IndexThe legacy of the First World WarThe abdication of the Kaiser, the armistice and the revolution 1918-19The foundation of the Weimar RepublicThe Weimar ConstitutionThe challenges to the Republic from the right and from leftThe Spartacist UprisingThe Kapp PutschPolitical violenceHyperinflation in GermanySo why did the Weimar Republic collapse?The legacy of the First World WarWorld War I was a global conflict, in which the Central Powers (including Germany) fought against the Allied Powers (including including Great Britain, the United States, France, Italy and Russia). The Allied Powers won the war. The war had drained Germany financially. Germany lost 2 million soldiers and more than double the number of wounded. The First World War lasted 4 years, from 1914 to 1918. Between 1914 and 1918, the German government's debts tripled, from 50 to 150 billion marks. The German people also suffered. A British naval blockade cut off food supplies, forcing many in Germany to starve. Over 750,000 Germans died due to food shortages. The war caused considerable problems for the German government as unrest spread across the country with strikes and rebellions taking place in Stuttgart, Munich, and the ports of Kiel and Hamburg. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay The Kaiser's Abdication, the Armistice, and the Revolution 1918-19 In October 1918, the German navy mutinied and refused to follow orders in the ports of Kiel and Hamburg. The Kiel Mutiny occurred when Kiel sailors refused to attack the British Navy. This resulted in riots that spread across Germany. After realizing he had lost the army's support, the Kaiser had no choice but to abdicate on November 9 and go into exile in Holland the following day. On November 9, the Kaiser's chancellor, Max von Baden, handed over the position to Friedrich Ebert, leader of the Social Democratic Party (SPD). Ebert suspended parliament and appointed six moderate politicians to form the Council of People's Representatives which would lead the government until a constitution was approved. On November 11, Ebert's representative, Matthias Erzberger, signed the armistice – a formal agreement ending the First World War. The founding of the Weimar Republic ensured that public officials remained in office to ensure the continuity of the state. He reassured General Groener that the army would not be reformed and that the officers would retain their ranks. In exchange, Groener agreed to use the German army to help keep the new Republic in power. Ebert also reassured industry leaders that there would be no industrialization of private industries. This helped ensure that the economy continued to function. Ultimately, Ebert won the unions' support by promising to achieve the 8-hour workday. Elections to the National Assembly took place on 19 January 1919. Moderate parties won most of the seats. Due to the unrest in Berlin, the National Assembly met for the first time in February 1919 in the city of Weimar. On July 31, the National Assembly approved a new constitution. The new republic was known as the Weimar Republic. The Weimar ConstitutionThe National Assembly had to create the constitution of the Weimar Republic. Strengths of the Weimar Constitution: Germany was a democracy and allowed women to vote as well as men. This was more democratic than in Britain at the time. The electorate could change the president every 4 years. The Chancellor's decisions on laws inapproval phase had to be approved by parliament. The Reichsrat could delay laws passed by the Reichstag. These checks and balances meant that no one person or group could ever have too much power. Proportional representation meant that the number of votes obtained resulted in an equivalent number of seats. This means that fair representation is made in the Reichstag. Weaknesses of the Weimar Constitution: Article 48 of the constitution gave the president incredible power to govern without parliament. This opened the Constitution to the formation of possible dictatorships and made it less democratic. Proportional representation meant that the number of seats depended on the number of votes obtained. This produced many parties and made it difficult to make quick decisions during crises. The army was against the Weimar Constitution because they wanted the Kaiser to return and restore their status. There was great resistance to the constitution on the part of the left and the Giusto party. It proved extremely unpopular for several years. Coalition governments often argued and splintered, leading to a lack of clear and strong policies. Challenges to the Republic from the Left and the Right Far-left groups opposed capitalism and wanted Germany to be controlled by the government. people. In 1919 the Communist Party of Germany (KPD) was the main left-wing party. Within the Reichstag, the far left gained 205 seats, causing problems for the other parties. Outside the Reichstag, the far left challenged the Republic through rebellions such as the Spartacist Uprising. Far right groups supported capitalism and wanted to return to a strong government, with a strong army. Within the Reichstag the far right won around 20% of the seats. Outside the Reichstag, there were significant challenges from the far right with the Kapp Putsch in 1920 and the Munich Putsch in 1923. The Spartacist Uprising The Spartacist Uprising was a left-wing uprising designed to establish a communist state in Germany and destroy the Weimar Republic. . It was led by the Spartacist League, a group within the Communist Party led by Rosa Luxemburg and Karl Liebknecht. In January 1919 Ebert fired police chief Emil Eichhorn. Eichhorn was popular in Berlin, and because of his dismissal, workers protested in the streets. Seeing this protest, the Spartacist League took the opportunity to rebel and bring down the government. Following protests over Eichhorn's dismissal, a general strike was declared on January 6, 1919. Over 100,000 workers were involved in the rebellion. During the strike, the Spartacists seized major government buildings, including telegraph offices. The Weimar government found it difficult to manage the uprising and had to call in the Freikorps. The Freikorps put down the rebellion, with most of the workers and rebels having been driven out by 13 January 1919. Luxemburg and Liebknecht were arrested and killed by the Freikorps. The Kapp Putsch In March 1920, the Weimar government announced plans to reduce the size of the army and disband the Freikorps. This caused a huge stir in Berlin. The members of the Freikorps did not want to find themselves unemployed again as after the First World War and turned against the government. 5000 armed men marched on Berlin. The head of the Reichswehr refused to fire on the rebels. The Freikorps managed to take control of Berlin and declare a new government, with Wolfgang Kapp as its leader, who then invited the Kaiser to return from exile. The Weimar government fled Berlin and, in an attempt to stop the coup, encouraged Berlin workers to strike. Essential services suspended. Kapp couldn't.