“In Germany, by contrast, the Depression fully opened up the festering wounds that had been only superficially bandaged since 1918. The shallow level acceptance of democracy among the political, economic and military elites was now glaringly exposed. And the belief among the masses in a democracy that, in the eyes of a growing majority, was responsible for Germany’s plight shrivelled more and more as the Depression worsened. … As politics polarized and the extremes profited, Hitler proved the ultimate beneficiary.” Weimar RepublicHistory Of EuropeHitler S Rise To Power Author:KERSHAW Ian