A Brief History of the Weimar Republic and Nazi Germany Before World War II

A Brief History of the Weimar Republic and Nazi Germany Before World War II PDF Author: Percy Bennington
Publisher: Createspace Independent Publishing Platform
ISBN: 9781983946486
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 86

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Book Description
The Weimar Republic has become a byword for a failed, tragic, political experiment. The official period of its existence, 1919-1933, marked the inter-war years in Germany and their related uncertainty, chaos and the state's ultimate collapse. Historians have found the roots of Nazism embedded in the Weimar years and that in the final analysis, Weimar politicians voluntarily handed over power to the man who wrought destruction on an epic scale, Adolf Hitler. Yet the Weimar era encapsulated a number of trends and fissures within German society, as well as the international community. The Weimar Republic was a prisoner of events and in the long run had little power to shape them. Historians are fond of interpreting the past as a tension between human agency, that is to say decision-making, and structural developments that evade individual choices. Both these interpretations are crucial when examining the tumultuous years of Germany's Weimar Republic. German governments had teetered on the edge of collapse throughout the Weimar years, as politicians of all stripes had struggled to stabilise the economy and the wider societal problems. In the 14 years between 1919 and 1933, a total of 20 separate coalition governments had been formed. The most stable period, after the hyperinflation of 1923 and before the Wall Street Crash of 1929, was only calm in a relative sense. It is therefore perhaps unsurprising that the Weimar state was so easily dismantled by Hitler's National Socialists. What is more shocking, however, is the speed in which the Nazis turned a fragile democracy into one of history's most draconian dictatorships. The Nazis demonstrated both brute force and political guile, as well as highly effective propaganda, in achieving their aims. There are many contradictions surrounding the transition from Weimar to Nazi Germany. The country had been home to some of the key figures of the Enlightenment Period, in arts, philosophy, music and literature. Yet this beacon of civilisation descended into an abyss of barbarism and intolerance. A region that for so long resisted incorporation into one state became intensely nationalistic. A country that provided refuge to Jewish people for hundreds of years turned on them to prosecute anti-Semitism's lowest point: the Holocaust. A state (Weimar) that had been designed with liberal and progressive ideals dissolved into illiberalism and reactionary authoritarianism. The alignment of Nazism and Germany is obvious to the 21st century reader but as it unfolded, the chain of events took the world by surprise. This period of history, fueled by Hitler and his fanatical politics, led the world to the bloodiest moment of an ultra-violent century. In January 1933, when Hitler became German Chancellor, all this was in the (albeit near) future. How the Nazis accumulated power is a true "warning from history." A Brief History of the Weimar Republic and Nazi Germany Before World War II provides a quick but comprehensive look at the Weimar Republic and Nazi Germany before the war.

A Brief History of the Weimar Republic and Nazi Germany Before World War II

A Brief History of the Weimar Republic and Nazi Germany Before World War II PDF Author: Percy Bennington
Publisher: Createspace Independent Publishing Platform
ISBN: 9781983946486
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 86

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Book Description
The Weimar Republic has become a byword for a failed, tragic, political experiment. The official period of its existence, 1919-1933, marked the inter-war years in Germany and their related uncertainty, chaos and the state's ultimate collapse. Historians have found the roots of Nazism embedded in the Weimar years and that in the final analysis, Weimar politicians voluntarily handed over power to the man who wrought destruction on an epic scale, Adolf Hitler. Yet the Weimar era encapsulated a number of trends and fissures within German society, as well as the international community. The Weimar Republic was a prisoner of events and in the long run had little power to shape them. Historians are fond of interpreting the past as a tension between human agency, that is to say decision-making, and structural developments that evade individual choices. Both these interpretations are crucial when examining the tumultuous years of Germany's Weimar Republic. German governments had teetered on the edge of collapse throughout the Weimar years, as politicians of all stripes had struggled to stabilise the economy and the wider societal problems. In the 14 years between 1919 and 1933, a total of 20 separate coalition governments had been formed. The most stable period, after the hyperinflation of 1923 and before the Wall Street Crash of 1929, was only calm in a relative sense. It is therefore perhaps unsurprising that the Weimar state was so easily dismantled by Hitler's National Socialists. What is more shocking, however, is the speed in which the Nazis turned a fragile democracy into one of history's most draconian dictatorships. The Nazis demonstrated both brute force and political guile, as well as highly effective propaganda, in achieving their aims. There are many contradictions surrounding the transition from Weimar to Nazi Germany. The country had been home to some of the key figures of the Enlightenment Period, in arts, philosophy, music and literature. Yet this beacon of civilisation descended into an abyss of barbarism and intolerance. A region that for so long resisted incorporation into one state became intensely nationalistic. A country that provided refuge to Jewish people for hundreds of years turned on them to prosecute anti-Semitism's lowest point: the Holocaust. A state (Weimar) that had been designed with liberal and progressive ideals dissolved into illiberalism and reactionary authoritarianism. The alignment of Nazism and Germany is obvious to the 21st century reader but as it unfolded, the chain of events took the world by surprise. This period of history, fueled by Hitler and his fanatical politics, led the world to the bloodiest moment of an ultra-violent century. In January 1933, when Hitler became German Chancellor, all this was in the (albeit near) future. How the Nazis accumulated power is a true "warning from history." A Brief History of the Weimar Republic and Nazi Germany Before World War II provides a quick but comprehensive look at the Weimar Republic and Nazi Germany before the war.

A Brief History of the Weimar Republic and Nazi Germany Before World War II

A Brief History of the Weimar Republic and Nazi Germany Before World War II PDF Author: Percy Bennington
Publisher: Createspace Independent Publishing Platform
ISBN: 9781983946479
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 42

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Book Description
The Weimar Republic has become a byword for a failed, tragic, political experiment. The official period of its existence, 1919-1933, marked the inter-war years in Germany and their related uncertainty, chaos and the state's ultimate collapse. Historians have found the roots of Nazism embedded in the Weimar years and that in the final analysis, Weimar politicians voluntarily handed over power to the man who wrought destruction on an epic scale, Adolf Hitler. Yet the Weimar era encapsulated a number of trends and fissures within German society, as well as the international community. The Weimar Republic was a prisoner of events and in the long run had little power to shape them. Historians are fond of interpreting the past as a tension between human agency, that is to say decision-making, and structural developments that evade individual choices. Both these interpretations are crucial when examining the tumultuous years of Germany's Weimar Republic. German governments had teetered on the edge of collapse throughout the Weimar years, as politicians of all stripes had struggled to stabilise the economy and the wider societal problems. In the 14 years between 1919 and 1933, a total of 20 separate coalition governments had been formed. The most stable period, after the hyperinflation of 1923 and before the Wall Street Crash of 1929, was only calm in a relative sense. It is therefore perhaps unsurprising that the Weimar state was so easily dismantled by Hitler's National Socialists. What is more shocking, however, is the speed in which the Nazis turned a fragile democracy into one of history's most draconian dictatorships. The Nazis demonstrated both brute force and political guile, as well as highly effective propaganda, in achieving their aims. There are many contradictions surrounding the transition from Weimar to Nazi Germany. The country had been home to some of the key figures of the Enlightenment Period, in arts, philosophy, music and literature. Yet this beacon of civilisation descended into an abyss of barbarism and intolerance. A region that for so long resisted incorporation into one state became intensely nationalistic. A country that provided refuge to Jewish people for hundreds of years turned on them to prosecute anti-Semitism's lowest point: the Holocaust. A state (Weimar) that had been designed with liberal and progressive ideals dissolved into illiberalism and reactionary authoritarianism. The alignment of Nazism and Germany is obvious to the 21st century reader but as it unfolded, the chain of events took the world by surprise. This period of history, fueled by Hitler and his fanatical politics, led the world to the bloodiest moment of an ultra-violent century. In January 1933, when Hitler became German Chancellor, all this was in the (albeit near) future. How the Nazis accumulated power is a true "warning from history." A Brief History of the Weimar Republic and Nazi Germany Before World War II provides a quick but comprehensive look at the Weimar Republic and Nazi Germany before the war.

The Weimar Republic

The Weimar Republic PDF Author: Charles River Charles River Editors
Publisher: Createspace Independent Publishing Platform
ISBN: 9781983712227
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 104

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Book Description
*Includes pictures *Includes online resources and a bibliography for further reading The Weimar Republic has become a byword for a failed, tragic, political experiment. The official period of its existence, 1919-1933, marked the inter-war years in Germany and their related uncertainty, chaos and the state's ultimate collapse. Historians have found the roots of Nazism embedded in the Weimar years and that in the final analysis, Weimar politicians voluntarily handed over power to the man who wrought destruction on an epic scale, Adolf Hitler. Yet the Weimar era encapsulated a number of trends and fissures within German society, as well as the international community. The Weimar Republic was a prisoner of events and in the long run had little power to shape them. Historians are fond of interpreting the past as a tension between human agency, that is to say decision-making, and structural developments that evade individual choices. Both these interpretations are crucial when examining the tumultuous years of Germany's Weimar Republic. The early 1930s were a tumultuous period for German politics, even in comparison to the ongoing transition to the modern era that caused various forms of chaos throughout the rest of the world. In the United States, reliance on the outdated gold standard and an absurdly parsimonious monetary policy helped bring about the Great Depression. Meanwhile, the Empire of Japan began its ultimately fatal adventurism with the invasion of Manchuria, alienating the rest of the world with the atrocities it committed. Around the same time, Gandhi began his drive for the peaceful independence of India through nonviolent protests against the British. It was in Germany, however, that the strongest seeds of future tragedy were sown. The struggling Weimar Republic had become a breeding ground for extremist politics, including two opposed and powerful authoritarian entities: the right-wing National Socialists and the left-wing KPD Communist Party. As the 1930s dawned, these two totalitarian groups held one another in a temporary stalemate, enabling the fragile ghost of democracy to continue a largely illusory survival for a few more years. That stalemate was broken in dramatic fashion on a bitterly cold night in late February 1933, and it was the Nazis who emerged decisively as the victors. A single act of arson against the famous Reichstag building proved to be the catalyst that propelled Adolf Hitler to victory in the elections of March 1933, which set the German nation irrevocably on the path towards World War II. That war would plunge much of the planet into an existential battle that ultimately cost an estimated 60 million lives. The Weimar Republic: The History of Germany After World War I Before the Rise of the Nazi Party chronicles the pivotal events in the years between World War I and Hitler's ascension to power. Along with pictures of important people, places, and events, you will learn about the Weimar Republic like never before.

History in 30

History in 30 PDF Author: Percy Bennington
Publisher: Createspace Independent Publishing Platform
ISBN: 9781983946288
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 32

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Book Description
The Weimar Republic has become a byword for a failed, tragic, political experiment. The official period of its existence, 1919-1933, marked the inter-war years in Germany and their related uncertainty, chaos and the state's ultimate collapse. Historians have found the roots of Nazism embedded in the Weimar years and that in the final analysis, Weimar politicians voluntarily handed over power to the man who wrought destruction on an epic scale, Adolf Hitler. Yet the Weimar era encapsulated a number of trends and fissures within German society, as well as the international community. The Weimar Republic was a prisoner of events and in the long run had little power to shape them. Historians are fond of interpreting the past as a tension between human agency, that is to say decision-making, and structural developments that evade individual choices. Both these interpretations are crucial when examining the tumultuous years of Germany's Weimar Republic. German governments had teetered on the edge of collapse throughout the Weimar years, as politicians of all stripes had struggled to stabilise the economy and the wider societal problems. In the 14 years between 1919 and 1933, a total of 20 separate coalition governments had been formed. The most stable period, after the hyperinflation of 1923 and before the Wall Street Crash of 1929, was only calm in a relative sense. It is therefore perhaps unsurprising that the Weimar state was so easily dismantled by Hitler's National Socialists. What is more shocking, however, is the speed in which the Nazis turned a fragile democracy into one of history's most draconian dictatorships. The Nazis demonstrated both brute force and political guile, as well as highly effective propaganda, in achieving their aims. There are many contradictions surrounding the transition from Weimar to Nazi Germany. The country had been home to some of the key figures of the Enlightenment Period, in arts, philosophy, music and literature. Yet this beacon of civilisation descended into an abyss of barbarism and intolerance. A region that for so long resisted incorporation into one state became intensely nationalistic. A country that provided refuge to Jewish people for hundreds of years turned on them to prosecute anti-Semitism's lowest point: the Holocaust. A state (Weimar) that had been designed with liberal and progressive ideals dissolved into illiberalism and reactionary authoritarianism. The alignment of Nazism and Germany is obvious to the twenty-first century reader but as it unfolded, the chain of events took the world by surprise. This period of history, fuelled by Hitler and his fanatical politics, led the world to the bloodiest moment of an ultra-violent century. In January 1933, when Hitler became German Chancellor, all this was in the (albeit near) future. How the Nazis accumulated power is a true "warning from history." History in 30: The History of Nazi Germany Before World War II provides a quick but comprehensive look at the notorious regime's actions before history's deadliest war.

A Short History of the Weimar Republic

A Short History of the Weimar Republic PDF Author: Colin Storer
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
ISBN: 0857733559
Category : Political Science
Languages : en
Pages : 254

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Book Description
It is impossible to understand the history of modern Europe without some knowledge of the Weimar Republic. The brief fourteen-year period of democracy between the Treaty of Versailles and the advent of the Third Reich was marked by unstable government, economic crisis and hyperinflation and the rise of extremist political movements. At the same time, however, a vibrant cultural scene flourished, which continues to influence the international art world through the aesthetics of Expressionism and the Bauhaus movement. In the fields of art, literature, theatre, cinema, music and architecture – not to mention science – Germany became a world leader during the 1920s, while her perilous political and economic position ensured that no US or European statesman could afford to ignore her. Incorporating original research and a synthesis of the existing historiography, this book will provide students and a general readership with a clear and concise introduction to the history of the first German Republic.

The Death of Democracy

The Death of Democracy PDF Author: Benjamin Carter Hett
Publisher: Henry Holt and Company
ISBN: 1250162513
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 304

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Book Description
A riveting account of how the Nazi Party came to power and how the failures of the Weimar Republic and the shortsightedness of German politicians allowed it to happen. Why did democracy fall apart so quickly and completely in Germany in the 1930s? How did a democratic government allow Adolf Hitler to seize power? In The Death of Democracy, Benjamin Carter Hett answers these questions, and the story he tells has disturbing resonances for our own time. To say that Hitler was elected is too simple. He would never have come to power if Germany’s leading politicians had not responded to a spate of populist insurgencies by trying to co-opt him, a strategy that backed them into a corner from which the only way out was to bring the Nazis in. Hett lays bare the misguided confidence of conservative politicians who believed that Hitler and his followers would willingly support them, not recognizing that their efforts to use the Nazis actually played into Hitler’s hands. They had willingly given him the tools to turn Germany into a vicious dictatorship. Benjamin Carter Hett is a leading scholar of twentieth-century Germany and a gifted storyteller whose portraits of these feckless politicians show how fragile democracy can be when those in power do not respect it. He offers a powerful lesson for today, when democracy once again finds itself embattled and the siren song of strongmen sounds ever louder.

Hitler and Nazi Germany

Hitler and Nazi Germany PDF Author: Jackson J. Spielvogel
Publisher: Routledge
ISBN: 1315509156
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 424

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Book Description
This text is based on current research findings and is written for students and general readers who want a deeper understanding of this period in German history. It provides a balanced approach in examining Hitler's role in the history of the Third Reich and includes coverage of the economic, social, and political forces that made the rise and growth of Nazism possible; the institutional, cultural, and social life of the Third Reich; the Second World War; and the Holocaust.

Weimar and Nazi Germany

Weimar and Nazi Germany PDF Author: Panikos Panayi
Publisher: Routledge
ISBN: 1317881516
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 357

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Book Description
Weimar and Nazi Germany presents the history of the country in these periods in a unique way. Examining the continuities and discontinuities between the Third Reich and the Weimar Republic, it also contextualises these two regimes within modern German and European history. After a broad introduction to 1919-1945, four general surveys examine the economy, society, internal politics and foreign policy. A third section treats specific key themes including women and the family, big business, race, the SPD, the extreme Right and Anglo-German relations. This innovative text assembles major scholars of Germany. It will prove vital reading for all those interested in twentieth century history.

Hitler's First Hundred Days

Hitler's First Hundred Days PDF Author: Peter Fritzsche
Publisher: Oxford University Press
ISBN: 0198871120
Category : Elections
Languages : en
Pages : 430

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Book Description
The story of how Germans came to embrace the Third Reich.Germany in early 1933 was a country ravaged by years of economic depression and increasingly polarized between the extremes of left and right. Over the spring of that year, Germany was transformed from a republic, albeit a seriously faltering one, into a one-party dictatorship. In Hitler's First Hundred Days, award-winning historian PeterFritzsche examines the pivotal moments during this fateful period in which the Nazis apparently won over the majority of Germans to join them in their project to construct the Third Reich. Fritzsche scrutinizes the events of theperiod - the elections and mass arrests, the bonfires and gunfire, the patriotic rallies and anti-Jewish boycotts - to understand both the terrifying power that the National Socialists came to exert over ordinary Germans and the powerful appeal of the new era that they promised.

Mein Kampf

Mein Kampf PDF Author: Adolf Hitler
Publisher: ببلومانيا للنشر والتوزيع
ISBN:
Category : Biography & Autobiography
Languages : en
Pages : 522

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Book Description
Madman, tyrant, animal—history has given Adolf Hitler many names. In Mein Kampf (My Struggle), often called the Nazi bible, Hitler describes his life, frustrations, ideals, and dreams. Born to an impoverished couple in a small town in Austria, the young Adolf grew up with the fervent desire to become a painter. The death of his parents and outright rejection from art schools in Vienna forced him into underpaid work as a laborer. During the First World War, Hitler served in the infantry and was decorated for bravery. After the war, he became actively involved with socialist political groups and quickly rose to power, establishing himself as Chairman of the National Socialist German Worker's party. In 1924, Hitler led a coalition of nationalist groups in a bid to overthrow the Bavarian government in Munich. The infamous Munich "Beer-hall putsch" was unsuccessful, and Hitler was arrested. During the nine months he was in prison, an embittered and frustrated Hitler dictated a personal manifesto to his loyal follower Rudolph Hess. He vented his sentiments against communism and the Jewish people in this document, which was to become Mein Kampf, the controversial book that is seen as the blue-print for Hitler's political and military campaign. In Mein Kampf, Hitler describes his strategy for rebuilding Germany and conquering Europe. It is a glimpse into the mind of a man who destabilized world peace and pursued the genocide now known as the Holocaust.