Germany: Gov and Opposition 1924-29 Flashcards
Impact of Ruhr Invasion
. Passive resistance unsuccessful + expensive
. Loss of tax revs + export earnings from Ruhr added to already enormous pressures on finances
. Gov paid strikers by printing more money
. Stresemann recommenced reparation payments, French evacuated Ruhr in 1924-25
Stresemann
. Chancellor in Aug 1923 in mid of Ruhr crisis
. Leader of DVP (right) and formed coalition w Zentrum + SPD parties
. Improved industrial relations w new arbitration system from Oct 1923; public works + housebuilding programmes; extension of welfare schemes; helped to raise living standards
Dawes Plan
. Negotiated by Stresemann April 1924
. Scaled down reparations payments + arranged for Germany to receive US loans
. Right wing groups (mainly DNVP, some Nazis) bitterly opposed
‘Locarno treaties’
. Negotiated by Stresemann 1925
. Germany promised to respect western frontier and keep troops out of Rhineland
. S avoided similar commitment w eastern frontiers w Czechoslovakia + Poland
. 1926 he was awarded Nobel Peace Prize
League of Nations
. Accepted as a permanent member of the Council from 1926
. Stresemann used it as a platform to air Germany’s grievances, eg about German minorities under foreign rule + failure of other nations to copy German disarmament
Treaty of Berlin
. Negotiated by Stresemann 1926 with the USSR
. Confirmed Treaty of Rapallo + pledge for neutrality for 5yrs in event of attack by a third party
. Helped win trust of German army, which was evading disarmament clauses of Versailles Treaty
Kellogg-Briand Pact
. 1928
. Condemned recourse to war as a means of solving international disputes
. Stresemann signed this as an equal alongside 64 other states
Stresemann - economy
. 5yrs of economic recovery:
. ended passive resistance in Ruhr Sep 1923
. reduced gov expenditure
. appointed Hjalmar Schacht as Reich Currency Commissioner + Head of Reichsbank: he intro’d new currency + lowered inflation
Young Plan
. Aug 1928: reduced total reparations bill by around 5% and lessened annual payments
. Also tied to an evacuation of Rhineland by occupation troops 5 years before due date
. Right wing opposition: gave Hitler propaganda opportunity
1924 Elections
. May: over 61% voted for pro-Republican parties
. Dec: 67.5%
. May: Nazis polled 6.5% of vote
. Dec: 3%
. May: Communist Party 12.6%
. Dec: 9%
. These trends were sustained in 1928 elections
Presidential Change 1925
. Ebert died Feb 1925
. Successor: unless a candidate received 50%+ of vote in first round of voting, there had to be a second round when alternative candidates could be nominated
. Hindenburg won second round w 48.3% of vote
. 77 when in power, strongly nationalist + right wing
. Until 1929 he accepted his constitutional position
DNVP
. From Jan 1925 chose to work w Republic, suggesting prospect of greater stability
. Still high turnover of govs: 6 diff coalition govs Nov 1923-June 1928, inc right wing politics
. Zentrum weakened by split in right + left of party
. DDP moved further right + DVP suffered disunity
SPD
. Biggest single party, didn’t serve in any gov from Nov 1923-28, poorly led + left wing, leaving way for coalitions to be formed from right of centre parties
. Cabinets unwilling to compromise even when ‘Grand Coalition’ formed 1928, bringing together SPD, Zentrum, DVP, DDP - constant disagreements between SPD + DVP/BVP
Traditional Elites
. Retained power bc Hindenburg is President
. No reform of right-wing judiciary, civil service or unis
. Commitment to democracy not greater than pre 1924
. Hyperinflation embittered Mittelstand, industrialists bemoaned taxes for welfare state, army sought to maintain independent status
Extremist Groups
. Performed poorly in polls but didn’t disappear
. 1928 Nazis only received 2.6% of vote, 12 seats
. Communists a bit better: working class following
- ‘Red Fighting League’ July 1924: clashed in streets w Nazi SA, 54 seats in 1928
