The Rise and Fall of the Weimar republic: Germany 1918-1933

In the turmoil at the end of the First World War, various factions in Germany sought to create a republic and this was first proclaimed on November 9, 1918. On February 6, 1919 a new government met for the first time in the city of Weimar. In many ways the Weimar Republic was a genuine attempt to create a perfect democratic country, but by 1923 it was already looking fragile. Nevertheless it would have many achievements to its credit before the forces that threatened its existence took hold, leading to its eventual overthrow by the Nazis. This course explores the reasons for the establishment of the republic, its ambitions and achievements, its mishaps and its eventual downfall.