Germany 1924-1929 Flashcards
Stresemann and his impact on Germany economically
- introduced a new currency to deal with hyperinflation - new currency rentenmark was quickly accepted and inflation was brought under control
- reduced poverty
- Germans never forgot hyperinflation, and felt cheated and blamed the Weimar Republic
- he organised big loans from the USA (Dawes’ plan) - these loans helped to improve housing and increase standard of living
- Dawes plan meant longer period to repay allies, and was reduced to 37,000
- Dawes’ plan seen as second TofV - reparations until 1988
- small businesses didn’t get loans
Stresemann and his impact on Germany Politically
- was a leading member of the government
- foreign minister
- skilful politician (centre right winger) and persistent
- more people in favour of government in 1928
- extremist parties gained less votes
- Nazis were building up party organisation
Stresemann and his impact on Germany socially
- loans from US could reduce poverty
- improvement in relationships from other countries
- improved living standards
- cultural revival in Germany (golden age for cinema, Bauhaus, cabaret)
- middle class forming
- businesses felt threatened and not everyone was helped
Stresemann and his impact on Germany Foreign
- stresemann called off passive resistance
- promised to keep reparation payments
- decided to cooperate with other European countries - accepted that Germany could not reclaim lost land (hopes that allies would change terms of TofV)
- signed the Locarno pact in 1925 (no invading with Britain, France, Belgium)
- French legt the Ruhr
- League of Nations in 1926 (Germans wanted peace)
Achievements of the Weimar Republic
- Dawes’ Plan (still paying reparations but less)
- middle class was created
- democracy that represented what people wanted, including the use of voting
- there was a cultural revival
- French left the Ruhr
- Young Plan
- change in currency - hyperinflation brought under control
- League of Nations - trusted by other countries
- dealt with political violence - Munich putsch, Kapp putsch etc
Failings of the Weimar Republic
- lack of trust from citizens
- Locarno pact - no land regained, nationalists did not like
- small businesses were forgotten
- article 48 meant president had ultimate power
- freedom of speech meant extremists gained support
- hyperinflation
- farmers got less trade and there was overproduction
- political unrest
- dependent on USA - Wall Street crash - economic problems
What happened in 1924 -29 in Germany
The golden years
Yes, 1924-29 represented years of wilderness for the Nazis
- only won 32 seats in 1924 (5%) and then 12 seats in 1928
- nazi party was banned when hitler was sentenced to prison
- people were not interested in scapegoats - hitler blamed Jews and allies
- failed to produce electoral success in 1928 elections
- stresemann was very successful
- Weimar government became more supported was seen as successful - Dawes’ plan
- development of culture in Weimar Germany
- stresemann brought stability
- loss of a leader
- hitler’s book sales were poor
No, 1924-29 didnt represent years of wilderness for the Nazis
- hitler gained publicity for himself and the party at his trial - reported across Germany
- nazi party had a clear set of values and blamed allies for problems
- set up organisational network across the whole of Germany - represented in every town
- hitler wrote ‘mein Kampf’ which would’ve had potential for publicity
- served 9 months instead of 5 years - weakness of court
- clear values and enemies
- organisation across Germany
- attacked foreign policies - had nationalist support
- quickly able to represent authority over party
Were these years a period of wilderness?
Rather than a period of wilderness they were a period of change and growth. The party used this time to attempt to become a democratic, supported political group. Although they were not necessarily successful from the very start, and gained little seats, they slowly developed. Not much positive happened for the party, however, they were persistent which may have signified future success and breakthrough
Why did they not gain seats initially
They were an extremist group and hitler had been imprisoned. Stresemann was very popular, and the nazi party had the loss of a leader
