After World War One the Treaty of Versailles was damaging to Germany and its economy. The Nazis took advantage of these difficulties to gain support.
At the end of World War One, Kaiser Wilhelm II abdicated and fled to Holland.
The new government which replaced him initially met in Weimar. It became known as the Weimar Republic.
This type of government created serious problems for Germany. It relied on small parties working together – something which they could not do.