10 FACTORS FOR THE RISE OF THE WEIMAR REPUBLIC

By the end of 1918, the Germany and all her allies or friends had been defeated. Public opinion in Germany, however, blamed the defeat of their country on the German Emperor Kaiser William II and therefore, the popular feeling was that he should be overthrown.

As a result of such feelings and also due to the inspiration from the 1917 Russian revolution, the Social Democrats in Germany organized a revolution in November 1918, which overthrew Kaiser William II and forced him into exile to Holland.

Later in February 1919, the National Assembly or parliament decided to meet in the German town of Weimar and proclaimed or declared Germany a Republic with a new drafted constitution known as the Weimar Constitution.

The Social Democratic Party leader Friedrich Ebert became the first President of this new Weimar Republican government up. This government stayed in power until January 1933 when President Hindenburg appointed Adolf Hitler as a Chancellor.

FACTORS FOR THE RISE OF THE WEIMAR REPUBLIC

The defeat of Germany in World War I

The defeat of Germany in World War I frustrated many German nationalists like Hitler who often remarked that Germany had not been defeated but simply betrayed by the incompetent Kaiser William II’s government, and that Germany army was still strong enough to continue with the war. Subsequently, widespread discontent ensued in Germany, since the war had been so costly. Such Nationalists who supported war saw no justification to surrender. To this effect, people lost confidence in Kaiser William II’s government, and pressed for the abolition of the monarchy and the establishment of a republic in Germany in 1918.

The negative effects of World War I

The negative effects of World War I also paved way for the rise of the Weimar Republic.

Kaiser Williams II’s government had channeled enormous resources into the war which drained state treasury and therefore undermined both Agricultural and industrial production.

Besides, by 1918, the allied powers had destroyed Germany economy, industry, agricultural fields and even its human resources.

Consequently, unemployment, inflation, famine and starvation escalated and soon provoked strikes and demonstrations across Berlin and other towns of Germany.

The Germans became so frustrated by the despotic government of William and the hardships causing every reason for the establishment of a democratically elected government which they hoped could alleviate German misery and desperations, hence the Weimar republic.

The rise of liberalism

The rise of liberalism led to the establishment of the Weimar Republic. It was also facilitated by the growth of liberalism in Germany.

For example even before German surrendered, several Germans advocated for a democratically elected Parliament and liberal constitution to safeguard their political liberties.

The agitators of this type of government increasingly condemned the government Kaiser William II for lack of democratic institutions.

It was also hoped that perhaps the new government would restore the internal political social and economic order since it would be the government of the people and not of absolute dictatorship.

The abdication of Kaiser William II and his subsequent movement to exile in Holland

The abdication of Kaiser William II and his subsequent movement to exile in Holland left a power vacuum which the opposition in Germany exploited to declare the Weimar republic.

This came at the height of increased strikes, mutinies and demonstrations. For example, in October a mutiny occurred in German navy. Around the same time a series of violent demonstrations swept across Berlin.

Besides, the socialists who had supported him to declare war in 1914 had also withdrawn from the government and while in the Reichstag (parliament) took the lead in demanding for his abdication.

He finally succumbed to pressure and resigned on 9th November 1918 paving way for Ebert, a socialist to become the chancellor, hence the rise of the Weimar republic.

The role of Russian revolution of 1917

The role of Russian revolution of 1917 led to the establishement of the Weimar Republic in Germany. The Germans were encouraged by the success of the Russian revolution of 1917 to overthrew Kaiser William II and establish the Weimar republic.

The Russians under Lenin had successfully waged a communist revolution that overthrew the despotic and conservative Tsardom of Nicholas II and established a people’s communist government in 1917.

The Germans led by the socialist democrats (socialists) were therefore encouraged to that effect to dislodge the government of Kaiser William 11 in November 1918 and subsequently established a new Republic called the Weimar republic 1919.

The need for constitutional rule in Germany

The need for constitutional rule in Germany led to the establishment of the Weimar Republic.

On the eve of World War I, many Germans desired constitutional and democratic system of rule in Germany.

They resented the despotic and conservative embodiment of monarchism which dominated the German empire especially from 1870. E.g., they desired an elected government, as opposed to hereditary monarchical government of the emperors.

They also wanted an elected parliament as opposed to the one influenced by the king and his chancellor, they also resented the emperors emergence decrees through which he instituted dictatorship unto Germans.

They also wanted individual liberties such as the freedom of press and association, freedom of worship and the right to meaningful education as were the British and French systems. Inspired by such desires, the Germans overthrew Kaiser William II in 1918 and instituted a democratically elected Weimar republic in 1919.

The influence of the allied powers

The influence of the allied powers led to the establishment of the Weimar Republic in Germany. The victor powers of World War 1 also favored the establishment of a republic.

In the first place, the allies fought Keiser’s government partly because of Kaiser’s adamancy and despotism.

By 1915, the allies wanted to end dictatorship in Germany so that they could establish a submissive government in Germany which among other things would relinquish communism, accept to abandon militarism and aggression and generally adhere to their policies.

This is why Britain, France and the USA highly backed chaos in Germany that overthrew Keiser and also supported the constituent assembly meetings that made the Weimar constitution, which led to the birth of the Weimer republic in 1919.

The role of Frederick Ebert

The role of Frederick Ebert led to the rise of the Weimar Republic. The rise of Weimar republic was also in part facilitated by the work of Frederick Ebert.

He was a moderate socialist who used the former imperial army to silence the various coups attempted by the communists in Germany who wanted to establish communism in Germany.

Ebert, was also the one who setforth the formation of the new constitution at Weimar that declared the Weimar republic in January, 1919.

The failure of the communist revolution

The failure of the communist revolution in Germany in itself facilitated the rise of the Weimar Republic.

The communist section of the socialists- the Spartacus, led by Karl Liebknecht and Rosa Luxemburg attempted a revolution in Germany so as to establish communist government in Russia.

On January 6th 1919, their supporters numbering about 100,000 seized control of the main public buildings in Berlin. But the socialists and Free corps suppressed it with several deaths including Liebknecht and Rosa Luxemburg.

Thus, the failure by the communists to establish a communist government in Germany implied that the socialists swiftly established the Weimar Republic in Germany in 1919.

The role of the socialist group

The role of the socialist group led to the rise of the Weimar Republic. This was the most dominant party in Germany on the eve of Keiser’s resignation. E.g. as the majority members in the Reichstag (parliament), they took the lead in demanding for Keiser‘s abdication.

Led by the socialist minister Noske, the socialists with the help of the Free Corps suppressed the attempted communist revolution which was masterminded by the Nationalists.

This essentially facilitated the establishment of a new government, Weimar republic in 1919.

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