European states (Germany): To what extent did Germany experience a ‘Golden Era’ during the Stresemann years (1924-29)? Flashcards
Intro/thesis
-Must see this period in reference (compared with time before and after)
-Yes, did experience Golden Era, but largely because the terrible conditions before and after make it seem great. Nevertheless, undoubtedly great economic, political, & social progress, even if it came at the expense of some groups.
Paragraphs
-Economically, it was a ‘Golden Age’
-Socially, it was a ‘Golden Age’
-Economically, not a ‘Golden Age’
-Politically and socially, not a ‘Golden Age’
Economically was a GA- examples
-By 1924, industrial production had reached pre-war levels and this figure had doubled by 1929.
-Stresemann successfully renegotiated the reparations debt and secured foreign loans, which significantly contributed to the rebuilding of the German economy during these years: In 1924, he negotiated the Dawes Plan which reduced the annual number of reparations paid and granted Germany an American loan of 800 million marks.
-Wages increased every year from 1924-1929.
-The restoration of reparation payments caused France and Belgium to end their occupation of the Ruhr and withdraw in mid-1925.
Economically was a GA- explanation & historiogaphy
-The economic measures taken by Stresemann in 1923 and 24 allowed the German economy to begin its recovery, and by 1925, Germany appeared more stable and prosperous.
-Francis Carsten: Describes 1925-28 as ‘the heyday of the Weimar Repiblic’. ‘No observer of the political scene in 1928 could have prophesied that five years later Hitler would be in power and parliamentary democracy in ruins.’
-The end of the Ruhr occupation freed up Germany’s industrial resources there and allowed production to return to its full potential, attracting investment and expansion.
Socially, was a GA- examples
-Society became more liberal, with women being welcomed into the workforce and the number of women in the workforce increasing by 1.7 million from 1907 to 1925.
-There were developments in art, cinema, and cabaret, such as the Bauhaus movement.
-The political turmoil of 1920s Germany helped give rise to a new genre of cinema called Expressionism. German filmmakers explored much darker themes than Hollywood: crime, immorality, social decay and the destructive powers of money and technology.
Socially, was a GA- explanation
-The Weimar Republic’s relaxed political system allowed artists greater freedom. They were also influenced by social and economic conditions.
-When compared with the freedom and progressiveness of the periods preceding and preceding it, the period between 1924 and 1929 undoubtedly brought progress to Germany.
Economically, not a GA- examples
-Unemployment never fell below 1.3 million
-The middle classes failed to benefit from this time. While unemployment generally fell, it remained high among white-collar professionals.
-Farmers continued to be hit by a worldwide agricultural depression, which kept prices low.
Economically not a GA- explanation
-These conditions fuelled middle-class resentment and suggestions the SPD-dominated government was favouring the working classes over the Mittelstand, once an admired and respected part of German society.
-Unlike the workers, who were represented by the SPD and Communist Party (KPD), the middle classes had no obvious political party to turn to. By the late 1920s, the National Socialists (NSDAP) were able to tap into this middle-class resentment and disenchantment.
Politically & socially, not a GA- examples
-There were seven governments between 1924 and 29, each one with a coalition that was the consequence of the proportional representation system.
-Stresemann faced opposition from across the political spectrum, and the nationalists viewed Locarno (at which Stresemann negotiated) as yet another back down by the government.
-The art was rooted in discontent with Weimar Germany’s political and social instability, as well as its economic shortages.
Politically & socially not a GA- explanation
-The political parties of the far-right attempted to win support from disgruntled farmers by emphasising the importance of agriculture and tapping into traditional values. The NSDAP, for example, made extensive use of the slogan Blut und Boden (‘Blood and Soil’) and its agrarian, nationalist and racial connotations.
-Many farmers, struggling with large debts and unsympathetic lenders, were also receptive to anti-Semitic propaganda and conspiracy theories about Jewish bankers and financiers.
-David Murphy: Diplomacy served as a lightning rod for the currents of opposition to the Weimar Republic. Bitter public controversy accompanied every diplomatic undertaking.
