made sweeping gains, becoming the second largest party in the German parliament. This should have set off alarm bells for anyone opposed to the sort of authoritarian regime that the Nazis were promising. But instead, political fragmentation made it impossible for anyone to form a stable government. Left-wing parties like the SPD refused to compromise in order to form a broad coalition to stop the Nazis or the communists.
Meanwhile, ostensibly conservative parties found themselves voted out of office by an increasingly radicalized public that demanded change. By 1932, the Reichstag was dominated by extremists, the Nazis and communists, who were more interested in dismantling the republic than saving it. What's more, the constant use of emergency decrees by President Paul von Hindenburg only further undermined the rule of law.
But here's the thing. Republics can survive a lot, wars and even economic catastrophes when people band together for the sake of the country and the values in which it's founded. What they cannot survive is a crisis of legitimacy and the raw abuse of power. power.
The Weimar Republic's political process became a tool for destroying one's foes rather than solving national problems. This abuse was evident when Hindenburg appointed Hitler as chancellor in January 1933. This decision was driven by the political establishment, who foolishly thought they could control Hitler for their own ends. Instead, it paved the way for the Nazis to dismantle the republic from within.
After Hitler's appointment, the Nazis pushed through the Reichstag Fire Decree and the Enabling Act within a matter of months. suspending civil liberties and allowing for the rest of political opponents. The Nazis control extended quickly over all aspects of German society.
Opposition parties were banned and regional governments were brought under their control. All told, Hitler needed just six months to go from an appointed Chancellor to an absolute dictator. Nearly a century later the demise of the Weimar Republic serves as a cautionary tale about what happens when the political process becomes a tool for destroying one's political opponents. I mean, after all, Hitler's party won those seats in parliament.
Hitler was legally appointed. The bills they passed in order to take absolute power were legally passed through the Reichstag. The bottom line is, is democratic processes in and of themselves do not ensure a free society.
In order to have that, you need to have a people that is willing to fight for it and politicians that are willing to preserve it. Do you have a why you would like us to answer? Go into the link in the description and pose your question, and maybe the next Why Minutes will be dedicated to you.