Germany's militaristic and authoritarian past made violent strongmen popular figures, especially opposed to the democratic figures of the Weimar Republic. This is the perspective of the Sonderweg historians.

Question

Answer

Con: Most prominent German historians reject the Sonderweg thesis because they think it portrays Germans as naturally militaristic and violent, a claim with little backing.

Answer

Pro: Fritiz Fischer argued that the German army, since unification, had so much independence from the government that it was not affected by the falling support for the Weimar. As a result, military figures were seen as trustworthy.

To what extent was the Great Depression responsible for the collapse of the Weimar Republic?

Germany's militaristic and authoritarian past made violent strongmen popular figures, especially opposed to the democratic figures of the Weimar Republic. This is the perspective of the Sonderweg historians.

Pros

Cons

Fritiz Fischer argued that the German army, since unification, had so much independence from the government that it was not affected by the falling support for the Weimar. As a result, military figures were seen as trustworthy.

Most prominent German historians reject the Sonderweg thesis because they think it portrays Germans as naturally militaristic and violent, a claim with little backing.

Selected claim, supporting its parent

Germany's militaristic and authoritarian past made violent strongmen popular figures, especially opposed to the democratic figures of the Weimar Republic. This is the perspective of the Sonderweg historians.

Pro claim 1

Fritiz Fischer argued that the German army, since unification, had so much independence from the government that it was not affected by the falling support for the Weimar. As a result, military figures were seen as trustworthy.

Con claim 1

Most prominent German historians reject the Sonderweg thesis because they think it portrays Germans as naturally militaristic and violent, a claim with little backing.