Why did the Weimar Republic Fail?

Ø      Gustav Stressman had Germany on the right track in the 1920s

Ø      The economy was turning around, and the German Mark was regaining value

Ø      Internationally, Germany was gaining some credibility back

Ø      The Locarno Treaty brought Germany into the League of Nations – BUT!!

1.      Germans had not real experience in democratic government. Coalition governments could not really agree on how to best serve Germany, nor could they really stop internal problems

2.      The Weimar government had to enforce the Treaty of Versailles. So some blamed the government for giving into the world powers

3.      Inflation ruined the economic stability of the middle class – they blamed the government

4.      There were too many political parties – the disenchanted could find a party to support

5.      Hitler found support from the middle-class, and anti-Communists supporters. Also the industrialists supported Hitler.

6.      The Depression hit Germany hard – the Nazi’s offered a way out and an alternative to Communism.