Reparations, Hyperinflation, Unemployment and the Rise of Adolph Hitler
Reparations, Hyperinflation, Unemployment and the Rise of Adolph Hitler

Summary/Abstract: This paper reviews the history of the period 1918 to 1932 mostly to clarify theconnections among the Treaty of Versailles, the German Hyperinflation of the 1920s, andthe Great Depression of the 1930s to the rise of Adolph Hitler. In many cases, the papertakes a fresh look at original source material; and, it incorporates much of what has beensubsequently written. While there are many lessons to be learned from these events, on thematter of reparations, the lesson is strange. In spite of Germany arguably not paying onepfenning of the demanded reparations, the demand for huge reparation payments contrib-uted to the hyperinflation. More importantly, the re-negotiation of reparation paymentsenabled, first, Ludendorff and, then, Hitler to make gains in the polls. In the case of Hitler,his rise in the polls came just prior to the Great Depression of the 1930s.

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