4 - The Golden Years of the Weimar Republic

Question 1

Explain why the years 1924-29 were known as the ‘Golden Years’ for Germany (3 points)

Answer 1

1 - improved living standards due to the economic recovery
2 - improved living standards due to welfare reforms
3 - new freedoms and opportunities for women

Question 2

The years 1924-29 were known as the ‘Golden Years’ for Germany because of the improved living standards due to the economic recovery - evidence

Answer 2

• Stresemann’s policies led to economic recovery and enabled industry to recover = real wages increased 25% between 1925 - 1928
• Gov. improved working conditions as they shortened the length of the working week from 50 to 46 hours in 1927
• Total unemployment fell: 1924 - over 4% of total workforce was unemployed, 1926 - 2 million, 1928 - 1.3 million

Question 3

The years 1924-29 were known as the ‘Golden Years’ for Germany because of the improved living standards due to welfare reforms - evidence

Answer 3

• Help for unemployed improved - new Act meant workers paid 3% of their wages and in return were given 60 marks per week in benefits if they fell sick or could not find work
• Housing improved - new building associations funded by ‘rent tax’ built over 2 million homes + homelessness reduced by more than 60%
• War veterans provided help - provided pensions to veterans, war widows, and parents of dead servicemen

Question 4

The years 1924-29 were known as the ‘Golden Years’ for Germany because of the new freedoms and opportunities for women - evidence

Answer 4

• SPD came to power in 1918 and gave women the right to vote
• Turnout of women voters was consistently over 90%
• Article in the constitution gave women: equal rights, equality within marriage, and protection from discrimination in the workplace

Question 5

Explain why there was underlying instability in the Weimar Republic by 1929 (3 points)

Answer 5

1 - underlying economic instability
2 - underlying political instability
3 - underlying public dissatisfaction

Question 6

There was underlying instability in the Weimar Republic due to the underlying economic instability - evidence

Answer 6

• German recovery was based on American loans, which meant that the recovery was precarious - Germany only able to meet reparations payments due to loans
• Stresemann said that German recovery was ‘dancing on a volcano’ - if American loans were recalled, German industry and the economic recovery would collapse
• Agriculture struggled - by 1929 it was only at 79% of pre-war level and many farmers were upset with the Republic - economic recovery not experienced by everyone

Question 7

There was underlying instability in the Weimar Republic due to the underlying political instability - evidence

Answer 7

• DNVP was still the second largest party in the Reichstag by 1928 = significant portion of population not happy with Weimar Republic
• KPD were fourth largest party by 1924 = shows that support for radical extremists had not gone away

Question 8

There was underlying instability in the Weimar Republic due to the underlying political dissatisfaction - evidence

Answer 8

• business owners resented loss of profits and felt like they were suffering
• middle-class Germans did not benefit from new social improvements
• employment was still high amount skilled professions (e.g. lawyers, teachers)