Stability in Weimar Section A

Question 1

Work of Gustav Stresemann - His response to economic crises

Answer 1

• Helped solve the crisis of 1923 by calling off passive resistance to French occupation of the Ruhr.
• This reduced govs reparations payments and calmed down the situation. By fixing economic problems it allows the government to focus more on other political or social problems, creating greater stability in the republic.
• Stresemann recognised that international confidence in Germany would only be restored if Germany met its obligations and so he restarted reparations payments.
• To pay for this, government spending was cut and Stresemann worked to negotiate the Dawes plan, which alleviated the burden of reparations payments and provided US loans and investment to assist the German economy.

Question 2

Strength of Democracy

Answer 2

The actions of Ebert:
- President Ebert acted decisively and ruthlessly against the Spartacists in 1919 and other left-wing rebels such as those in the Ruhr in 1920.
- During the Munich Putsch, Ebert briefly ruled under Article 48 which enabled him to take control of the situation

Support of some of the elite:
- Despite the ambivalence of many in the elite for the new political system, at crucial points certain members of the elite helped democracy to survive. The army enthusiastically crushed left-wing rebellions, and supported the gov during the Munich Putsch.

• Support from the international community

Question 3

Weakness of opponents

Answer 3

Poor leadership and planning:
- During the Munich Putsch, Hitler exhibited indecision as he dithered overnight about whether to launch his putsch, which gave time to others to alert the authorities. In addition, the route marched during the Putsch, down a fairly narrow street, allowed Bavarian police to trap the rebels and defeat them
Lack of support from the public:
- Spartacists had only around 15,000 members (far fewer than the SPD)
- A huge general strike brought down the government established by Wolfgang Kapp.
- 700,000 people demonstrated in Berlin against political violence following the murder of Walther Rathenau in 1922 and it was public revulsion, rather than the police or judicial action, that brought an end to the assassinations.