The Golden Age 1924-1929 Flashcards
By what 3 measures can we measure the stability of Germany?
Economic
Social
Political
How did Stresemann describe the German Economy during the ‘Golden Age’?
‘Germany was like dancing on a volcano’
When was the Dawes Plan introduced? What was it?
April 1914
It fixed the reparations to payable rates for Germany and a loan was provided by USA
What was the loan from the USA stated in the Dawes Plan?
800 million marks
Why is it difficult to judge whether there was a Golden Age?
It is relative - - - you have to look at before and after the period
For how long was Stresemann foreign minister?
From 1924 -1929
Between which two dates were there 6 governments in power?
May 1924 - May 1928
Who was president before Hindenburg?
Friedrich Ebert
What is the name given to President Hindenburg to show him as a substitute Kaiser?
Ersatzkaiser
How did A.J. Nicholls state President Hindenburg’s sentiments towards the Weimar Republic?
‘he refused to betray the Republic, but he didn’t rally the people to its banner’
Strength of the Economy:
By 1928 the production levels equalled that of which year?
1913
Strength of the Economy:
By 1928, National Income had risen by what percentage compared to 1913?
12%
Strength of the Economy:
Exports rose by 40% between 1925 and which year?
1929
Strength of the Economy:
What two aspects remained at relatively low levels?
Inflation and Unemployment
Strength of the Economy:
How many BILLION marks were loaned between 1924-1930 to build infrastructure?
25.5 BILLION MARKS
Who was involved in Muller’s Grand coalition in 1928?
SPD, DDP, DVP and ZP
Strength of Politics:
How many Putsch attempts or political assassinations were there?
Not one after 1924
Strength of Politics:
Why is the creation of the Grand Coalition in 1928 considered a political strength for stability?
- The first government since Stresemann that included the SPD
- Had a secure majority of over 60%
Strength of Politics:
By 1928 what percentage of the people supported pro-democratic parties? What does this show?
76% Showing acceptance for democracy
Strength of Politics:
What percentage of the vote did the extreme Nazis receive in 1928?
2.6%
Strength of Politics:
What did President Hindenburg do in 1928 despite his hostility to Socialism?
Chose SPD leader, Muller as Chancellor - upholding the democratic constitution giving it right wing support
Strength of Politics:
In 1928 how many seats did the SPD get for 29.8% of the vote?
153 seats
Strength of Politics:
Despite gaining 103 seats in December 1924, what happened to the DNVP?
After recovering from hyperinflation in 1923 they started to lose votes as an extremist group (fell by 1/4 in 1928)
What were Stresemann’s aims while in office?
Address- To address the Treaty of Versailles diplomatically
Positive- To recognise the positive relations with France for success
Attract- To attract US investment
Leading Power- To make Germany a leading power
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Why did the USA need Germany to have a strong economy?
- Wants a market place which won’t happen in war times as people spend less, and more on military resources
- Need Germany to pay reparations to Allies so they cant pay USA back
What did Stresemann do to make better relations with France?
Called off the PASSIVE RESISTANCE and said they’d pay the reparations = better long term relationship
How did Stresemann pacify the people?
- Injected money + jobs into the economy via US loan
- Directed aggression from domestic to France
Weakness of Economy:
Which sector went into recession from 1927?
Agriculture
Weakness of Economy:
Why is the loan providing ‘deceptive stability’?
As Germany appears to have money but really it is reliant on the US economy
Weakness of Economy:
What was the figure which unempolyment never fell below from 1924-1928?
1.3 MILLION
Weakness of Economy:
In 1928 what was the figure for unemployment?
3 MILLION (and continued rising)
Weakness of Economy:
In agriculture by what fraction was grain production of the 1913 figure?
Only 3/4
Weakness of Politics:
What percent of the 1928 vote did the KPD gain?
10.6% (=rise in communism)
Weakness of Politics:
How did proportional representation weaken Weimar democracy?
It meant a majority couldn’t be formed and there were constant coalition governments that didn’t agree - Germany still had the same probems as pre-war as no-one wanted to include the SPD despite their clear majority.
Who becameleader of the DNVP?
Alfred Hugenberg
When were the treaties of the Locarno Pact signed?
December 1925
What were the main points of the Locarno Pact?
- It was a mutual guarantee agreement - the Franco-German and Franco-Belgian borders were secured
- Demilitarisation of the Rhineland as now permanent
- The Arbitration treaties which are third party decisions which would settle conflicts peacefull between POL, GER, CZECHSLOV.
When was the Kellogg-Briand Pact? What did it stand for?
August 1928
A declarations outlawing ‘war as an instrument of national policy’ (jut highlighted Germany’s involvement in the league of nations)
Which Pact/Treaty was signed in April 1926?
The Treaty of Berlin
What was the Treaty of Berlin?
An agreement which REDUCED strategic fears on the German Eastern front and opened a LARGE COMMERCIAL market
Positive of Culture:
Between which period of years did wages rise every year?
1924-1930
Positive of Culture:
Which two men produced artistic works reflecting on The First World War and satirising Junkers?
George Grosz and Otto Dix
Positive of Culture:
What was the new movement in architecture called?
Bauhaus - it was experimental and functional
Positive of Culture:
By 1929 how many times more was it spending on housing than 1913?
33 times
Positive of Culture:
How was urban culture described from 1924-1928? (2 words)
Experimental and Liberal
Positive of Culture:
Due to better governmental health provision, what was the difference in the number of deaths of TB from before 1914 to after 1914?
143 to 87 per 10,000
What was the term used to reflect the cultural development in Weimar?
Neue Sachlichkeit (new functionalism) which was meant to show reality and objectivity
Negative of Culture:
Often Weimar was described as ‘decadent’ what modern mass culture emerged?
Jazz Music, Cabaret, and consumerism which contrasted with the old traditional Germany
Negative of Culture:
What was the new name for theatre? What did it suggest?
Zeit Theater (theatre of the time)
Disenchantment with Weimar and scepticism about reforming
Injustices of Weimar society
Negative of Culture:
Who was a dominant playwright in the mid-1920s?
Friedrich Wolf
Negative of Culture:
Who disagreed with the liberalism of Weimar?
Majority of traditional Germans, especially those in more rural areas
Negative of Culture:
What was the name for a second-earner? Why was this negative?
Doppelverdiner
Negative because it was condemned - married women working too seemed wrong and against tradition
