Chapter
The Weimar Republic: The Fragility of Democracy
Explore the efforts to build a democracy in Germany in the 1920s, and examine the misunderstandings, myths, and fears that often undercut those efforts.
Subject
- History
Grade
6–12Language
English — USPublished
Access all resources for free now.
Your free Facing History account gives you access to all of this Chapter’s content and materials in Google Drive.
Get it in Google Drive!
Get everything you need including content from this page.
About this Chapter
The Weimar Republic, the post–World War I German government named for the German city where it was formed, lasted more than 14 years, but democracy never found firm footing. This chapter explores Germany in the years preceding the Nazis' ascension to power by highlighting efforts to turn a fledgling republic into a strong democracy and examining the misunderstandings, myths, and fears that often undercut those efforts.
Essential Questions
- How do fears, both real and imagined, shape the way we as individuals and as citizens define our nation’s universe of obligation?
- How can we as citizens build and maintain a democracy that protects the nation as a whole without undermining individual rights?
- How could a society that is politically and culturally liberal and progressive fall victim to a government that espouses intolerance, discrimination, and hatred?
The November Revolution
Learn about the political uprisings in Germany after World War I that resulted in the fall of the German empire.
Rumors of Betrayal
Investigate how a rumor about the role of Jews in Germany’s surrender in World War I escalated throughout the defeated nation.
Creating a Constitutional Government
Examine the rights, protections, and democratic aspirations in the constitution of Germany’s newly formed democracy, the Weimar Republic.
In Search of Meaning
Consider why paramilitary groups such as the Freikorps formed in the aftermath of World War I in Germany.
Law and Disorder
Read about the Weimar Republic’s responses to two political uprisings–a left-wing rebellion in Bavaria and a conservative uprising by paramilitary group the Freikorps.
Attitudes toward Life and Death
Learn about the pamphlet published by Karl Binding and Alfred Hoche that sparked a national debate about race and eugenics in Germany in the 1920s.
The Beginning of the Nazi Party
Consider why the Nazi Party platform and Adolf Hitler attracted followers in the wake of Germany’s defeat in World War I.
The First Nazi Uprising
Read about the role of Hitler’s trial and imprisonment after the Beer Hall Putsch in bringing him to German national attention.
When Money Had No Value
Learn what caused Germany's hyperinflation in the 1920s, and how economic crisis contributed to a mood of uncertainty in the Weimar Republic.
Who Is to Blame for the Inflation?
Consider why Jews in the Weimar Republic were made into scapegoats for Germany’s economic crisis and hyperinflation.
The Myth of a Jewish Conspiracy
Learn how the myth of the Elders of Zion contributed to scapegoating and antisemitism toward Jews in the Weimar Republic.
Voices in the Dark
Read a German Jew’s firsthand account of an antisemitic incident on a train in Weimar Germany.
Antisemitism and Jewish Identity
Consider Ernst Toller, Sigmund Freud, and Arnold Schoenberg’s reactions to the growing antisemitism in Germany in the 1920s.
From Unrest to Peace and Prosperity
Consider how the return of peace and prosperity in Germany in 1924 affected the popularity of extremist groups like the Nazis.
Visual Essay: Free Expression in the Weimar Republic
Explore Weimar-era fine art, film, and ballet with this collection of images. Analyze the experimental styles and social commentary of German art in the 1920s.
Women in the Weimar Republic
Learn what defined the “new woman” in Weimar Germany and read about society's resistance to women’s changing roles in politics and the workforce.
Youth and Belonging in the Weimar Republic
Firsthand accounts from youth in the Weimar Republic shed light on what it was like to come of age during this period of change in Germany.
A New Economic Crisis
Gain insight into the devastating poverty, unemployment, and hopelessness experienced by Germans during the Great Depression.
Violence in the Streets
Read about the atmosphere of violence in Weimar Germany cultivated by the paramilitary forces of the Nazis, Communists, and other political groups.
Hard Times Return
Compare the party platforms of the Communists, Nazis, and Social Democrats in Germany’s 1932 presidential elections, a time of deep economic crisis.
Analysis & Reflection
Enhance your students’ understanding of our readings on the Weimar Republic with these follow-up questions and prompts.
- The Weimar era began with one of the most democratic constitutions that had existed up to that point. But by 1933, Germany was poised to become a dictatorship. Why did democracy in Germany fail? What were the roles of political parties, the judiciary, the educational system, the economy, and the beliefs and attitudes of citizens themselves? Does Weimar teach us anything about what is necessary to sustain and protect democracy?
- Historian Peter Gay has written: “The excitement that characterized Weimar culture stemmed in part from exuberant creativity and experimentation; but much of it was anxiety, fear and a rising sense of doom.” 1 How do the readings in this chapter help you understand his statement?
- Historian Detlev Peukert has written that the fundamental problem of the Weimar Republic and the main reason for its eventual downfall was the failure of its government to achieve legitimacy, or the people’s trust and acceptance of the government’s authority. 2 What groups challenged the legitimacy of the Weimar Republic? What role did economic crises play in making some Germans see their government as illegitimate?
- What is necessary in a democracy to ensure that its citizens have faith in their government?
Get this chapter in Google Drive!
Log in to your Facing History account to access all chapter content & materials. If you don't have an account, Sign up today (it's fast, easy, and free!).
A Free Account allows you to:
- Access and save all content, such as lesson plans and activities, within Google Drive.
- Create custom, personalized collections to share with teachers and students.
- Instant access to over 200+ on-demand and in-person professional development events and workshops
You might also be interested in…
Americans and the Holocaust: The Refugee Crisis
Explore the motives, pressures, and fears that shaped Americans’ responses to Nazism and the humanitarian refugee crisis it provoked during the 1930s and 1940s.
Dismantling Democracy (UK)
Students examine the steps the Nazis took to replace democracy with dictatorship and draw conclusions about the values and institutions that make democracy possible.
Jewish History and Memory: Why Study the Past?
Students prepare for their study of the Holocaust by reflecting on the ways in which memory is an integral part of Jewish identity.
The Holocaust - Bearing Witness (UK)
Students are introduced to the enormity of the crimes committed during the Holocaust and look closely at stories of a few individuals who were targeted by Nazi brutality.
The Holocaust - The Range of Responses (UK)
Students deepen their examination of human behaviour during the Holocaust by analysing and discussing the range of choices available to individuals, groups, and nations.
How Should We Remember? (UK)
Students both respond to and design Holocaust memorials as they consider the impact that memorials and monuments have on the way we think about history.
Justice and Judgement after the Holocaust (UK)
Students grapple with the meaning of justice and the purpose of trials as they learn how the Allies responded to the atrocities of Nazi Germany.
Kristallnacht (UK)
Students learn about the violent pogroms of Kristallnacht by watching a short documentary and then reflecting on eyewitness testimonies.
Jewish Identity and the Complexities of Dual or Multiple Belongings
Students continue to explore the question “Who am I?” by examining the concept of dual or multiple identities and reflecting on their own identities as Jews.
Race and Space (UK)
Students examine the Nazi ideology of “race and space” and the role it played in Germany’s aggression toward other nations, groups, and individuals.
The Rise of the Nazi Party (UK)
Students examine how choices made by individuals and groups contributed to the rise of the Nazi Party in the 1920s and 1930s.
Unlimited Access to Learning. More Added Every Month.
Facing History & Ourselves is designed for educators who want to help students explore identity, think critically, grow emotionally, act ethically, and participate in civic life. It’s hard work, so we’ve developed some go-to professional learning opportunities to help you along the way.
Exploring ELA Text Selection with Julia Torres
On-Demand
Virtual
Listen to #DisruptTexts founder Julia Torres about taking a critical lens to text selection in ELA classrooms.
Working for Justice, Equity and Civic Agency in Our Schools: A Conversation with Clint Smith
On-Demand
Virtual
Listen to writer and educator Dr. Clint Smith as he shares his poetry and reflections on working for justice, equity, and civic agency in our schools.
Centering Student Voices to Build Community and Agency
On-Demand
Virtual
Explore approaches to centering student voice, building authentic relationships and cultivating community with Molly Josephs, the creator of This Teenage Life, a youth-driven, story-sharing podcast that started as a school club.
Using the strategies from Facing History is almost like an awakening.
—
Claudia Bautista, Santa Monica, Calif
