Unit 2 Judgement Flashcards
1
Q
evidence that the economic problems of 1919-1923 were solved by 1928 ?
A
✅
- Nov 1923 Schacht introduced the Rentenmark + new Reichsmark introduced (backed by German gold reserve at 30%) ➡️ hyperinflation solved
- Dawes plan (1924) made payments more manageable by cutting annual reparation payments + 800 million mark loan from USA ➡️ amount paid each year reduced until 1929 (starting with 1000 mil marks) + France left Ruhr 24/25 FINAL AMOUNT REMAINED AT £6.6b
- govt compensated those who lost savings at 15% of value + 12.5% for investments in war bonds
- balancing the budget strategy ➡️ cutting govt expenditure (ended passive resistance in the Ruhr sept 1923 + 300,000 civil servants lost their jobs)
➡️ The German economy seemed to be in a much more stable and prosperous state due to the new currency, the Dawes Plan and Schacht’s work. Thus whilst all the economic problems of the depression were not completely solved by 1928 the most important and detrimental issues had been.
2
Q
evidence that the economic problems of 1919-1923 were not solved by 1928?
A
❌
- reliant on foreign loans especially from the US (vulnerable if loans stopped)
- attacked by RW groups who wanted Germany to defy Tofv
- middle class resentment (lost all savings) + creditors annoyed that only receiving 15% of original value ➡️ bitter resentment which would have long lasting impact for democracy
- agriculture saw bankruptcy and an increase in votes for nazis
➡️ Whilst on the outside it seemed like the issues of the depression had been fixed there realistically lay a variety of smaller problems within the economic system which could have extreme impacts if not sorted
3
Q
which group saw the most change (youth) ?
A
- the youth (although not all positive)
✅
- Youth groups such as Wandervogel becoming more popular in which boys would hike in forest and swim in lakes ➡️ rejecting middle class social conventions rather, nationalistic views (escape boredom + sought adventure and companionship)
- sport became national pass time 1924-26 ➡️ news changed from war to sport related + allowed young people to take.mind off devastation of war and have fun (new sense of pride)
❌
- 17-21 youth unemployed 17% in 1925 ➡️ increase in crime + in gangs (belonging)
- education selective of upper classes, be able to attend further education such as gymnasium schools were rest would be expected to get apprenticeships
- political parties competing for young peoples interest and loyalty eg. Hitler Youth programme + Nationalist Socialist German Students’ League
➡️poorer still being subject to hardships and the cycle of poverty being unable to escape, the youth were seemingly more stuck than ever. Although the middle and upper classes seemed to experience considerable continuity with school remaining centres of tradition and church influence strong (CLASS DIVIDING SCHOOL + FUTURE PATHWAYS)
4
Q
which other group experienced significant change (women) ?
A
- women (upper-class, living in urban areas)
✅
- new woman emerging in media ➡️ portrayed as free, independent and sexually liberated (small but powerful group)
- supported constitutionally through the right to vote and access to education
- supported socially by accessibility of birth control, decreasing birth rate
- as men at war women now working more physical jobs eg. doctors (not many) and tram conductors
- ❗️by 1925 36% of workforce = women
- women held 10% of seats in Reichstag
❌
- few women embraced the new women ➡️ lots holding onto traditional roles/views + criticised younger workers
- women were paid less
- conservative parties called birth control a ‘birth strike’ + church alarmed by new values
- no women in cabinet + no parties led by women
- major political parties attempt to reinforce the traditional roles of women + make motherhood more attractive
➡️ Whilst the new woman paved the way for the social acceptance of women to be challenged it ultimately seemed to be more of a cultivated myth than a social reality for the majority of German women (de jure rights not fully delivered) With the new women increasingly being used as scapegoats for Germany’s social and economic ills.
5
Q
another group experienced change (Jews) ?
A
- Jews
✅
- influential in press, politics, culture, banking, business and universities
- 500,000 jews living in germany (1% of population), 80% in cities well educated, many assimilated and were intensely patriotic to germany
- Politics and press: jewish publishing firms promoted liberal values, jews prominent in SPD + KPD (Rosa Luxemburg)
- Industry and profession: influence overexaggerated by RW propaganda ❗️The Rathenau family controlled the huge electrical firm AEG. Jewish firms dominated coal-mining , steel works and chemical industries, jewish families owned❗️18% of banking sector ❗️16% of lawyers Jewish, 11% of doctors jewish
❌
- some Germans reluctant to stop identifying Jews as alien + fierce opposition aided by accusation of corruption by Jewish bankers + businessmen
- anti-semitism providing successful scapegoats at time of economic turmoil + politicians blamed for G’s misfortunes
6
Q
golden social evidence ?
A
✅
- new welfare state;
- 1924: public assistance system modernised to help poor
- 1925: state accident insurance covered those hurt at work
- 1927: national unemployment insurance introduced
- living standard increased significantly
- 1924-1929 real wages started to rise
- welfare system supported the poorest
- business owners benefited from improved currency + trading position
❌
- middle class suffered most significantly by losing savings and never regain their comfortable lifestyle
- Welfare system was expensive and hard to maintain so taxes had to be raised
7
Q
evidence that the WR was politically stable by 1928?
A
✅
- ’Grand Coalition’ under Muller Jun 28 to Sept 30 (had majority) BUT took over 6 months to agree on govt policies + numerous disputes
- elections (May 24, Dec 24, May 28) showed increasing/steady support for moderate centre parties (SPD/Z) + turnouts remained relatively high ➡️ people wanted to participate in democracy
- extremist made little gains ❗️KPD around 10% and NSDAP 3%
- end of 1927 Nazi party only ha 75,000 members
- no attempted coups or uprisings + no political assassinations
- old elites who originally viewed the republic as being born out of betrayal of the fatherland views were changed by Hindenburgs appointment due to the belief that he would steer Germany back towards a more authoritarian form of government
➡️ compared to the early years of WR the period of 1924-1928 can indefinitely be interpreted as a time of political stability. Although how much this stability would be able to ‘put up with’ instability caused in the earlier years was mainly due to the threat of extremist parties being able to overthrow the weimar
8
Q
evidence that the WR was NOT politically stable by 1928?
A
❌
- 6 coalition govts (only 2 command majority) ➡️ short lived govts saw as weak and ineffective by German people
- political violence ➡️ frequent flights between SA and Red Fighting League (50 killed)
- PR system meant anti-democratic parties could have seats in Reichstag and influence decisions ➡️ fragmented Reichstag
- lack of support among elite, army leaders, judiciary and industrialists (retained their distaste for democracy)
- presidential election 1925 saw Hindenburg elected (anti-democratic + traditional)
- May 1928 election ➡️ ❗️Nazi targeted rural areas 18% (2.6% nationally)
- LW divided (KPD vs SPD) ➡️ not forgave Ebert suppressed LW uprisings using the RW therefore unwilling to compromise
- SPD not participating in ⅚ coalitions
9
Q
most significant international treaty?
A
- League of nations 1926: Germany was allowed to join the league and was given ‘great power’ status on the league council
🔔 Significance:
- major victory in restoring Germany as a ‘great power’ status
- Germany no longer the international outcast + highlights how changes are being made to the TofV
- Stresseman received nobel prize for negotiating Locarno and g’s entry into the league
- could be helpful in the future to renegotiate TofV further ect
10
Q
Locarno Pact significance ?
A
series of treaties signed with Britain, France, Belgium + Italy
🔔Significance:
- importantly Germany negotiated as an equal rather than having the treaty dictated
- G accepted the western borders (but not eastern) set by TofV ➡️ gave France security as their border with Germany was now agreed and G could be confident that the French wouldn’t repeat the Ruhr invasion
- G agreed to keep troops out of the rhineland
- France was reassured by guaranteed borders + Britain had agreed to intervene if Germany attacked
- However, G only agreed to not alter her eastern borders by force (effectively leaving a door open to negotiate those borders via diplomacy)
11
Q
Treaty of Berlin significance ?
A
- 1922, treaty of Rapollo, Germany + Russia resumed trade and economic cooperation between 2 outcast of Europe + G started to developed weapons and trained pilots in Russia
- Treaty of Berlin (April 1926) continued economic and military exchanges of the two ➡️ implied that they saw Poland as threat to security
🔔Significance:
- the treaty of Berlin added to the R+G relationship
- G agrees to remain neutral if Russia involved in a war (as long as R was not the aggressor)
- hinted that G wouldn’t resist revisions to polish borders (still looking to revise own eastern borders)
12
Q
Kellog-briand pact significance ?
A
an agreement to outlaw war (attempt to prevent war) signed August 27 1928 ➡️ known as Pact of Paris
🔔significance:
- although it held no actual power to stop another war (evidenced by WW2)
- BUT showed willingness of cooperation and how Germany had no intention of attacking
13
Q
extent to change of treaty of Versailles? (1)
A
- Reparations
- Dawes Plan: reduced payments making them easier to pay (rise slowly to max by 1929) ➡️ economic armistice 🔔first time allies ever budged and loans allowed Germany to rebuild its industrial stations, homes and jobs
- Young Plan 1929: Germany would keep paying reparations until 1988 BUT reduced to ❗️£1.8b (reduced by 2/3rds) and allied would remove troops from the Rhineland (zone 2 by in 1929 and zone 3 in 1930) + Germany given full responsibility to pay back reparations (trusted)
- ❌ major opposition (referendum campaign shows extent of RW resentment to paying) + gave Hitler national presence
- ❌ depression = little time to have impact (suspended by 1931)
➡️ Whilst these plans only offered temporary solutions they were significant in exposing the situation to the allies, the fact they were even willing to compromise with Germany should be viewed as a major success of Stresemans
14
Q
extent to change of treaty of versailles? (2)
A
- Joining League of Nations
- in 1926 Germany was allowed to join the league and was given ‘great power’ status on the league council
- major victory of restoring Germany as a ‘great power’
- G no longer international outcast
- Streseman won noble prize
- could be helpful in the future to renegotiate TofV further (from within)
15
Q
extent to change of treaty of versailles ? (3)
A
- disarmament
- the treaty still existed and Germany was still unable to have an army which shows they were still not fully trusted (fairly) and the policy of fulfilment showed Germany as being responsible for the start of the war (upset many right-wing)
- Streseman pushed for widespread disarmament (so other countries would reduce to closer germany’s level) ❌ little agreement
- Germany began to rearm in secret ➡️ submarines built in Spain + tanks in Sweden (allowed G to keep on top of technology)
