Why did political violence increase in Germany during the early Weimar years?

Political violence in the early years of the Weimar Republic was driven by a combination of economic instability, deep-seated resentment over the Treaty of Versailles, and challenges from radical political factions on both the left and the right.12

Key factors contributing to this unrest included:

• Economic Crisis: The burden of war reparations and the resulting hyperinflation devastated the middle class, destroyed savings, and fueled desperation, which extremist groups exploited to gain support.23
• Paramilitary Activity: Freikorps units—composed of ex-soldiers and led by former officers—roamed the country, engaging in political assassinations and suppressing perceived revolutionary threats.142
• Political Extremism: Radical groups, including Communists on the left and National Socialists on the right, actively sought to overthrow the democratic government. The right-wing "stab-in-the-back" myth blamed democratic leaders for Germany's defeat in World War I, further polarizing society.12
• Institutional Leniency: The judicial system often displayed marked leniency toward right-wing political terrorism, which emboldened extremist violence.1