The Weimar Republic

Seminar Studies in History

by John Hiden

It is often assumed that the Weimar Republic was bound to fail due to the harsh terms of the Versailles Settlement. Professor Hiden dispels this simplistic view and shows that it was a complex set of factors which finally brought Hitler to power. This clear and balanced study is now fully revised - for the first time since its publication in 1974 - to take account of the latest research.

Genres: History, Politics

114 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1974

Reviews

[Rob Markley · Rating 2 out of 5]

Frankly I read this book to get some appreciation of why or what weakness allowed the Weimar democracy to fail. It is already a given that Hitler rose to power and we don't need to address this, but he didn't move into a vacuum... or did he? This is what the reader wants to know, but the book fails to answer. Many readers have a basic understanding of Hitler's rise, but few understand what he replaced and that is what the book purports to describe, but doesn't.

Unfortunately this is a nothing but a series of lectures or essays; and very subjective ones at that. Nothing and no one is explained, and only by context of prior knowledge do we know what Hiden is talking about most of the time. He doesn't explain or describe any events or milestones, just simply references them as part of his argument. In the end he didn't convince me on hardly any points, because the evidence is simply lacking. One bit of useful information I did garner from context was the anschluss (union with Austria) was not a development of Hitler, but a cherished hope across Germany from at least as early as 1918/

Perhaps the hypothetical professor marking these essays would have given good grades since he already knows well what is being discussed by Hiden, but then again only if he was also from the left. Unfortunately conservative 'militia' are a bad idea, but hardly so communist ones! No one needs convincing anti Jewish rhetoric is appalling, but why is externally imposed Bolshevik extremism viewed as reasonable policy?! The Social democrats are shown to be quite extreme in their socialism, but that is not a justification for the reactive strength of conservative groups apparently!?! There is nothing explicit in here to prove Hiden's socialism, but his sympathies seem just all too transparent - talk of class war et al.

In the end this is a book with a few good source documents, a point of view and some starters for debate/inquiry amongst already educated students of inter war German society - it's not much use outside that select group.

[Krocht Ehlundovič · Rating 3 out of 5]

My mandatory reading - a quest I had given myself when I entered my school, where I work. With one breath I must say, that I do it with love and enjoyment.

Currently, I am teaching about the Weimar republic and I have had some problems to find some extra info about the topic - which would extend my knowledge beyond demanded/prescribed "amount". Our library has saved my mind and brain! So here are some comments...

The book is a long study, dedicated to students how want to know more about details in the WR politics. In general, the book is not bad, but not complex, however it contains lot of details about politics - still, only in comparison to the material we have to study the WR politics (well, to book has only circa 100 pages...). Still it is a good source for basic info and context.

The book contains:
Part One Background:
- Constitution - after revolution
- Versailles, truth and fiction

Part Two Problems
- Coalition and party politics
- Foreign policy
- Economics and reparations
- Leftist opposition (this and the following chapters are very good)
- Rightists opposition
- Reichswehr and politics

Part Three Conclusion
- The crisis and Hitler

Part Four Documents
...

I massively enjoyed the second part - where I learnt a lot about politics - in detail. This part I recommend and I have already used it with my students - it is not long to read, but very compact.

So, as a extension of students books, it is a good material. But just like extended basics. I have been still hungry for more info, details, situations, history of Weimar republic...

[Charlie Román Román · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Weimar Republic (Seminar Studies) has helped me think a bit more broadly about the Weimar Republic and it's early challenges. In particular, the idea that the Weimar democracy was so unstable as a result of the political challenges and immaturities inherited from imperial Germany, will be most useful in helping me with A-Level History. Overall, I'd say it was a good read, yet the way in which it was written could have been slightly better. It felt very fast paced lacking in structure; in the sense that there was little detail at times. However, this must of course be expected from a book of 70 odd pages that attempts to cover the large topic that is the Weimar Republic.

[Robert K · Rating 2 out of 5]

A very lame attempt to explain the ups & downs of the German democracy from the Treaty of Versailles to Hitler’s National Socialist’s Rise to Power. Too much name dropping & not enough story.

[Bill Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book giving a thorough, detailed summary of the birth of democracy in the Weimar Republic and its subsequent descent into the tyranny of the Hitler regime.