Lesson Four: Fascism- Also Rejecting Classical Liberalism

3. 4.4.2 Nazism and Hitler

Conditions that led to Nazi Germany's Rejection of Liberalism

Before World War I (1914-1918), Kaiser (king) Wilhelm II ruled Germany. Although Wilhelm was not an absolute monarch, he did not agree with democratic principles. After Germany was defeated in World War I in 1918, Wilhelm II abdicated. Germany adopted the principles of a liberal democracy, which included free and open elections and the freedom to establish and belong to any political party. The President was the head of state, and the Reichstag was their new parliament. However, the democratic Weimar Republic (the official name for Germany from 1919 to 1933) did not gain the trust of German citizens.

The government of the Weimar Republic failed to win the people's trust for two reasons

1. When WWI ended in 1918, Germany was left with no choice but to sign the Treaty of Versailles and to take the blame for having caused the war. As a result, the Allies forced Germany to pay reparations to European countries affected by the war. The German people were angry with their leaders for having signed the treaty.

2. Some economic issues angered the Germans. Suffering from a war-torn economy, the government printed more money to pay its debts. This action led to inflation and a rise in the price of goods.

However, the German government was able to restore confidence in the economy for a time. The United States loaned money to Germany to help it pay the required reparations. The German economy prospered until the Great Depression began in 1929. The Depression worsened significantly the economic situation for Germany. With the Great Depression, Germany spiralled into economic chaos. Add the crippling war reparations and a strong nationalistic desire and Germany had become vulnerable to any strong leader who wanted to take over the reigns of power.