The Weimar Republic

In short: The Weimar Republic (1918/19–1933) was Germany’s first parliamentary democracy. It suffered from economic crises and political extremes and failed in 1933 with the transfer of power to the Nazis.

In more detail: After the November Revolution of 1918 the republic was proclaimed. The 1919 constitution guaranteed fundamental rights and women’s suffrage.

In detail

• Burdens: Treaty of Versailles, reparations, political murders, attempted coups.
• Hyperinflation 1923: Money lost value at breakneck speed, savings were wiped out.
• Golden Twenties: A phase of stabilisation; art, cinema and culture flourished (Bauhaus, Berlin).
• Great Depression 1929: Mass unemployment, radicalisation of voters.
• Article 48: The president could govern by emergency decree, which weakened parliament.
• End: On 30 January 1933 Hitler was appointed Chancellor (zweiter-weltkrieg-und-nationalsozialismus).