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The Biggest Threat to the Weimar Republic Was the Weimar Constitution Itself. Discuss

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The Biggest Threat to the Weimar Republic Was the Weimar Constitution Itself. Discuss
“The biggest threat to the Weimar Republic was the Weimar Constitution itself. Discuss”

The Weimar Constitution was the biggest threat to the Weimar Republic, because it eventually lead to many problems that would affect the Republic. These were: Hitler’s rise to power against the Weimar Republic, the downfall of the Reichsrat, the passage of the Enabling Act, use of proportional representation, political extremism and the institution of the Reichspräsident. Hitler’s Chancellorship eventually led to the downfall of the Reichsrat and also the passing of the Enabling Act. This would lead to Hitler gaining full control of Germany and the end of the Weimar Republic.

One of the factors which shows the Constitution was the biggest threat to the Weimar Republic was Hitler’s rise to power. In 1919, Hitler was employed as ‘education officer’ (basically a spy) by the Bavarian army’s political section. In September of the same year, he went to a German Worker’s Party (DAP) meeting and joins, betraying the Bavarian army, becoming a committee member. In February 1920, with DAP leader Drexler, he draws up the Twenty-five Point Programme; and changes the name of the party to NSDAP (NationalSozialistische Deutsche Arbeiterpartei). His powerful speeches built up membership for the Party. In July 1921, he became chairman and Führer after he threatened to resign and set up the SA (the ‘Brown Shirts’) in August. On 8th November 1923, Hitler and his ‘stormtroopers’ burst into a meeting in the Munich beer-hall. He forced Otto von Lossow and Gustav von Kahr into a side room and forced them to state their support for a march on Berlin to impose a new government, with General Ludendorff as the new Commander-in-Chief. On 9th November, President Ebert declared a national state of emergency. Ludendorff persuaded Hitler to carry on with the march into Munich to seize power, as a first step to marching on Berlin. At noon, 2000 armed Nazis marched to a military base in Munich. They were met

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