The Beginning of a Severe Political Crisis

1 “The Beginning of a Severe Political Crisis” : The Rise of Facism in Post World War I Europe Allison Brown Introduction to European Studies Dr. Blackler 6 April, 2020 Stable, democratic, and a trailblazing cultural society are not concepts often associated with Germany in between the Great War and World War II, or the period for german history 1 Jones, Larry Eugene. "The Dying Middle.", 1970. (pg. 43) 1 known as the Weimar Republic. But that indeed was what the period comprised, “That was 2 Weimar culture: the relentless questioning of what it means to live in modern times . A…” groundbreaking society that pushed the social and political norms of Germany delicately balanced political extremes on both sides of the spectrum, tensions ran high: Weimar politics were loud, contested, unruly, and strikingly democratic … But a certain calm reigned as well. 3 There were no putsch attempts, no armed rebellions” . In a world in which Weimar’s pocket of democracy not only existed but thrived, the question of why the rest of Western Europe and even the world could not adopt a vibrant democracy arose. Yes, Weimar thrived for a period, however, radical ideals and fascism lurked behind many corners. Although one can be certain that history is not a series of inevitable predetermined events, there were clear mitigating factors and dangerous potentials present leading to the start of World War II. Four main factors were essential to the rise of the fascism in Europe, NSDAP in Germany, and ultimately World War II: recent history, socio-economic struggles, geopolitical differences, and the fostering of collective national fear across Europe. Recent history had real impacts and consequences in Germany post-World War I. The Treaty of Versailles, signed in June 1919, resolved the conflict and demanded that Germany not only pay, but grovel for forgiveness from the rest of Europe. The “Diktat of Versailles” demanded that Germany was to give fourteen percent of its pre-war territory and that the official 4 German military reduce to only one-hundred thousand standing soldiers . France additionally insisted on including the War-Guilt Clause to place further economic reparations and limits on 2Weitz, Eric D. Weimar Germany: Promise and Tragedy. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press, 2018 (pg.253) 3Weitz, Eric. Weimar and Political Worlds, 2018 (pg.104) 4 Blackler, Adam. “Diktat of Versailles” March 6, 2020 2 Germany, reminded of their suffering after the Franco-Prussian War. These reparations frustrated Germany, especially when the nation had won the conflict in the East and when their promises fell through with the Soviets, economic chaos ensued. “The loss and debility [post WWI] of so many men in their prime working age placed a drag on the [German] economy, disrupted family patterns, and weighed upon the support and counseling services provided by the state 5…” . With tensions and economic ramifications still looming from the Treaty of Versailles, the German economy lagged with an additional loss from the population’s working class. Factories could not produce at full production, consumer certainty in the state faltered, and economic catastrophe ensued; “The [downfall of Weimar’s economy was a] combination of several factors; Germany’s diminished per capita consumption, the increasing rationalization of Germany’s economic structure, the unavailability of long-term credit, and an oppressive tax structure 6…” . Before economic crashes peaked, 1 USD was worth 1 German Marks. In November 1923, 1 USD was worth 4.2 trillion German Marks, an 7 incomprehensible decrease in value . The largest financial burden placed on Germany was their war retributions placed on them within the Treaty of Versailles. In 1925, the Locarno treaties offered a viable solution; Germany’s retribution would substantially lessen for an apparent end to a geopolitical struggle that had existed for decades previously. The Locarno treaties asked for Germany to not seek to occupy the Alsace-Lorraine region of France indefinitely in return for forgiveness of retribution payments. This example isn’t the only in which geopolitical issues constituted a dangerous potential on the European Stage. In 1923, France and Belgium seized the Staarland, an industrial hub of Germany to serve as a 5 Weitz, Eric. Weimar and Political Worlds, 2018 (pg.83) 6 Jones, Larry Eugene. "The Dying Middle.", 1970 (pg.25) 7 Blackler, Adam. “Treaty of Versailles” March 6, 2020 3 demilitarized zone between the two nations. The two countries took the Staarland as an aspect of monetary value due to growing frustration from the lack of reparation payments from the Germans. This is problematic because German production in the region was essential to the GDP and economic recovery of the nation. Geopolitically, France and Belgium could seize the land as a display of power and administer a damaging blow to Germany’s economy in one move. Collective national fear grew not only in Europe, but globally. From Germany’s “Stab in the back”8, “minority problems”9 remaining in the East, and to Bolshevism rising with the Soviets, collective ‘othering’ and a fear of those who differed in their society grew. In Germany, anti-semitism would develop in Weimar that would lead to the government’s inability to support and handle the issues of the German middle class. Weimar was united at its best, but politically and culturally divided most of its existence; “No individual party or movement, no single set of 10 ideas or commonly held beliefs, prevailed in Germany in the years after World War . I” 11 Weimar’s government relied on the “principle of proportional representation” which in part was to blame for the lack of political party consolidation in the state and no party being able to secure a majority. This ultimately led to the National Socialist’s seizure of power three years later; . “...the emergence of new splinter groups...marked the beginning of a severe political crisis” 12. A lack of trust for the German citizen in their government led to the embrace of the NSDAP in the Reichstag, or the Nazi Party. 8 Blackler, Adam. “Stab in the Back” March 6, 2020 9 Tara, Zhara, “The ‘Minority Problem’ and National Classification in the French and Czechoslovak Borderlands Contemporary European History”, 2008 (pg.2) 10 Weitz, Eric D. Weimar Germany: Promise and Tragedy. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press, 2018. (pg. 81) 11 Jones, Larry Eugene. "The Dying Middle.", 1970. (pg. 26) 12 Jones, Larry Eugene. "The Dying Middle.", 1970. (pg. 43) 4 A common misconception about the Nazi Party and Adolf Hitler is that power was illegally seized or taken, however, in 1933 the NSDAP democratically took the majority of seats in the Reichstag, and thus began the Nazi assimilation and control of Germany. After World War I and the political workings of Weimar; “The structural transformations which had taken place within the middle class, the widespread anxiety generated by the deteriorating economic situation, and a growing lack of public confidence in the existing political situation all combined to create a highly volatile situation which the leaders of the NSDAP could exploit with considerable skill”13. Commonly known, is the notion that Hitler was able to rise to power in such an efficient ways due to the use of anti-semitic, fascist, and relatable propaganda campaigns, “[Hitler and the NASDAP] articulated the anxieties and frustrated ambitions of the 14 German middle class” . With these tools of propaganda and the support of the middle class, Hitler and the Nazi Party rose to power and committed the atrocities that history would come to remember this period of German political culture with, the aspirations and promises of Weimar seemingly irrelevant. Weimar’s promise and political developments are still relevant to history, the politically and culturally trailblazing time offers an explanation to the democratic rise of Hitler and the political instability of Europe in the early 20th century. Although history is not an established line of events, it is evident that political tensions in central Europe, socio-economic struggles, geopolitical differences, and the fostering of collective national fear in part led to the rise of Hitler and fascism in Europe. 13 Jones, Larry Eugene. "The Dying Middle.", 1970. (pg. 47) 14 Stackelberg, Roderick, and Sally A. Winkle. The Nazi Germany Sourcebook An Anthology of Texts. “Guidelines for the Treatment of Political Commissars” Florence: Taylor and Francis, 2013 (pg. 183) 5