Germany fought alongside the Austrian empire against the Allies (England, France, and Russia) in WWI. With Germany’s defeat and the abdication of its emperor in 1918, the opportunity arose to create a new form of government. A National Assembly was convened in Weimar, where a democratic and federal constitution was established. In this new system, deputies were elected to the Reichstag based on equal and universal suffrage, including for women.

Backlash And The Treaty Of Versailles

However, the Weimar Republic was largely unpopular with the German people. The primary reason was the harsh conditions imposed by the Treaty of Versailles. Germany lost overseas colonies, significant portions of its population and territory, and major sources of iron and coal. The treaty also included a War Guilt Clause that blamed Germany for the war and required it to pay £6 billion in reparations. As a result, the republic was perceived as responsible for Germany’s defeat and humiliation.

The Effects Of War

Economic And Psychological Impact

The financial burden imposed by reparations and the psychological trauma from the war made it difficult for the Weimar Republic to gain traction. Europe had gone from a continent of creditors to one of debtors, and the new German state bore the brunt of this shift. Those who supported the republic were derisively called November criminals and became targets in conservative nationalist circles.