HSY3702 Assignment
1 Semester 2 2024 -
DUE 14 August 2024
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
[School]
[Course title]
, HSY3702 Assignment 1 Semester 2 2024 - DUE 14 August 2024
According to Gordon A. Craig, the Weimar Republic’s ‘normal state was crisis’. In
your own words, critically discuss this statement with reference to events that
unfolded in the Weimar Republic between 1919 and 1933.
The Weimar Republic, established in Germany in 1919 following the end of World
War I, faced a series of profound and persistent crises until its collapse in 1933.
Gordon A. Craig's assertion that the Weimar Republic's "normal state was crisis"
encapsulates the turbulent and unstable nature of this period in German history. To
critically discuss this statement, it's essential to examine the political, economic,
and social challenges that plagued the Republic.
Political Instability
From its inception, the Weimar Republic grappled with significant political
instability. The new democratic government was born out of the ashes of the
German Empire, following the abdication of Kaiser Wilhelm II and the defeat in
World War I. The Republic faced immediate opposition from both the extreme left
and right:
1. Left-Wing Threats: The Spartacist Uprising in January 1919, led by the
Communist Party (KPD), aimed to establish a socialist state. Although the
uprising was crushed, it highlighted the deep divisions within German
society and the strong opposition to the Republic from the left.
2. Right-Wing Threats: The Kapp Putsch in March 1920 was a direct attempt
by right-wing factions, including former military officers, to overthrow the
Weimar government. Although the coup failed, it exposed the fragility of the
1 Semester 2 2024 -
DUE 14 August 2024
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
[School]
[Course title]
, HSY3702 Assignment 1 Semester 2 2024 - DUE 14 August 2024
According to Gordon A. Craig, the Weimar Republic’s ‘normal state was crisis’. In
your own words, critically discuss this statement with reference to events that
unfolded in the Weimar Republic between 1919 and 1933.
The Weimar Republic, established in Germany in 1919 following the end of World
War I, faced a series of profound and persistent crises until its collapse in 1933.
Gordon A. Craig's assertion that the Weimar Republic's "normal state was crisis"
encapsulates the turbulent and unstable nature of this period in German history. To
critically discuss this statement, it's essential to examine the political, economic,
and social challenges that plagued the Republic.
Political Instability
From its inception, the Weimar Republic grappled with significant political
instability. The new democratic government was born out of the ashes of the
German Empire, following the abdication of Kaiser Wilhelm II and the defeat in
World War I. The Republic faced immediate opposition from both the extreme left
and right:
1. Left-Wing Threats: The Spartacist Uprising in January 1919, led by the
Communist Party (KPD), aimed to establish a socialist state. Although the
uprising was crushed, it highlighted the deep divisions within German
society and the strong opposition to the Republic from the left.
2. Right-Wing Threats: The Kapp Putsch in March 1920 was a direct attempt
by right-wing factions, including former military officers, to overthrow the
Weimar government. Although the coup failed, it exposed the fragility of the
