Political unrest versus economic problems in Weimar Germany

Marking points

1. 1 Explains how political unrest affected Germany between 1919 and 1923, using accurate specific evidence.
2. 2 Explains how economic problems affected Germany between 1919 and 1923, using accurate specific evidence.
3. 3 Keeps the analysis focused on impact on Germany, rather than narrating events without consequences.
4. 4 Compares the relative impact of the two factors or explains how economic problems and political unrest interacted.
5. 5 Reaches and sustains a supported judgement about which factor had the greater impact.

Full-mark answer

Economic problems had the greater overall impact, although political unrest seriously threatened the new republic. On the left, the Spartacists attempted to take control in Berlin in January 1919. On the right, the Kapp Putsch in 1920 aimed to restore the Kaiser, and Hitler attempted a takeover in Munich in 1923. These revolts exposed weak support for the Weimar system, caused disorder and made Germany difficult to govern. However, none of them took lasting control and their direct effects were concentrated in particular places. Economic problems affected far more people. Germany had wartime debts and faced a Reparations bill of £6.6 billion. When it failed to pay in January 1923, French and Belgian forces occupied the Ruhr. The government supported resistance and printed money, worsening hyperinflation. Savings became worthless, wages lost value and businesses failed, so the crisis damaged everyday life and confidence in the government across Germany. The two factors also reinforced each other: poverty and economic insecurity weakened faith in short-lived governments and gave extremist groups opportunities to challenge the state. This relationship makes economic problems the greater impact, because they harmed people nationally and helped produce further political unrest, whereas the individual uprisings were defeated and more geographically limited.