The constitution of the Weimar Republic is one of the most stirring and beautiful political documents ever produced. Yet by 1933 it had been totally dismantled by the National Socialist Party and Germany had become a fascist state. There are a few basic reasons for this. The first was post-war political instability. Left and right-wing groups staged insurgencies and provincial rebellions that undermined the central government particularly because paramilitary groups like the freikorps acted as police instead of the German army. Germany's demilitarization due to the Versailles treaty left the Republic unable to maintain law and order creating a power vacuum.
The second was Germany's economic condition. The Republic was defaulting on payments of its reparations by 1923 and printing money 'like gangbusters' (in the words of Jim Haley) to cover its debts (as this video explains). Hyperinflation destroyed savings and the purchasing power of ordinary German citizens, leading to their impoverishment. The Great Depression only worsened matters, and the apparent impotence of the Weimar government (which slashed taxes and expenditures during the recession) destroyed the little credibility it had left.
A demoralized, distraught, and impoverished people could not be more open to something radically and tyrannically different.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
"The constitution of the Weimar Republic is one of the most stirring and beautiful political documents ever produced. "
ReplyDeleteSorry I can't agree with that claim at all. Article 48 was not beautiful...
If a state[13] does not fulfill the obligations laid upon it by the Reich[14] constitution or Reich laws, the Reich President may use armed force to cause it to oblige.
In case public safety is seriously threatened or disturbed, the Reich President may take the measures necessary to reestablish law and order, if necessary using armed force. In the pursuit of this aim, he may suspend the civil rights described in articles 114, 115, 117, 118, 123, 124 and 153, partially or entirely.
The Reich President must inform the Reichstag immediately about all measures undertaken based on paragraphs 1 and 2 of this article. The measures must be suspended immediately if the Reichstag so demand.
If danger is imminent, the provincial government may, for their specific territory, implement steps as described in paragraph 2. These steps may be suspended if so demanded by the Reich President or the Reichstag.
Further details shall be established by Reich legislation