4. Stresemann era: domestic and foreign policy, 1924-29 Flashcards
What party did Stresemann belong to?
German people’s Party
How did Stresemann view the ToV?
He saw it as a “death Sentence for Germany”
How were reparations payed?
In gold, or payments-in-kind, scubas as coal or products
How much did Germany actually pay of the reparations?
an eighth
Why was the Dawes Plan not successful?
It made Germany too dependent on the US, which was a problem during the depression
What was the total amount that the Americans said they would pay in the Dawes Plan?
800 million marks
How did the Allies use their reparation money?
By paying off war costs such as pensions but also American loans
What percentage of the electorate backed Weimar in 1928?
73%
What percentage of the electorate backed Weimar in 1933?
34%
How many different governments were there between 1924-1929?
six
What was the parliamentary list system?
It was the parties - not the voters - who decided who would become a Reichstag deputy meaning there was no local link to politicians.
Why did arguments within the parties undermine the government?
Often parties would side with extremists to beat the centrist governments, meaning some party members voted against their own party
Why were some Germans attracted to the idea of a strong leader?
The republic lacked any prominent political figures and national support
What did some of the Elite members of German Society think of Weimar?
They believed that the Weimar Welfare State was too expeniseves and thus meant the state lacked their support
What were some of the key German groups that did not offer support to Weimar?
churches, newspapers, teachers and civil servants
Why did Hindenburg win the presidential election?
The communists would not support his strongest opposition because the SPD’s did
What were the Weimar economic strengths between 24-29?
- average wages increased
- strike days fell
- industrial production increased
- reparation payments were lower than in 23 as a percentage of German GDP
Why can the phrase ‘golden age’ be disproved between 24-29 ?
- Unemployment rose
- economic growth fell behind the allies
- prices of produce fell
- welfare benefits increased
- higher taxes to try and stop the budget deficit
- middle class were unhappy with the merging of classes thanks to the trade unions
Why did the Conservatives blame Weimar for their economic problems?
Because of the cost of the welfare state and also partly linking this to Versailles
Why did the Left blame the elites for their problems?
Because they were not investing in their companies
Why did the Left blame the government for their problems?
They did not use subsides effectively
What did the state government improve for social welfare?
Infrastructure - hospitals, schools, roads, housing and electricity supplies.
How did the government fund the improvement of infrastructure?
Foreign loans mainly from the USA
How many workers did the unemployment benefits cover in 1927?
17 million workers
How did welfare spending help?
reduced ill-health and encouraged ordinary Germans to support the Republic
How did the Welfare spending hinder the government?
increased taxes yet still did not help
Which group was most disgruntled by welfare spending?
the elite - higher taxes were payed by them to fund the spending for it to not actually work
Why were employers angry at the arbitration system?
It meant politicians might give higher wages to secure working class votes
What is Erfullungspolitik?
the policy of fulfilment used by Stresemann (not created) which meant complying with the Treaty of Versailles
Which country was most furious at the Locarno treaties?
Poland
When was the League of Nations founded?
1920
When was Germany admitted into the League?
1926
What position was Germany given in the League?
A Great Power seat at the Council and this included the right to veto
How did Stresemann use Germanys membership into the league?
to raise issues of Concern about Germany
What did German banks agree to do in the Treaty of Berlin?
Give soviet businesses credit
What was the main secret that came from the Treaty of Berlin?
German troops began training in the USSR
When did French troops leave the Ruhr?
During 1924-25
Which plan meant that troops were entirely removed from Germany?
The Young Plan
When did the French troops entirely retreat from Germany?
June 1930
What was the Inter-Allied Military Commission
The group monitoring Germany’s military in terms of the Versailles agreement
When did the IAMC leave Germany?
1926
When was the Kellogg-Briand Pact signed?
1928
How many countries signed the Kellogg-Briand Pact?
70
What did the countries agree to when signing the Kellogg-Briand Pact?
Not to use war to resolve any conflicts that arose between them
Did the Kellogg-Briand Pact work?
No, many countries started using war tactics without officially declaring war
When was Stresemann awarded the Nobel Peace Prize?
In 1926
Which groups were angry at Stresemann for the Young Plan and the Dawes as well?
the nationalists and the Right-wing groups
What did Adolf Hitler encourage the Reichstag to do?
Hols a national referendum on the Young Plan
How many Germans rejected the young plan?
14%
How did the Nazi party benefit from the national referendum on the young Plan?
It majorly boosted their votes in the 1930 election, as well as cementing Hitler as a national figure
Who were the Mittelstand?
The middle class/ white Collar workers
What percentage of the workers were communist
10 out of the 40%
