Final answer:
The Weimar Republic had several weaknesses including severe economic difficulties due to war reparations and hyperinflation, political instability from a proportional representation system, and lack of popular legitimacy which paved the way for extremist groups to gain power.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Weimar Republic's Weaknesses
The Weimar Republic, established after World War I, faced numerous challenges that ultimately led to its downfall. The imposition of war reparations by the Treaty of Versailles, which many Germans considered unjust, resulted in severe economic strain. Hyperinflation in 1923 devastated the economy, with the value of the German Mark collapsing to the point where people needed wheelbarrows full of cash for simple purchases.
The Weimar Republic was characterized by political instability, partly because of its proportional representation system in the Reichstag, which led to frequent deadlocks and short-lived coalition governments. With over thirty political parties, the government struggled to maintain any sort of political cohesion, thereby hindering effective governance. This instability also paved the way for extremist groups, such as the Nazis, to rise to power, capitalizing on public dissatisfaction and economic turmoil, particularly during the Great Depression.
Moreover, the Weimar Republic suffered from a lack of popular legitimacy. Many Germans blamed the moderate political parties for the nation's military defeat and the subsequent peace terms, which contributed to the rise of extremist factions on both the right and left, challenging the new democratic government and contributing to widespread social unrest.