After Germany lost World War I, the
German Empire fell in 1918. A
democratic government replaced it. The
Weimar Republic took its name from
Weimar, the city in which they wrote the
new constitution.
The Weimar Republic introduced
democratic changes. Free elections and
civil rights became law. Still, the new
republic faced many problems. The
Treaty of Versailles demanded war
reparations that caused economic
hardship. Hyperinflation in the early
1920s devastated the country, and
political extremism grew. Governments
changed constantly.
In 1923, the German mark became
nearly worthless. This led to poverty and
unrest. Later, during the “Golden
Twenties,” the Republic stabilized for a
while, but this period did not last. The
Great Depression struck Germany hard
, in 1929. Mass unemployment and even
more political instability followed.
German Empire fell in 1918. A
democratic government replaced it. The
Weimar Republic took its name from
Weimar, the city in which they wrote the
new constitution.
The Weimar Republic introduced
democratic changes. Free elections and
civil rights became law. Still, the new
republic faced many problems. The
Treaty of Versailles demanded war
reparations that caused economic
hardship. Hyperinflation in the early
1920s devastated the country, and
political extremism grew. Governments
changed constantly.
In 1923, the German mark became
nearly worthless. This led to poverty and
unrest. Later, during the “Golden
Twenties,” the Republic stabilized for a
while, but this period did not last. The
Great Depression struck Germany hard
, in 1929. Mass unemployment and even
more political instability followed.
