The Weimar Republic was formed on unstable ground, following Germany's defeat in the First World War. The Republic suffered its first major blow when Germany was forced to sign the Treaty of Versailles, which caused major economic problems for the relatively young country. From 1924-28, the Nazi Party had little support from the German public. This lack of support was due to the success of Stresemann's policies and the country was now stable and thriving, after the Ruhr events and hyperinflation. Germany now had low unemployment and had improved international status. These conditions meant that extremist Nazi ideologies had little appeal to the German population. However, this period of stability did not last long. Black Thursday broke out on October 24, 1929. The American stock market collapsed and the world quickly plunged into the Great Depression, of which Germany suffered the worst effects. In an effort to bring Germany out of the Depression, Bruning was appointed chancellor and introduced drastic policies in an attempt to save the German economy. Despite the promise, the policies had potentially failed. In early 1933, the Weimar Republic was preparing for what would be its last pre-war Reichstag election. When the Reichstag building burned to the ground in a fire allegedly started by communists, the seeds for Hitler's rise to power were sown and the Weimar Republic lived out its last day. The Weimar Republic was the direct result of Germany's defeat in World War I. The German population had endured hardship and starvation due to the blockade of ports by the British navy. The situation had worsened and conditions had become so bad that in October 1918 sailors mutinied in Kiel and Hambu...... half of the newspaper ......y Press.History: the rise to power of Hitler. (n.d.). Retrieved March 29, 2012, from BBC: http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/history/mwh/germania/hitlerpowerrev1.shtmlHyperinflation. (n.d.). Retrieved March 28, 2012, from Investopedia: http://www.investopedia.com/terms/h/hyperinflation.asp#axzz1qOCEr6ddMcCallum, A. (1992). Germany 1918-1945 From democracy to dictatorship. Port Melbourne: Heinemann Education. The Seeds of Evil: The Rise of Hitler. (2004, June 4). Retrieved March 29, 2012, from Schools History: http://www.schoolshistory.org.uk/ASLevel_History/week2_theweimarconsitution.htmTonge, S. (2011, January 5). Weimar Germany 1919-1933. Retrieved March 29, 2012, from European History: http://www.historyhome.co.uk/europe/weimar.htm#collapseWhite, A., & Hadley, E. (1990). Germany 1918-1949. London: Collins Educational.Class Worksheets and Notes