Weimar Germany - Economic policy 1928 onwards Flashcards
What evidence of the economy’s recovery was there by 1930
(trade)
- Germany was one of the world’s leading exports of manufactured goods.
- The reparations were being paid & exports were increasing
- The government increased welfare benefits
What evidence of the economy’s recovery was there by 1928 - production
Industrial production exceeded pre-WW1 levels
What evidence of the economy’s recovery was there by 1928 (plans)
The USA lent Germany 800 million marks through the Dawes Plan to invest in industry & commerce
What evidence was there of the economy’s continuing problems by 1928
instability
the economic boom was unstable - US loans could be called in at short notice which could ruin Germany
What evidence was there of the economy’s continuing problems by 1928
wealth inequality
- still huge extremes of poverty & wealth/power
- money was concentrated in just a few men who ran more than half of Germany’s industry
What evidence was there of the economy’s continuing problems by 1928
jobs
- unemployment was a serious problem
- the economy was growing but it wasn’t creating jobs fast enough for Germany’s rising population
What evidence was there of the economy’s continuing problems by 1928
agriculture
- Income from agriculture went down between 1925-29
- Farmers earnings were half the national average by 1929
The Dawes (1924) & Young (1929) plans renegotiated ……. & resulted in germany being loaned………. to aid her economic recovery
reparation payments
25.5 billion marks
When was the wall street crash
28 October 1929
Why were Germany incredibly vulnerable to the impacts of the Wall Street Crash
- The German economy was propped up by foreign capital, predominantly from American loans & foreign trade
- When America immediately stopped foreign lending & recalled loans from abroad, Germany’s economy suffered
What was the impact of the Wall Street Crash on German businesses - income
- Unemployment increased meaning less disposable income, so demand for goods dropped
- Suppliers & businesses couldn’t pay off their loans & went bankrupt
What was the impact of the Wall Street Crash on German businesses - unemployment
- German businesses reliant on bank loans did not have enough money to sustain their production & pay their workers
- Fewer goods were sold, so more people lost their jobs
What was the impact of the Wall Street Crash on banks
- With unemployment on the rise, many Germans could not afford rent & mortgage payments, & lost their homes
- With banks no longer receiving payments back from businesses & individuals, 5 major banks collapsed, so people lost their money & savings
Following the collapse of 5 major banks, the German economy…
spiralled into a economic depression
How many people were unemployed in Germany by 1932
6 million
How many businesses bankrupted following the wall street crash
50,000
Following the wall street crash, industrial production declined by ….%
40%
What was the effect of the Wall Street Crash on workers wages
On average wages feel between 20-30%
National Income shrunk by 39% between 1929-32
What were the positive features of Stresemann’s domestic policies between 1924-28?
Main 4 points
- Increased political stability
- Increased acceptance of democracy
- The creation of the Grand Coalition in 1928
- Hindenburg
What were the positive features of Stresemann’s domestic policies between 1924-28?’
Increased political stability
there were no putsch or political assassination attempts between 1924 and 1929.
What were the positive features of Stresemann’s domestic policies between 1924-28?’
Increased acceptance of democracy
- Between 1924 and 1929, the support for extremist and anti-constitution parties declined
- and public support for pro-constitution parties increased