An accessible and introductory overview of the Weimar Republic.

It is impossible to understand the history of modern Europe without some knowledge of the Weimar Republic. The brief fourteen-year period of democracy between the Treaty of Versailles and the advent of the Third Reich was marked by unstable government, economic crisis and hyperinflation and the rise of extremist political movements. At the same time, however, a vibrant cultural scene flourished, which continues to influence the international art world through the aesthetics of Expressionism and the Bauhaus movement. In the fields of art, literature, theatre, cinema, music and architecture – not to mention science – Germany became a world leader during the 1920s, while her perilous political and economic position ensured that no US or European statesman could afford to ignore her. Incorporating original research and a synthesis of the existing historiography, this revised edition will provide students and a general readership with a clear and concise introduction to the history of the first German Republic.

"This book is a good investment. And while the book is really great for undergraduate students, I believe graduate students and specialists alike will learn a lot from it. Storer knows his stuff and does a good job covering a really big secondary literature concisely and equitably." - Brendan Fay, Assistant Professor, Emporia State University, USA