Hyperinflation And The Collapse Of The Weimar Republic

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Not only were the Weimar government unable to handle political issues, but their response to economic issues was also limited, particularly in relation to hyperinflation. Hyperinflation arose when the government tried to solve the economic problems by printing more money. However, this turned catastrophic due to oversupply. It caused serious troubles for many German citizens, especially those who had their life savings in cash. The currency was so sharply devalued that what was once the safest way to save money became the most ineffective.

A number of historians believe that Chancellor Stresemann saved the economy, by his creation of a new currency and through his economic reforms. Many of these people also believe that hyperinflation was …show more content…
When the stock exchange collapsed, so too did society. Hyperinflation divided society, dragging the German people toward the extreme left and right for solutions. There were many uprisings, including by the Black Reichswehr, a nationalist group who attempted a coup on the government. The people were frightened of the future, and historian Timothy Snyder suggests that the loss of trust in the banks, in cash and in the government made people turn to more radical leaders later on, especially among rural Germans outside the urban and industrial centres of society. Hyperinflation, whether intentional or not, was clearly not dealt with efficiently, as unemployment and debt increased and the Weimar government lost …show more content…
The benefits were felt only by the working class, and did not help middle class Germans with their economic woes. The welfare state splintered society, and many began to lose faith in the Weimar Republic. Overall, it was not a successful tactic on behalf of the government, and only led to further problems, socially, economically and politically.

Whilst the Golden Era of 1924 to 1929 has been represented as a time of peace and freedom in Germany, in reality, it caused many issues in society, due to the way it was handled by the Weimar Government. Many right-wing, conservative Germans were outraged by the modernism and the freedom of expression in the period. These people attacked the government for allowing issues such as sexuality and abortion to be discussed freely, and for not censoring art and media forms. They demanded a return to true, German values. The government’s wide acceptance of cultural expression caused cracks to form in
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