Introduction
The period of German History spanning from 1918 to 1933 was characterized by a constant tense competition between a wide range of political forces from entirely different parts of the political spectrum. There have been numerous attempts to clarify the reasons for the extreme polarization of the society, which eventually led to the rise of the National Socialists in 1933. Nevertheless, multiple gaps in data continue to undermine the understanding of the political life of Germany in the aftermath of WWI. A dedicated analysis is needed to determine various parties’ ideas and programs and evaluate their chances of being supported by the population.
Crisis
The German Empire was among the four great empires that collapsed and substantially lost their influence as a result of WWI. Germany lost multiple regions to neighboring states, had to pay reparations, and was obliged to dramatically limit the size of its military. Moreover, the country was prohibited from having an air force. The fact that the army was limited to just 100,000 men combined with numerous economic problems led to a widespread sense of frustration.
Moreover, soldiers returned to their towns to find a vivid lack of job opportunities. The atmosphere in Germany represented a highly complex combination of grief, bitterness, and revanchism. The country that united in 1871 and used to feature rapid economic growth and high levels of pride in national identity eventually found itself in a precarious position further challenged by hyperinflation and other problems in the economy.
The Communists
The German Revolution took place in 1918, which led to the establishment of a democratic parliamentary republic. German communists across the country decided to use such an extraordinary opportunity and seize power in the country. They were inspired by the success of the Soviets and believed that the class-against-class struggle would eventually lead to multiple revolutions worldwide. Nevertheless, they managed to take control only in a few regions and quickly lost power. Their struggle to establish a dictatorship continued for several years, but eventually, the leadership changed, and ambitions were reduced to gaining more control in the parliament.
Since 1926 the political party began to rely predominantly on Moscow for finance and various types of political aspirations. Affiliation with the Russian-dominated Communist International also continued to be a crucial topic for debates (Orlow, 2018, p.127). The Communists proposed a wide range of progressive political reforms, including women’s rights, but eventually failed to build a comprehensive support base due to several controversies associated with them.
German middle class and the conservative population of rural areas did not approve of both the communist ideology and their political methods. The Communists sought to implement multiple measures aimed at increasing the role of the state in the economy. Their programs included the introduction and enhancement of wide social welfare networks, labor unions, and progressive taxation. Their ultimate goal, nevertheless, remained the establishment of a Russian-style dictatorship.
The National Socialists
On the opposite side of the political spectrum were two parties that sought to protect the country from communist influence and the increasing involvement of the state in the economy. The Nationalists relied on traditional methods of gaining more political power, while National Socialists were desperate to implement radical changes by applying various radical means. Despite all the differences between the periods of 1918-1933 and 1933-1945 in German History, the Nazis claimed that all their laws were constitutional. The Weimar constitution was never seriously amended while they ruled the country. Nevertheless, in reality, the constitutional framework and ideas were replaced by the principle claiming that Führer’s word was above the law.
Millions of men returning from the frontlines in 1918 struggled to provide for their families. The harsh economic conditions in the country were blamed on the Allies, who made Germany pay large sums as reparations, which discouraged market loans and eventually led to hyperinflation. Moreover, the repercussions of the Depression in 1929 played a crucial role in the transformation of the National Socialists into a significant political force (Orlow, 2018, p.178). The vicious cycle in the economy multiplied by a sense of humiliation and desperation led many people to support radicals who revived their ideas of a better future and emphasized national pride.
The National Socialists’ programs highlighted the role of industrialists and landowners in the revival of the economy, as opposed to social welfare programs, progressive taxation, and labor unions. The National Socialists claimed that prosperity and national greatness would help overcome class divisions (Orlow, 2018, p.171). These ideas allowed for the support of various population groups, such as the lower middle class, while numerous measures to create a strong military helped gain support among those who fought in WWI. Moreover, farmers were assured that high tariffs will protect them from severe competition (Orlow, 2018, p.183). The fact that the army of the Weimar Republic relied predominantly on conservative officers and recruits from rural areas significantly increased the chances of the Nazi Party coming to power.
Conclusion
Unlike many other political systems in world history, the political arena of the Weimar Republic featured a large number of political parties. Dozens of active competitors participated in the struggle for power during each election. What is more, German politics back in those days utilized widely supported ideologies that rejected the very idea of a Republic. The Communists and the National Socialists, representing the radical left and the radical right, provided numerous explanations in their programs that centered around the inefficiency of elections and the entire political system of the Weimar Republic.
Reference
Orlow, D. (2018). A history of modern Germany: 1871 to present (8th ed.). Routledge Taylor & Francis Group.