Ebert became Chancellor of the Weimar Republic in 1919 (
).
In basic terms, the reason that the democratic Weimar Government aided Hitler's rise it power was due to the country's widespread disillusionment with, and resentment towards, democracy.
Prior to this time, Germany had been a very strong autocratic state, and the German people enjoyed this style of rule. Democracy therefore seemed to them weak and ineffective. This was exacerbated by hyper inflation in 1923 and by widespread left wing violence, both of which has arisen as a result of a weak and indecisive democratic leadership.
Also, democracy was seen has an imposition on Germany. Germany had not chosen democracy, it had had democracy trust upon it by Ludendorf and the Treaty of Versailles (another area that the German people harboured a great resentment for). As a result, democracy was to be forever linked with defeat in the First World War in Germany.
This, firstly, allowed Hitler fill the void left by lack of a strong leadership figure in Germany and secondly to offer protection upper classes from the increasing leftist treat.
As I said, this is really only on a basic level. I could go on until the cows come home having had to study this for A level two years ago.
