Were the economic failings of capitalism the only reason for Germany’s turn to Nazism after 1933?
Were the economic failings of capitalism the only reason for Germany’s turn to Nazism after 1933?
The Nazi rise to power undoubtedly shows a correlation with the Wall Street crash and the global economic failing of capitalism, but that is not enough to categorically state that it was the sole reason. The Treaty of Versailles’ harsh terms and war reparations proved a particular aggravation to much of Germany, as they felt the terms would cripple Germany and ultimately leave her as a bleak land of unemployment and poverty. Moreover the failings of the Weimar Republic have to be, to some degree, accountable for the rise of the Nazi party because had they been able to better stabilize the country the public and voters would not have felt it necessary to search for an alternative. In addition the role of Hitler in the countries turn to Nazism cannot be understated, it was his charismatic leadership and four year plan appealed to many who no longer had faith in capitalism but were also wary of communism. However, despite all this the economic failings of capitalism definitely proved to be the catalyst for the Nazi party, very much swelling their ranks and popularity and propelling them into power.
The Treaty of Versailles can lay a strong claim to being responsible for Germany’s turn to Nazism. According to Kunz ‘Above all, the Versailles treaty failed to create a brave new world order and it triggered “World War II”’1. At the end of the First World War Germany was defeated agreeing to unconditional surrender. Although many historian have debated the severity of the treaty and ‘As Andreas Hillgruber has observed, the treaty was “too weak to be a ‘Carthaginian’ peace”’2 and that ‘Germany “could have paid a good deal more if she had chosen to do so”’3. Regardless of the harshness of the treaty, it is undeniable that it left the German public felling bitter and resentful about the reprisals and in particular the ‘war-guilt’ clause, which arguably was unjust and
The Nazi rise to power undoubtedly shows a correlation with the Wall Street crash and the global economic failing of capitalism, but that is not enough to categorically state that it was the sole reason. The Treaty of Versailles’ harsh terms and war reparations proved a particular aggravation to much of Germany, as they felt the terms would cripple Germany and ultimately leave her as a bleak land of unemployment and poverty. Moreover the failings of the Weimar Republic have to be, to some degree, accountable for the rise of the Nazi party because had they been able to better stabilize the country the public and voters would not have felt it necessary to search for an alternative. In addition the role of Hitler in the countries turn to Nazism cannot be understated, it was his charismatic leadership and four year plan appealed to many who no longer had faith in capitalism but were also wary of communism. However, despite all this the economic failings of capitalism definitely proved to be the catalyst for the Nazi party, very much swelling their ranks and popularity and propelling them into power.
The Treaty of Versailles can lay a strong claim to being responsible for Germany’s turn to Nazism. According to Kunz ‘Above all, the Versailles treaty failed to create a brave new world order and it triggered “World War II”’1. At the end of the First World War Germany was defeated agreeing to unconditional surrender. Although many historian have debated the severity of the treaty and ‘As Andreas Hillgruber has observed, the treaty was “too weak to be a ‘Carthaginian’ peace”’2 and that ‘Germany “could have paid a good deal more if she had chosen to do so”’3. Regardless of the harshness of the treaty, it is undeniable that it left the German public felling bitter and resentful about the reprisals and in particular the ‘war-guilt’ clause, which arguably was unjust and