Weimar Republic

The democratic government was the machination of Kaiser Wilhelm II's generals Erich Ludendorff and Paul von Hindenburg.  Germany's enemies had never set foot on its soil, and the liberal republican government would be blamed for signing the treaty at Versailles, leading to popular unrest. This would cause the public to embrace the military leaders who had actually led them to ruin.² The new government, called the Weimar Republic by historians because its constitution was formed in the city of Weimar instead of Berlin, would only last twelve years. During this time, the government was plagued by inflation, economic depressions, assassinations, international pressure, unforeseen constitutional consequences, and the inability of the government to enforce laws and bans against right-wing organizations – many of which were in the defiant state of Bavaria, making permanent stability unattainable. Article 48, which documented the president's emergency powers, was exercised to circumvent parliament rather than the original emergency-only use purpose. Parliament was dissolved by the president multiple times, making functional government impossible.  When the worldwide depression hit in 1929, things only got worse in Germany.

Instability bred discontent, and discontent bred further instability.  Radical groups became political parties with increasing memberships, including the NSDAP.  In 1928, the Nazi party garnered 800,000 votes and 12 seats in parliament. In 1930 after the Great Depression hit, the Nazi Party garnered 1.2 million votes and 107 seats in parliament.³ By this time, Paul von Hindenburg, who had been president since 1925 due to the seven-year terms detailed in the constitution, had become a virtual dictator, using Article 48 to circumvent parliament and even dissolve parliament when the Reichstag became too obstinate for the functionality of the chancellor's government. In 1932, Adolf Hitler decided to run for the presidency against Hindenburg, who had decided to run for a second presidential term, but was not able to secure the vote over Hindenburg.  In the 1932 election, the Nazi Party took 230 seats in parliament before the current chancellor von Papen convinced Hindenburg to dissolve parliament again to get a new round of voting. The Nazis secured 34 fewer seats in the Reichstag, but were still powerful enough that Hindenburg and von Papen's successor, Schleicher, were forced to contend with them. Hitler was able to plot with von Papen on how to take the chancellorship.⁴  Through skillful plotting and maneuvering that included threats and thuggery, von Papen and Hitler were able to force Hindenburg to accept Hitler as chancellor on the basis that the Nazis were losing support. On January 30, 1933, Hitler became chancellor of Germany. This date is seen by many to be the very beginning of the Nazi takeover of Germany. On January 31, Hitler convinced Hindenburg to dissolve the Reichstag for another round of elections, which Hitler publicly assured would be the last election in Germany.⁵

Hitler's year and a half as Chancellor was colored with more maneuvering, politicking, ruthless tactics, and the beginnings of the erosion of rights within Germany.  When Hindenburg died on August 2, 1934, Hitler was "promptly appointed 'Führer and Reich Chancellor.'" An unconstitutional vote was held on August 19 that approved Hitler as "head of state, chancellor, supreme commander of the armed forces, and head of the judiciary" with 89.9 percent of Germans voting in favor.⁶  The Third Reich was formally in power.

 

The Weimar Republic: Military Headgear

 

The headgear of this period mostly was left over from World War I (1914-1918). With the defeat of Germany in the war and the signing of the treaty of Versailles, most of the German army was dismantled. However, veterans returning from the front lines found their country in chaos. With the increase in economic troubles within the Weimar came an increase in dissent from the German people. Veterans began forming Freikorps, or Free Corps, bands of soldiers who were dissatisfied with the current condition of Germany. These Freikorps kept much of the equipment that was used by soldiers in World War I, most notably the stahlhelm.

 

During the war Germany developed a number of different models of stahlhelm, or steel helmets. These models were designated the M-16, M-17, and M-18. Each one of these models were worn during the Weimar Republic. Members of the Friekorps often wore the helmet they used during the wa and painted these helmets with the various insignia of their unit, which normally consisted of traditional German symbols. The Friekorps also used the cloth headgear worn during WWI. Officers often wore hats of a solid color with piping outlining the crown and base of the cap. The piping was in various colors depending on the soldier's branch of service.⁷ On the front was usually two cockades, one for the Germany and another for the German state they came from. Many members also wore badges to represent their affiliated organizations. Enlisted soldiers wore caps of similar design, but the front did not have a visor, giving it a rounded appearance.⁸ Finally, shakos were used during this time. A shako is a hard leather cap that has a round top and a short visor on the front and back. The shako often has a plume or cockade that inserted into a hole on the top front. Members of the cavalry and various police organizations throughout Germany usually wore these types of caps. With the increasing power of the Nazi Party in Germany, many of these caps were converted by the NSDAP members for their own use. Even after the fall of the Weimar Republic and the takeover by Adolf Hitler, the headgear of the era continued to be used until the fall of Nazi Germany in 1945.