Anthony McElligott's new study challenges conventional approaches to the history of the Weimar Republic. Taking as its premise that neither 1918 nor 1933 constituted distinctive breaks in early 20th century German history, Rethinking the Weimar Republic stretches the chronological-political parameters of the republic from 1916 to 1936. This longer period allows for a better understanding of the genesis of the politics of the republican state, the crises that it faced, and how these were eventually resolved under the Nazi-conservative collaboration from 1933. As well as rethinking topics of traditional concern for historians of the republic, such as the economy, Article 48, the Nazi vote and political violence, McElligott also discusses hitherto neglected areas such as provincial life and politics, the role of law and republican cultural politics. Based on both unpublished and published sources, this robustly argued book offers its readers a new and incisive exploration of the day to day relationship between state and citizens that will become essential reading to all students of modern Germany.

McElligott's impressive mastery of an enormous body of research guides him on a distinctive path through the dense thickets of Weimar historiography to a provocative new interpretation of the nature of authority in Germany's first democracy. -- Sir Ian Kershaw, Emeritus Professor of Modern History at the University of Sheffield, UK McElligott's study offers a significant and highly persuasive examination of the Weimar Republic's struggle for authority, a notion he embeds in both politics and culture. Offering strikingly new perspectives on the everyday struggles over authority at the national and local levels, McElligott challenges previous interpretations of Weimar's founding and of its collapse. This book is a must-read for scholars and students with an interest in Weimar and Nazi Germany. -- Kathleen Canning, Professor of History, University of Michigan, USA A stimulating new analysis of Weimar politics, society and culture - vivid, thoughtful, and thought-provoking. -- Elizabeth Harvey, Professor of History, University of Nottingham, UK