Question #2405f
1 Answer
Catastrophe
Explanation:
When it comes to the rise of dictatorships after World War 1, there are some examples. The most conspicuous one is of course Germany, so let's examine why this was the case.
ULTIMATE REASON: Complete disaster in German lands
1.) Economy: After World War 1, Germany's economy was in complete shambles. Not only did they have to pay a HUGE debt towards the Entente (132 billion gold marks US$33 billion). Of course, Germany, after losing inordinate amounts of manpower, was in no position to pay these things back. At one point, they even resorted to a barter economy, as money was completely useless.
2.) Political instability: After Kaiser Wilhelm II was dethroned and sent off to his estate in the Netherlands (where he died in 1941), there was of course no stability in the German lands; and it was ruled by the Weimar Republic (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weimar_Republic). This ended up in a split between the 2 main parties, The Communist Party of Germany (Kommunistische Partei Deutschlands) held high influence from 1918-1933, and the National Socialist German Worker's Party (Nationalsozialistische Deutsche Arbeiterpartei or NSADP). With events such as the Beer Hall Putsch, where Hitler vied for power, also caused the rising sentiment for a dictator.
3.) Resentment: First, lets analyze the precedents that led the Germans to think why they were mistreated during World War 1. Firstly they were merely helping their ally (Austria Hungary), in a war in which they were (in the eyes of Austria Hungary) justified to do so. It is therefore, illogical, and unfair, (to German eyes), how in the Versailles treaty, out of the 440 clauses, 414 were entirely directed solely at Germany. The people saw this as an arbitrary punishment, and thus grew the nationalism, and resentment against French, and Brits.
CONCLUSION: Germany was humiliated, lost land, were restricted in army size, imposed huge restrictions on them. This drove them to finally choose a strong willed leader (a dictator), in order to get revenge on the Entente (Allies)
