Rethinking the Weimar Republic: Authority and Authoritarianism 1916-1936 (Hodder Arnold Publication)

“McElligott's impressive mastery of an enormous body of research guides him on a distinctive path through the dense thickets of Weimar historiography to a provocative new interpretation of the nature of authority in Germany's first democracy.” Sir Ian Kershaw, Emeritus Professor of Modern History at the University of Sheffield, UK This study challenges conventional approaches to the history of the Weimar Republic by stretching its chronological-political parameters from 1916 to 1936, arguing that neither 1918 nor 1933 constituted distinctive breaks in early 20th-century German history.

Anthony McElligott's new study challenges conventional approaches to the history of the Weimar Republic. Taking as its premise that neither 1918 nor 1933 constituted distinctive breaks in early twentieth-century German history, Rethinking the Weimar Republic stretches the chronological-political parameters of the republic from 1916 to 1936. This longer period allows for a better understanding of the genesis of the politics of the republican state, the crises that it faced, and how these were eventually resolved under the Nazi-conservative collaboration from 1933. As well as rethinking topics of traditional concern for historians of the republic, such as the economy, Article 48, the Nazi vote and political violence, McElligott also discusses hitherto neglected areas such as provincial life and politics, the role of law and republican cultural politics. Based on both unpublished and published sources, this robustly argued book offers its readers a new and incisive exploration of the day to day relationship between state and citizens that will become essential reading to all students of Modern Germany.

“McElligott's impressive mastery of an enormous body of research guides him on a distinctive path through the dense thickets of Weimar historiography to a provocative new interpretation of the nature of authority in Germany's first democracy.” Sir Ian Kershaw, Emeritus Professor of Modern History at the University of Sheffield, UKThis study challenges conventional approaches to the history of the Weimar Republic by stretching its chronological-political parameters from 1916 to 1936, arguing that neither 1918 nor 1933 constituted distinctive breaks in early 20th-century German history.This book:- Covers all of the key debates such as inheritance of the past, the nature of authority and culture- Rethinks topics of traditional concern such as the economy, Article 48, the Nazi vote and political violence- Discusses hitherto neglected areas, such as provincial life and politics, the role of law and Republican cultural politics Challenging conventional notions, the author traces the history of Weimar Germany, providing a comprehensive overview of the history of the republic.