Chapter 3 - Economic and social problems in Germany

Question 1

What did the reparations committee grant Germany in January 1922?

Answer 1

A postponement on the January and February instalments

Question 2

What did Germany ask for in November 1922?

Answer 2

Loan of 500 million marks

To be released from payment obligation for 3/4 years to stabilise their currency

Question 3

Why was it difficult to make gold payments?

Answer 3

Germany’s gold reserves were inadequate for the scale of reparations payments

Question 4

What did Germanys loss of coal reserves mean?

Answer 4

The payment of coal was difficult

Question 5

What was Germany’s response to economic impact of reparations?

Answer 5

Print more money

Question 6

What was hyperinflation?

Answer 6

Money lost its meaning therefore prices went up

Question 7

What happened to food?

Answer 7

It started to run short as people started to hoarder

Question 8

How many men did the French and Belgians send to the Rhineland?

Answer 8

60,000

Question 9

Why did France and Belgium send an army?

Answer 9

To force Germany to comply with the reparation payments

Question 10

What did the number of occupying forces grow to?

Answer 10

100,000

Question 11

What policy did Cuno order for the people to follow?

Answer 11

Passive resistance

Question 12

What was passive resistance?

Answer 12

The workers refused to work for the French while still receiving payments

Question 13

What were German workers promised if they went on strike?

Answer 13

That they would be paid

Question 14

Why was paying wages to striking workers a probelm?

Answer 14

Put a further drain on government finances

Question 15

Why did people with debts and mortgages benefit?

Answer 15

They could pay their loans in worthless currency

Question 16

How did hyperinflation help enterprising business people?

Answer 16

They took out loans and repaid them once currency had devalued further

Question 17

How did farmers cope well?

Answer 17

Food was in demand and money was less important in rural communities

Question 18

Why were pensioners badly hit?

Answer 18

They were on state pensions

Question 19

Why were landlords disadvantaged?

Answer 19

They relied on rents

Question 20

Why were the Mittlestand losers?

Answer 20

Their costs rose and the prices they charged could not keep pace with inflation

Question 21

Why were the sick losers?

Answer 21

The cost of medical care increased

Question 22

What did the rapid rise in food prices lead to?

Answer 22

Malnutrition

Question 23

In 1919 what was the working day limited to?

Answer 23

8 hours

Question 24

The state health insurance was extended to include who?

Answer 24

Wives, daughters and the disabled

Question 25

In 1919 what became the responsibility of the government?

Answer 25

Aid for war veterans

Question 26

In 1922 what did the National Youth Welfare Act require?

Answer 26

All local authorities to set up Youth offices with responsibility for child protection
All children had the right to an education