Recovery of Weimar

Question 1

Who was Gustav Stresemann?

Answer 1

Chancellor in 1923 Aug-Nov
Foreign Secretary 1924-29
Part of the DVP - German People’s Party
Originally opposed to the Weimar Republic but changed his mind when he realised the alternative was anarchy

Question 2

What was the new currency that replaced the mark?

Answer 2

To solve hyperinflation, Stresemann introduced the Rentenmark which became the Reichsmark a year later. Originally it was backed by land however returned to the gold standard when it changed name

Question 3

Who was the Dawes Plan made by and what did it aim to achieve?

Answer 3

It got its name from Charles Dawes, the head of the American committee responsible for the plan. 5 nations were represented on this committee: USA, UK, Italy, Belgium and France - each forwarding 2 experts in finance.
The end goal was to boost Germany’s economy enough for them to be able to pay back reparations which was in the best interests of all countries involved

Question 4

What were the main points of the Dawes Plan?

Answer 4

• Reparations payments would begin at 1 billion marks for the first year and increase over 4 years to 2.5 billion marks/year. These payments were based on Germany’s capacity to pay them
• The Ruhr area was to be evacuated by the troops that had invaded it, this happened in 1925
• The Reichsbank would be reorganised under Allied supervision
• The USA would give loans to Germany to help economic recovery

Question 5

When did the Dawes plan come into effect?

Answer 5

September 1924

Question 6

How did the Young plan come around and what did it entail?

Answer 6

An American banker called Owen D. Young was sent to Germany to investigate the state of their economy in 1929.
He reported back saying that reparations should be reduced by three quarters and that Germany should make payments on a sliding scale annually until 1988.
Germany was now only due to pay 121 billion marks over 58 years

Question 7

What was the reaction to the plan?

Answer 7

The plan was controversial, especially amongst right wing politicians such as Adolf Hitler and Alfred Hugenberg who criticised it. The President of the Reichsbank Hjalmar Schacht disliked it so much that he resigned from his role

Question 8

Why was Germany not as economically stable as it appeared?

Answer 8

Farmers suffered from a worldwide depression in agriculture
The lower middle class never fully recovered from their savings being lost in hyperinflation
Germany was overreliant on American loans

Question 9

What were the points of the Locarno Pact/Treaty of Locarno?

Answer 9

• Belgium, France, and Germany promised to respect their joint frontiers (NOT Germany’s border with Poland)
• Alsace-Lorraine was permanently given to France
• Left bank of the Rhine was demilitarised
• Threat of military action should Germany occupy the demilitarised zone (didn’t happen in the end)
• Germany was allowed to enter the League of Nations in 1926 which gave Stresemann prestige and helped negotiate the Young plan

Question 10

When was the Locarno Pact signed?

Answer 10

October 1925 (but ultimately torn up b Hitler in 1936 when he sent his army into the Rhineland)

Question 11

What was the Kellogg-Briant Pact?

Answer 11

Signed in 1928 by Germany and 64 other nations. It was agreed that they would keep their armies for self defence and solve all international disputes by peaceful means

BUT there was no way of enforcing this agreement

Question 12

Which political parties were most popular in this period?

Answer 12

Moderate parties got the majority of votes because the German public was generally at ease and most crises had been resolved
They were still however unable to obtain a majority because extremist parties were still getting support

Question 13

Why was there political stability between 1924-29?

Answer 13

• Economic recovery - Dawes+Young, restored currency, more jobs, higher wages
• Success abroad - Locarno, League of Nations
• Stresemann - Able politician, got along w/ everyone
• Hindenburg - Made President in 1925 which brought acceptance from ‘old order’. Wasn’t seen as a threat due to his old age

Question 14

Why did support for the Nazi party falter during these years?

Answer 14

People’s outlook was bright and they had no need for extremist ideas. Hitler was also banned from speaking until 1928.

Question 15

When and why was the Bamberg conference called?

Answer 15

On February 14th 1926 Hitler called a conference in Bamberg to resolve tension between the northern section of the party who:
Wanted SOCIALIST action
Wished to attract support from workers

and the southern section who:
Were interested in racist NATIONALIST policies
Wanted support from farmers and the middle class

Question 16

What were the results of the Bamberg conference?

Answer 16

• Policies leaning towards communism were no longer pushed
• The 25 point programme was reaffirmed
• The Fuhrerprincip was established
• Potential rivals to Hitler’s leadership e.g. Gregor Strasser & Josef Goebbels were won over

Question 17

How was the Nazi party reorganised in this period?

Answer 17

• Reduced number of stormtroopers (SA) and the SS was set up as a personal bodyguard unit
• Hitler Youth set up
• Goebbels put in charge of propaganda
• Hitler promised wealthy businessmen he would destroy Communism and the Trade Unions, earning their support and funding
• Merged with other right-wing parties then took them over

Question 18

How did wages change in this period?

Answer 18

By 1928 there had been an increase in real wages of over 10% and Germany had some of the best paid workers in Europe.
Not everyone shared this prosperity as many middle class had been bankrupted and farmers struggled to find good prices for their produce

Question 19

How did housing change in this period?

Answer 19

The Weimar Republic employed architechts to reduce housing shortages. Between 1924 and 1931 more than 2 million new homes were built and 200,000 expanded or renovated.
Homelessness had been reduced by 60%.

Question 20

What was the position of women?

Answer 20

Between 1907 and 1927 women were more likely to have a job. Less worked in domestic service and instead were employed as secretaries in offices.
In 1919, women over 20 were given the right to vote and there was more equality in education and job opportunities.

Question 21

What was unemployment insurance?

Answer 21

The government created the Unemployment Insurance Law in 1927 which required workers and employees to make contributions to a national scheme for unemployment welfare.
Other reforms provided benefit to war veterans, wives and dependents of the war dead, single mothers, and the disabled.