Nibbe 1 Nibbe, Tristan Per 5 Mr.

Arnt European History AP DBQ The Weimar republic ,which ruled from 1918-1933 was largely unstable during its time this was mainly due to the formation of the communist and Nazi political parties combined with many people who were unhappy about the outcome of World War I. Eventually this would lead to Adolf Hitler being instituted as head of the Nazi Party and the start of World War II. A large factor contributing to the power of both the communist and Nazi power was many of the WWI veterans were angry and frustrated with their a government that they believed was not doing enough to help their country out of poverty and debt. This is clearly evidenced by docs 5 and 8 both of which concern the veterans feelings about the government and necessary revolution. While doc 8 doesn't state which political party it supports it has strong influences towards communism as does doc 5 which uses a phrase from a communist anthem. Doc 8 states that once Germany was in the front lines . This shows that the Weimar republic had little to no support from the veterans which may have been a large contributing factor to its eventual fall. Still it seems that the more educated or less privileged classes among other reigns such as doc 4 which is a speech to a group of university students who would most likely be more in favor of a democracy that would allow them to exert the power that they gain from attaining a education. Doc is also a speech, this one is addressed mainly to other woman who have recently gained the right to run for office and went a long way toward ending the prejudices that had existed for hundreds and hundreds of years. Understandably this makes all women voters and other groups who may have recently acquired the right to vote biased in favor of this new government that would sustain these new rights. Both of these speeches show that the Republic was fairly popular near the start of its reign,

specifically among select groups who would attain rights that they had never glimpsed before. Another speech is shown in doc 11 which is by Adolf Hitler to an association of business executives and economists. This speech is mainly used to try to convince the people in current power that the absolute control that a Nazi rule would have over the people would be extremely beneficial to not only the economy but the national effort to get Germany out from under the thumb of England And the rest of Europe. This is also made near the end of the Weimar Republic which clearly show the contrasting opinions about them after some years have passed, of course this is fairly biased considering that if the Nazi party were to overthrow the Republic Hitler would inevitably receive much power. Next we have two documents, both written by a professional novelist , while one is a speech and the other a book both of their messages are somewhat similar, if necessarily muddled by the times. Document 4 is written by Thomas Mann and in a speech to a group of university students declares The republic still and always ! Democracy! this shows a strong favor toward the Republic ,but this is written fairly early in the reign , most likely before public opinion turned against them. Doc 10 ,while not outright criticizing the Nazi party does make some subtle accusations about Hitler's methods to get people to submit to him during political meetings and debates. It is interesting that this document does not come right out and say this but subtlety mentions it, most likely because of its date near the rise of the Nazi party. If its author had any idea how much power this party would attain , which no doubt he had some inkling of , then he must have feared for his very life publishing anything that may come back to bite him when the Nazi's. came to power. The most important factor in the fall of the Weimar Republic is simply the rise of a greater power that would ultimately eclipse what was left of the republic. The Nazi party would eventually wrest the public opinion away from the republic ,completely destroying its power base and neutralizing its ability to function. The addition of mass poverty swaying public opinion toward any type of government who could promise them food and money resulted in a volatile combination of both party of nation willing to do anything to acquire more power and money.