… is probably my least favorite question as a teacher. Usually this comes up when studying the Weimar Republic and rise of Hitler, and students want a sound-byte answer. When I ask the question of the class, the American students will usually say ‘the Wall Street Crash’, but they don’t really understand the issue beyond that. When this question came up (again) yesterday, I began a quick search and found a number of sites that address the issue, but ultimately, there is no consensus as to the actual cause. Even a question like this is up to interpretation, and that interpretation tends to depend on one’s political orientation. Rather than cause distress, however, this can be an effective strategy for showing how perspective is important, and a healthy debate can be constructed out of this issue.
