IndexIntroductionPolitical and social divideResentment towards the outcome of the World WarImpetches carried out by the Weimar leadership ConclusionReferencesIntroductionAlthough the Great Depression played a minor role in bringing the Nazis to power , a variety of other factors had a greater impact. The political division within the German military and social division compromised the stability of the government. The mistakes made by the Weimar leadership deteriorated the government's power and gave Hitler the means to gain power, while the loss of World War I and the subsequent Treaty of Versailles exasperated the Germans and were used by Hitler to gain support. Although the Great Depression further weakened the German economy and strengthened the Nazi following, it was not the most important factor in empowering the Nazis. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay Political and social dividePolitical divide between left-wing and anti-socialist armed forces and social divide between radical left-wing Spartacists, majority socialists and pro-monarch loyalists prevented the newly formed Weimar Republic from truly holding government and were vital to the rise to power of the Nazis. This social divide made it difficult to maintain government for more than one election, causing, as George Truss stated “no substantial stability or progress within Weimar Germany.” Furthermore, as Rößner states “due to the division of the workers' movement, the young republic was not able to form its own army”. Political disagreement between the government and the armed forces exacerbated the issue, as the socialist majority was forced to rely on the anti-communist Freikorps for support. Furthermore, after the dissolution of the Oberste Heeresleitung, the Reichswehr (imperial army) remained a right-wing “state within a state”. As stated by Rößner, this was “politically lethal for the republican system,” as the armed forces were able to “vehemently form a military state,” as stated by the historian Kolb. Furthermore, Rößner cites “the socialists' dependence on rival forces [as] the cause of the Kapp Putsch in 1920, and [the] end [of] the Weimar Republic.” The fragile state of the distracted and internally fractious socialist government allowed Hitler to gain unchallenged military support, setting the stage for the Nazis' violent seizure of power. of war guilt and war reparations, a very unpopular action in Germany. Mass demonstrations against the Treaty occurred in front of the Reichstag, and many nationalists believed that the government had sold out Germany to its enemies by ending the war too soon. The government's opponents used this fact to claim that it had "stabbed Germany in the back" by ending the war. Furthermore, Truss attests that "the war guilt clause led to widespread feelings of humiliation and anger, [and] had serious repercussions for the Weimar government." In the years to come, The November Criminals and the legend of the stab in the back were phrases used in many speeches by Hitler, who described the Republic as “a quagmire of corruption, degeneration, national humiliation… [and] fourteen years of rule by Jews , Marxists and “cultural Bolsheviks”. Truss attests that "the idea that the Treaty was signed by anti-patriotic left-wing politicians (the November Criminals), and that these same politicians were responsible for the 'backstabbing' of the army that led to the military defeat in the First World War, discredited the Weimar Government.”Mistakes committed by the leadership ofWeimar The failure of Germany's first true democracy and the subsequent rise of the Nazi Party were primarily the result of choices made by the Weimar leadership during its short life. While Germany's defeat in World War I, the Treaty of Versailles, inflation and depression made the development and survival of democracy difficult, Bookbinder«They did not condemn the Republic to inevitable failure. The fate of the Weimar Republic was in the hands of its leaders." Just one such mistake was Ebert's 1919 decision to call on the anti-communist Freikorps to crush the radical left Spartacists. Rößner argues that "Ebert's actions divided the left, making the Republic much more vulnerable to right-wing forces and, ultimately, a Nazi takeover." Indeed, five years later, Ebert admitted in his diary that his “actions” (roughly translated) “had profound and irreversible consequences… jeopardizing the future of the Republic.” Furthermore, in 1928, the executive committee of the German Nationalist People's Party appointed Hugenberg as party president. Hugenberg was anti-republican and controlled a media empire that included newspapers read by around 50% of Weimar Germans. Hugenberg wished to become the ruler of Germany, but his strategy involved an alliance with Hitler and the Nazis. This proved fatal for the Republic, as Hugenberg ultimately provided Hitler with positive media coverage and introduced him to industrialists and financiers who supported his political campaign. The bookbinder attests that "Hitler's alliance with Hugenberg was a necessary step on his path to power." This meant that political mistakes were crucial in Hitler's rise to power, much more than the Depression, since without the mistakes made by the Weimar leadership, Hitler would never have been able to come to power. Despite this, the Depression was a contributing factor. to the terrible economic conditions in Weimar Germany, which in part aided the rise of the Nazi Party. The Great Depression devastated economies around the world, and deteriorating economic conditions in Germany created an angry, frightened, and impoverished population open to more extreme political systems. This gave Hitler an audience for his anti-Semitic and anti-Communist bombast, which depicted Jews as the cause of the Depression. Furthermore, fear and uncertainty about Germany's future also led many Germans to support the stability offered by Hitler. As Hollinger stated, “The Depression and poor economic circumstances gave Hitler significant support for his cause.” However, Hollinger also acknowledges that “the Depression was not solely responsible for the economic condition of Weimar Germany.” The deterioration of the Weimar economy can also be witnessed by the large reparations imposed by the Treaty of Versailles, the loss of industries during the occupation of the Ruhr, and the subsequent hyperinflation, from which Germany had only briefly recovered. Furthermore, Kolb attests that “while the Great Depression helped create an environment in which he gained support, it (and German economic conditions in general) were not solely responsible for bringing Hitler to power.” Because these economic conditions strengthened the Nazi following, they were not responsible for Hitler's position of power, nor crucial to the Party's existence. Please note: this is just an example. Get a custom paper from our expert writers now. Get a Custom Essay Conclusion The Depression was not the most significant factor in empowering the Nazi Party. The stability of the government was compromised due to the division