Weimar and the Rise of Hitler (Making of the Twentieth Century)

## Preface to the First Edition In this book I have attempted to provide an introduction to the political history of the Weimar Republic. The failure of German democracy in the years after the First World War was of crucial importance, not only for Germany but for the world as a whole. It is necessary to understand the causes of this failure, and to avoid a natural tendency to over-simplify them. Very often they have been sought in the national character and historical development of the Germans, in the nature of Western capitalism, in the weaknesses of the Republican constitution or in the hypnotic power of Adolf Hitler. Some of these explanations are more respectable than others; none alone can begin to satisfy any serious enquiry. One unforeseen by-product of Hitler's catastrophic war was the opening of German official records to historians. During the last two decades a great many valuable monographs have been published which throw light on the problems besetting the Weimar Republic. I have attempted to incorporate some of their findings into this book, but the need for compression precludes a detailed or definitive treatment. If I am able to stimulate the reader to delve more deeply into this fascinating and complicated subject I shall feel that my work has been justified. My thanks are first of all due to my College for providing me with the facilities without which this book could not have been written. I should also like to acknowledge with gratitude the help I have received from Christopher Thome and Miss Elizabeth Wiskemann. I am especially indebted to Sir John Wheeler-Bennett for his kindness in reading my manuscript and for his invaluable comments. I have benefited greatly from discussions with my Oxford colleagues, especially Tim Mason, Jonathan Wright and Modris Eksteins. Needless to say, I am entirely responsible for the opinions expressed in the book and for any errors which it may contain. I wish to acknowledge the care and accuracy of my typists, Miss D. 1\varnley and Miss. E. Harrison, and finally I should like to thank my wife for her constant encouragement. This Account Of The Weimar Republic's History Begins With Germany's Defeat In 1918 And The Revolutionary Disturbances Which Followed The Collapse Of Kaiser Wilhelm Ii's Empire. It Analyses The Structure Of The Republic, Noting The Strengths And Weaknesses Of The New Regime. It Evaluates The Importance Of Inflation In The Early 1920s And Depression After 1929. Adolf Hitler's Career Is Traced From Its Early Beginnings In Munich, And The Nature Of His Movement Is Assessed. Although Giving Due Weight To Economic And Social Factors, The Author Remains Convinced That Political Rather Than Economic Causes Lay At The Root Of Weimar's Failure. It Was The Political Legacy Of The Wilhelmine Empire Which Was To Prove So Damaging To The Weimar Republic In The Years 1918-1933.. The Book Is Designed To Serve Both As An Introduction For Readers Unfamiliar With The Weimar Republic And As A Stimulus For Those Who Wish To Deepen Their Knowledge Of The Period. For The Fourth Edition Numerous Revisions And Additions Have Been Made To Take Account Of Advances In Research Since The Last Edition Was Published. A. J. Nicholls. Previous Ed.: 1979. Bibliography: P. 167-184.- Includes Index. Front Matter....Pages i-xvi The Lost War....Pages 1-7 The German Revolution....Pages 8-22 The Foundations of the New Republic....Pages 23-43 The Republic Makes Peace....Pages 44-55 1919–1922: Years of Crisis and Uncertainty....Pages 56-70 Hitler and Republican Instability....Pages 71-82 Ruhr Occupation and Inflation....Pages 83-92 Towards Recovery....Pages 93-104 The Semblance of Stability: 1924–1929....Pages 105-119 The End of the Republic....Pages 120-142 Hitler’s Success and Weimar’s Failure: Political Ineptitude or Economic Necessity?....Pages 143-161 Back Matter....Pages 162-195 In this extensively revised third edition, the book takes into account the large body of recent research on this controversial period. A completely new introduction describes how these developments in scholarship have affected our view of Weimar, and a new final chapter discusses the relationship between the economic and social tensions in Germany during this period and the rise of Hitler. Throughout the book the author has updated the text and added new material and references, and the already extensive bibliography has been substantially expanded. Part of a series which explores important/controversial events and themes in 20th-century world history, this text focuses on German history. It examines the factors which led to the collapse of the Weimar Republic and saw the rise of Hitler and the Nazi movement.