The Stresemann Era 1924-29 Flashcards
Between what years was the Stresemann era?
1924-29
What 4 issues did Stresemann fix or improve for Germany?
- Hyperinflation crisis
- French and Belgian troops in the Ruhr
- Economic recovery
- Foreign relations
How did Stresemann fix the hyperinflation crisis?
- he stopped the printing of bank notes
- introduced a temporary new currency - the Rentenmark
- this was replaced by the Reichsmark
To what extent did Stresemann fix the hyperinflation crisis?
- hyperinflation ended
- people who had lost their savings never got their money back and blamed Stresemann
How did Stresemann deal with the French and Belgian troops in the Ruhr?
- arranged for the USA to lend 800 million gold marks to Germany
- Germany’s then re-started its reparation payments
What was the Dawes Plan?
- USA lent money to Germany (800 million gold marks)
- a new payment schedule was implemented to allow Germany to pay the reparations
To what extent did Stresemann solve the issue of French and Belgian troops in the Ruhr?
- the French and Belgian troops left the Ruhr
- some Germans felt Stresemann should have a demanded a complete end to the reparations
What was the Young Plan?
reduced the total payment of reparations
How did Stresemann aid Germany in its economic recovery?
he used American borrowed money to build new factories, houses, schools and roads
To what extent did Germany’s economy recover from 1924-29?
- there were more jobs so Germans earned more money
- Germany became more prosperous
- some feared that Germany relied too much on American loans
In what ways did Stresemann improve Germany’s foreign relations?
- signed the Locarno Pact
- joined the League of Nations
- signed the Kellogg-Briand Pact
What was the Locarno Pact?
- signed by Germany, Britain, France and Belgium
- they promised never to invade one another
What was the League of Nations and why was Germany joining it significant?
- international peacekeeping organisation
- Germany had been banned from it when it was set up in 1919
What was the Kellogg-Briand Pact?
The participating countries agreed never to go to war, unless in defence.
To what extent did Stresemann improve Germany’s relationships with other nations?
- Germany regained its international status and became and important part in the League of Nations
- some Germans criticised Stresemann for not demanding back some of the land taken in the ToV
What problems were still ongoing in Germany by 1929?
- there were many political parties and they wasted time arguing over decisions
- extreme political parties (eg. Nazis, communists) did not support the Weimar system
- large groups of Germans were poor, eg farmer and middle classes who lost their savings in the hyperinflation crisis
- Germany prosperity was build on American loans who could demand it back
Describe cinema in the Stresemann era.
- cinema became very popular
- Metropolis was the most technically advanced film of the decade
- German actress Marlene Dietrich became a global star playing glamorous and strong-willed women
Describe nightlife in the Stresemann era.
- Germany became a centre for new plays operas and shows
- musicians performed vulgar songs about politicians that would have been banned under the Kaiser
- Berlin was famous for its nightclubs with live bands that played American Jazz
Describe literature in the Stresemann era.
- people had 120 newspapers to choose from
- German anti-war novel, All Quiet on the Western Front became a bestseller
Describe art and design during the Stresemann era.
- avant-garde artists such as Otto Dix believed art should show reality
- a new group of designers known as Bauhaus believed in modern, practical designs
How did Germans react to the changes in culture during the 20s?
- some embraced the changes
- other hated them and wanted culture to celebrate traditional German values
- they believed the new nightclubs, shows and painting were leading Germany into a moral decline
