The Weimar Years

The prequel to Frank McDonough's bestselling Hitler Years series covers the dramatic period of German history that led to the rise of Hitler in 1933. Established in the wake of Germany's catastrophic defeat in the First World War, the Weimar Republic ushered in widespread social reform, vibrant culture, and the most democratic conditions the German people had ever lived under. At its beginning in 1919, it was a regime that held hope for democracy, stability, and prosperity in Germany. However, it was also beset by economic upheaval and political violence on the left and the right. Ultimately, it led to the appointment of Adolf Hitler as Chancellor, who created a one-party dictatorship that abandoned the rule of law, democracy, and civil rights. In Gustav Stresemann's words, Weimar democracy was "dancing on a volcano."

The Weimar Years is a vivid and compelling history of the period 1918-1933. Year by year, Professor Frank McDonough covers the major personalities, events in foreign policy, and the music, art, theatre, and literature that flourished during this era. McDonough also places particular focus on the unknown parliamentary history of Weimar, arguing that it was the failure of parliamentary democracy to bring stability that eroded public confidence and allowed the power of the elected Reichstag to gradually diminish, resulting in Hitler's appointment in January 1933.

The Weimar Years is a story of rise and fall, as well as a warning sign of how, under poor leadership, economic pressure, and unrelenting political instability, a democracy can drift towards a form of authoritarian rule that eventually destroys it.