Problems For The People Of Germany example essay topic

Human nature, in individuals, as well as within united bodies of people, is to correct, learn, and grow from ones mistakes. If one cannot learn from one's own mistakes, it is necessary then to learn from the mistakes of others. When dealing with the political sciences, especially in international history, it is possible to analyze what has succeeded, and what has failed. The United States, being a fairly young country, has the advantage of a relatively short past, unmarked by national chaos as a result of poor governing. The United States, by learning from past history of other nations, chose a system of stability and balance, called democracy, which has caused the United States to flourish over time. Democracy has successfully reined in this country for all of its 200-year history.

Democracy, for our nation, has proved to be a keystone in every aspect of our success, our growth, and our strength as a country. It is crucial however, that we learn from the past, to realize that things can and do change. In the 1930's Germany, struck by inflation, a collapse in the economy, and national outrage, declined from a democratic republic, to a totalitarian state. The fall of the Weimar republic, and the rise of the NSDAP, which eventually led to WWII, shows how the drastic effects of economic problems, extreme nationalism, and drastic changes in cultural identity, can lead to a totalitarian state, and a complete political turnover within a nation. It is important to learn from the Weimar experience in order to help maintain the health, stability, and power of our own democracy today in the United States.

At the turn of the 20th century, Germany experienced an industrial revolution that caused them to almost capitalize in trade and production as a country. By August of 1914 WWI had began and Germany, both economically, and socially was hit hard. By the closing months of 1918, Germany, once strong and peeking in industry and economy finances, returned from the war battered and beaten. They were completely finished off by the 1919 Treaty of Versailles.

The treaty outright blamed the war on Germany, and charged them with the damage fines of the entire war. Such a huge amount of money would surely strike down and weaken an already tattered Germany, which was precisely the intention at hand. Germany was faced with paying for all damages caused by the war. Already far into an economic slump, Germany inevitable began having difficulties paying the debt.

The German people were against paying the allies and in no way supported reparations. In January of 1923 allied troops took over The Ruhr Valley, Germany's economic heartland. This triggered serious economic problems. Germany hit extreme economic depression. The people of Germany, supported by the government, struck out against the allies. To compensate for unemployment, the government printed more money.

This caused immediate inflation. The German Mark became worth less than the paper it was printed on. Hyperinflation caused chaos throughout Germany. Those who had money lost it, and those who owed money no longer did.

Hyperinflation helped push the sense of insecurity and anxiety throughout the people of the Weimar Republic. The people saw these problems in part, as effects from their young, weak democratic government. The people wanted the stability, power and assurance that had reigned so successfully in pre war Germany. These economic downfalls pushed people to accept the ideas of many other political parties and nationalist groups. In dealing with a Democracy, it is crucial that security is established and upheld at all times. By printing more money the government displayed weakness and ignorance in dealing with the problems at hand.

A government must first analyze the possible results of such harsh actions before going through with them. This was the first major thrust toward the downfall of the Republic. The Weimar republic was shaky from the beginning for several reasons. People were unsure of its capabilities, and unfamiliar with the new system that was pushed upon them. But one major set back was the attitude in which the leaders accepted the terms of the Versailles treaty. Leaders accepted the blame for the war, and chose to look forward as a country, rather then continue to fight.

This turning away from national pride and determination helped for smaller political parties to be more widely heard, as they preached the things the people of Germany wanted to hear. The general feeling from the people of a nation has extreme influence on the success or failure of its economy, government, and general existence. By yielding to the demands given to them and turning away from the national pride that had helped Germany become so strong, it substantially weakened the nation. A government must work for the people and in doing so, make decisions and act on behalf of the people. In the United States this is done through voting, passing bills and laws, and reacting to the needs of the people, the needs which in 1918 the Weimar Republic chose to ignore. The fact that the Weimar government seemed to be turning away from the people's needs, became the major benefactor in the rise of the NSDAP.

Germans listened to the ideas preached to them about national pride, rebirth, and reconstruction. They longed for the country that had been stripped away, and the NSDAP seemed to be the way to reestablish it. They were almost unwillingly forced by emotion to turn away from the Republic, and turn to the NSDAP, on the grounds alone that the Republic didn't seem to be fighting for the people, or solving any problems for the people of Germany. The people of a nation, specifically in a democracy, need to feel that actions are taken in the people's best interest, as well as in the interest of the nation's growth. By seemingly ignoring these needs, a government immediately weakens. A Democratic government can not succeed without the support of the people, which is what the Weimar republic lacked, and the NSDAP was beginning to gain.

Not only were economic and social issues affecting Germany, but by the 1920's cultural issues also began to spill over into the political arena. A movement called the Weimar Culture spread across Germany. Breakthroughs in painting, art, music, film, writing and all else spread across Germany. Not all Germans welcomed this however. Controversies arose around new opinions and issues that began to make face in the public.

Differences in opinions and positions held by the main parties of the Weimar Republic made political compromise difficult. The founding parties consisting of the SPD and the center party, stood separated on specific issues and values. This sense of imbalance caused further weaknesses in the Republic. In 1923, the SPD officials no longer were part of the cabinet. Although they remained the largest party in the Reichstag, they would not serve in the cabinet for another eight years.

Replacements were found in small right wing parties that had originally called for the destruction of the Weimar system. This clearly caused even further set backs for the republic. The differences in opinions and ideals weakened the party and again Germans saw lack of stability in their government. In a democracy, the head powers must have a balance within the government as well as within the nation as a whole. The thoughts and values of the government must reflect that of the people, somewhat in variation, but not with conflict. The people were again forced to look to the NSDAP and other parties for the consistency in values and in issues that a government must uphold.

In the July 1932 elections, the NSDAP received 37 percent of the vote; the largest total that any party had received thus far under the Weimar system. It was clear totalitarian rule was taking over Germany. The leaders of the NSDAP immediately began dealing with the economic, cultural, and social problems in Germany. The people saw results and accepted the new government, regardless of some circumstances at hand. The new government held the support of the people, which alone would make them stronger in part, then the Weimar republic ever was in post war Germany.

The NSDAP and totalitarian rule led to WWII, which showed the inevitable problems of a non-democratic state. Had Weimar leaders better upheld the basic constitutions of Democracy, as the United States has, and continues to do, it seems Germany would have in fact found the success they so needed, and under the NSDAP, they never truly found.