How Did The Great Depression Contribute To The Downfall Of The Weimar Republic

It would be far too facile to argue that the Great Depression was merely accountable of the fall of the Weimar republic, rather the depression gave the conditions that made possible the collapse of democracy in Germany. The depression played a significant role in the fall of the republic, as it had a remarkable economic, political and psychological effect on Germany. Without this, it is obvious that the political destiny of the Weimar republic would have been less disastrous. The depression created an economic crisis which resulted in a political crisis, and this provided opportunities for growth of radical ideas, for example, the traditionalist elites and Nazis, to pursue actions which had the impact of wrecking democracy in Germany.
The depression produced a widespread economic crisis, however without the existing economic establishments during the Stresemann period the depression would not have influenced the republic to the extent it
The failure to authorize a social revolution in 1919 ensured these elites their impact as it meant that anti-democratic members of society, such as the “military, civil servants, Junkers, and officers of the Reichwher, led by general Von Schliecher, kept their position of power in government” (insert strix and historian in bib). The impact of the conservative elites over Hindenburg eventually led to the appointment of Hitler as “no military politician was bold enough to take power into their own hands…. Their servant became their last agent” (insert strix and historian in bib). The power the conservative elites maintained throughout the political crisis prompted the fall of the Weimar Republic as it enabled them to take actions which had the effect of destroying democracy in