Stresemann 1923-29 Flashcards
Describe the Dawes Plan.
This was introduced as the Germans struggled to pay reparations. The French, British, and US were encouraged to lower them, and this was agreed in August 1924.
Reparations were set at 1 billion per year, this would increase to 2.5 billion marks per year over over four years to make payments easier.
The French would evacuate the Ruhr by 1925.
The Reichsbank would be reorganised under Allied supervision.
A new currency would be introduced.
This would take action in September 1924.
When did Stresemann come into power?
Summer 1923.
Describe the key features of the US loans
They started at 800 million and increased over six years to £3000 million.
This increased confidence in Germans currency and allowed for economic recovery.
Describe the key features of the Rentenmark.
In November 1923 the Rentenmark was introduced due to the collapse of the former currency. This was based on property reserves. By 1924 the Reichsmark was introduced and this was backed by gold reserves, as confidence in Germany’s currency increased.
Describe the features of the young plan
Germans complained of payments so under the wisdom of Owen Wilson, instructed by the Allied reparations committee, the reparations were cut up to £1850 million at an average of £2.05 billion over 59 years. This was criticised by right wing politicians such as Hitler and Alfred von Hugenburg.
Describe the key features of the 1925 Locarno treaty
The Germans wanted the worst of the Treaty of Versailles reduced so they had to improve France’s trust. They also wanted to restore prestige. This led to Britain Italy France and Belgium sign the treaty to maintain the borders making Germany’s return to the international scene.
Describe the features of the League of Nations
Germany joined the council of the league of Nations in 1926 September. In order to confirm the agreements made at the Locarno treaties, restoring Germany status as a great power. The position in the league was a bold move - Stresemann used this to bring about the Young Plan.
Describe the 1928 Kellogg Briand Pact?
This was signed with 64 other nations to confirm that armies could be kept for self defence, and disputes had to be sold by peaceful means. As a result in 1925 France had to withdraw from the Ruhr and the Allies agreed to the Young and Dawes plan. In 1927 Allies withdrew from the West Bank of Rhine.
Describe political stability between 1924 and 29.
Between 1924 to 29, there was much less extremism from the left and right as the stability brought on by Stresemann meant that other parties such as the Nazis received less support. The social Democratic party seats rose from 100 in May 1924 to 153 by May 1928. Stresemann had introduced in brilliant foreign policies and Hindenburg showed Conservative acceptance of the Weimar Republic.
What was a problem with the young plan?
This meant that Germany was too reliant upon the United States as they relied upon them to give them the loans which they used to pay reparations to the French and UK.
