chapter 2 nazi germany

Question 1

dawes plan

Answer 1

-The Dawes Plan was an agreement between the USA and Weimar Germany which helped to solve Germany’s problems in paying reparations.
-The Dawes Plan was negotiated in April 1924 and signed in October 1924.
-The Dawes Plan was created by American banker, Charles G Dawes, along with Gustav Stresemann.

Question 2

What was agreed in the Dawes Plan?

Answer 2

❖A temporary reduction in the annual reparations repayments to £50 million.
❖US banks and businesses offered loans worth 800 million marks to German industries and businesses.
❖The German State Bank, the Reichsbank, should be reorganised and supervised by the Allies.

Question 3

What were the benefits of the Dawes Plan?

Answer 3

American loans helped industrial output to double between 1923 and 1928. Employment, income tax and trade all increased as a result.
❖The French and Belgians left the Ruhr as they were promised that they would receive reparations as result of the Dawes Plan.
❖The Weimar Republic became politically stronger as the economy improved.

Question 4

What were the criticisms of the Dawes Plan?

Answer 4

In the short-term, both the extreme left-wing and extreme right-wing political parties were angry Germany was still paying reparations imposed by the Treaty of Versailles.
❖In the long term, because the Weimar economy was dependent on US loans, Germany could be economically damaged if these were suddenly recalled.

Question 5

locarno pact

Answer 5

-The Locarno Pact was a treaty intended to improve the relationship between Germany, Belgium and France by protecting their borders.
-The Locarno Pact was signed in December 1925.
-It was intended to improve the relationship between Germany and her neighbours. German leader, Gustav Stresemann, also wanted to prevent them from being invaded again after the French and Belgian occupation of the Ruhr in 1923.

Question 6

What were the terms of the Locarno Pact?

Answer 6

❖Germany accepted its new borders with France
❖Germany accepted its new borders with Belgium
❖If there was a border dispute between Germany and France or Germany and Belgium, Britain and Italy would step in as guarantors to solve the problems.
❖The five countries agreed to discuss Germany’s membership of the League of Nations.
❖It was agreed the Rhineland would be permanently demilitarised.

Question 7

What were the benefits of the Locarno Pact?

Answer 7

❖War was less likely because the relationships between Germany, France, Britain, Belgium and Italy improved.
❖Germany was treated like an equal, rather than the loser of the First World War.
❖It improved the reputation of the government and increased support for the moderate political parties.
❖It paved the way for Germany to join the League of Nations

Question 8

What were the criticisms of the Locarno Pact?

Answer 8

The drawback of the Locarno Pact was that extremist political parties hated it, primarily because it confirmed the borders laid out in the detested Treaty of Versailles.

Question 9

How did being able to join the League of Nations benefit Weimar Germany?

Answer 9

❖It helped improve confidence in the government and restore national pride.
❖Germany was now accepted as a member of the international community once more.
❖Weimar Germany was given a place on the League of Nations Council, which took the most important decisions in the League.

Question 10

kellogg briand pact

Answer 10

-The Kellogg-Briand Pact was a promise by countries who signed it not to use war to achieve their foreign policy aims.
-signed in August 1928.
-The Kellogg-Briand pact was an agreement between 62 nations, including Germany. It was organised by the US foreign minister, Kellogg, and the French foreign minister, Briand.

Question 11

What were the benefits for Germany of signing the Kellogg-Briand Pact?

Answer 11

❖It showed that moderate political parties could build Germany’s international strength and standing.
❖It improved the reputation of the Weimar Republic.
❖Germany was now being included as one of the world’s main powers.

Question 12

Was there any negative reaction to the Kellogg-Briand Pact?

Answer 12

There were also some negative reactions. For example, not all Germans supported the Kellogg-Briand Pact because it didn’t remove the restrictions placed on Germany by the Treaty of Versailles.

Question 13

young plan

Answer 13

-The Young Plan was another deal that aimed to help Germany pay the reparations bill.
-signed in August 1929.
-Owen Young, an American banker, helped negotiate the Young Plan with Stresemann and Germany.

Question 14

What was agreed in the Young Plan?

Answer 14

The Young Plan stated Germany would have 59 years to pay the reparations bill, which was reduced from £6.6 billion to £2 billion.

Question 15

What were the benefits of the Young Plan?

Answer 15

❖The lower reparations payments meant the Weimar government could in turn reduce taxes, giving people more money to spend or save.
❖It helped them recover economically.
❖It increased confidence politically.

Question 16

2 key criticisms of the Young Plan:

Answer 16

The reparations payment was still high at £50 million per year.
❖The extreme political parties were furious that reparations had not been cancelled. Hitler commented that extending payments over 59 years was “passing the penalty onto the unborn.”.