Why did the Weimar Republic have so many crises from 1919 to 1924?

Answer 1

# France and Belgium occupied the Ruhr, Germany's industrial heartland in January 1923. The Germans responded with a general strike in the occupied area. # The German currency, which had already lost 96% of its value since 1914, suffered hyperinflation later that year - culminating in an average daily inflation rate of 26% from August-November. # In November 1923 there was the attempt by Hitler and Ludenforff to overthrow the government of Bavaria as the first step in taking over the German government by force.

Answer 2

One reason why 1923 was a difficult year for the Weimar Republic was because of the French occupation of the Ruhr. In 1923, Germany missed a timber delivery for reparations, and as a result, France took over the industrial area of the Ruhr to manage delivery themselves. As a result, the German workers adopted a policy of Passive Resistance. However, 132 Germans were killed and 150,000 were expelled from their homes. This was incredibly humiliating for the Germans as they had been invaded and the government was not doing anything to protect them and their pride. The government decided to pay the workers who were passively resisting in recognition of their loyalty, however since Germany was losing all profit from the Ruhr, the government had to print money it didn't have in order to pay the workers. This resulted eventually in hyper-inflation. The price of bread rose from 163marks in 1922, to 200billion marks in 1923. Citizens' savings lost all value over night and this effected the elderly's pensions the most. This all brew great anger towards Weimar. Therefore, the occupation of the Ruhr and hyper-inflation meant that 1923 was a difficult year for Weimar because it encouraged hatred towards the government and a desire amongst the people for change.

A second reason why 1923 was a difficult year for the Weimar Republic was because of the Munich Putsch. In 1923, Hitler and Ludendorff, supported by 600 SA, attempted to take over the government by storming a meeting held by the Bavarian PM in a Beer hall in Munich. The Putsch was a failure because the Nazis were met by 100 police and troops in the narrow Residenzstrasse and the band was broken up resulting in the death of 16 Nazis. Hitler was imprisoned for 9 months in Landsberg Castle. Despite the failure of the Putsch, it still proved to be difficult for Weimar perhaps more in the long term. The fact that Hitler only got 9 months for treason, showed how the courts were sympathetic to right-wing extremism. Therefore, the Munich Putsch made 1923 a difficult year for Weimar because it showed political extremism brewing just below the surface.

Answer 3

Two crises, really: first the occupation of Germany's Ruhr area by the French, which severely damaged Germany's economy; then the hyperinflation struck, making money and - because of that - savings and pensions totally worthless. A loaf of bread cost 100 Billion Marks in 1923.

Answer 4

Because of its unstable government