The Weimar Republic

Chapters nine through twelve in Hagen Schulze’s book, Germany: A New History, deal with WWI, the Weimar Republic, the Third Reich, and WWII. During this time period, there were many radical changes in Germany. These changes influenced how the German people viewed themselves and others around the world. One issue that I found particularly interesting was the rise of the Weimar Republic, the first democracy of Germany.

map of the Weimar Republic

 The Weimar Republic only lasted a brief fourteen years though. I never realized just how weak the government was. According to Schulze, the republic faced a succession of sixteen different governments in only fourteen years (207). When the government appeared weak, the voters would switch to different parties that seemed stronger. The republic was not built on a strong foundation. It can be said that, “first of all, it was a catastrophe that the first German democracy emerged as the product not of an elected parliament and strong political parties but rather of a general staff at its wits’ end. Second, the Weimar democracy came into being at the worst possible moment, in the hour of defeat, a circumstance that would dog its existence” (197). The new Weimar Republic had emerged out of necessity for a new government, after the Germans suffered a bitter defeat in WWI. As was expected, the Germans would have to pay war reparations to the Allies. What they didn’t anticipate was how much would be asked of them.

flag of the Weimar Republic

The Allies were demanding that the Germans forfeit twenty percent of the German territory, ten percent of the population, one-third of the coal production, one-quarter of the grain and potato production, four-fifths of the iron ore reserves, all of the colonies, and the commercial fleet (203). Germany would lose lots of land and resources and be demilitarized, as was demanded in the Treaty of Versailles. The Germans, as a people, were almost entirely opposed to these terms that would leave them unable to defend themselves. To make matters worse, the treaty was signed in the Hall of Mirrors, exactly where the founding of the German Empire had been declared (204). This made the defeat even more humiliating. By this time, the Germans had lost much of their military power, been economically ruined, and politically humiliated. 

woman burning money (cheaper than buying wood due to inflation)

This all greatly affected the public mood. A combination of “disappointment over the terms of the peace treaty, continuing economic difficulties, and the dreary, oppressive conditions of everyday life” altered the mood of the public (205). The people probably felt that they were victims of the greed of the Allies. They probably also felt that they had lost part of their German identity. They were humiliated and all of these demanded changes would greatly impact the lives of every German. They would suffer much greater losses than they believed they deserved. The resulting crisis years fostered rapid economic and social changes, including super inflation. Therefore, the public became much more susceptible to propaganda.  Many blamed this crisis on democracy in general and the republic, while others viewed their government with suspicion (226). With the changing mood it’s not surprising that Hitler was able to manipulate the emotional needs of the public and come into power.   

This tumultuous time period would prove to forever change German identity. The outbreak of war and the weak structure of the republic would eventually lead to Hitler’s reign. These were hard times for the people. Public mood had shifted from jubilance to somberness to remorse.  In the course of only thirty-five years from 1914 to 1949, Germany had transformed from a democracy to a dictatorship and entered two world wars. German identity had shifted. Their world view, the view of themselves and others, would never be the same as before. 

Word Count: 622

Germany Becomes a Nation

map of the Holy Roman Empire

Germany did not become an independent nation until 1871, after the Holy Roman Empire came to an end. From the 1600s to the 1800s, the Holy Roman Empire was still in existence in Europe. Many challenges existed though for the empire. In the text, Germany: A New History, by Hagen Schulze, we are informed of the state of the empire. He states, “The drastic decline in population and general poverty following the end of the Thirty Years’ War were matched by widespread economic stagnation, as the territories of the empire were cut off from the growing transatlantic trade and fruits of colonial conquests abroad” (70).  The empire was clearly in bad shape and appeared as weak and unimpressive to the rest of the world. Calls for reform and unification began to break out across Europe. Thirst for power and change among the principalities led to many wars throughout the empire. The shifting of national boundaries was not rare during this time, with so many conflicts taking place. 

By the late 1700s, the Germans were criticizing themselves as “a constitutional enigma, booty for our neighbors, the butt of their ridicule, divided among ourselves, weakened by our partition, strong enough to harm ourselves, powerless to save ourselves, insensitive to the honor of our name, lacking unity n principles but violent in asserting them nevertheless, a great and yet despised people, fortunate in theory but in fact most pitiable” (87). Even though they were still divided and had many other issues, the Germans were making great progress towards becoming a nation at this time. They grew, along with their culture and identity. Leaders and officials began to come to power based on training and ability, rather than inheriting power through aristocratic birth. Education became increasingly important to the German people. This cultural growth resulted in Germany being proclaimed “the new Greece” and “powerless but intellectually supreme” (91).  A German nationalism and identity had begun to take shape, but soon war broke out across Europe again. 

map of central Europe 1862-1871

Franco-German War

By 1797, the number of principalities had dropped from three hundred and four to only thirty (97). Great change and reform spread across Europe. War raged for years, leaving Europe fragmented like before. The German people wanted a free and united Germany to rise. German nationalism was reborn around 1840, but there continued to be unrest in Europe.  Demands for freedom and a federal German state became more prominent. Then the industrialization and the birth of railroads meant that a unified economy was finally possible in Germany. This transformed German society. Once again, the public was seized by German nationalism and the prospect of a new future for their country. War led to the Treaty of Prague and the new establishment of the North German Confederation. France wanted to stop a German unity from happening though. The Franco-German War resulted. In the end, a peace treaty was signed on May 10, 1871. King William I of Prussia became the German emperor and Germany became its own nation at last. 

King William I

The German state was founded after the efforts of centuries of conflict and resolution. The wars throughout Europe continually shaped the continent and its numerous territories and principalities. The hunger for power and freedom seemed to drive these conflicts. With so many different states, it was difficult for the continent to be unified. So many different cultures and ideas all mingled in a small region. Europe was continually evolving. Germany’s identity evolved along with Europe. The desire for freedom, education, and independence led Germany to unification. The people desperately wanted to be unified. They fought for what they believed in and became their own nation.

Word Count: 606