The German republic that was announced at Weimar in February 1919, after Germany's defeat in World War I. The new republic came from a revolution, which had overthrown the Kaiser but retained the traditional army and civil service. The republic also signed in June of that year the detested Versailles Treaty. Up to 1924 the republic suffered from a severe economic crisis which resulted in high inflation and mass unemployment. After a period of relative stabilisation, the situation worsened again as a result of the 1929 world economic crisis. The crisis led to the resignation of the government and weakened the whole democratic system of the Republic. Hitler's appointment to Chancellor in January 1933 marked the end of the Republic.
