Weimar's 'Golden Years' Flashcards
How much did the Weimar economy recover in the golden twenties?
Strengths, social welfare, weaknesses of the economy, A sick economy?
Strengths - industry recovered and by 1928 production reached levels in 1913 due to more investment so better methods of production. Foreign bankers attracted by high interest rates and large US cooperation a like Ford invested in factories with more efficient methods. Growing number of cartels (arrangement between businesses to control the market) had better purchasing power so German industry could lower costs. Exports rose by 40% in 1929 and hourly wages rose every year by as much as 5% in 1927 and 10% in 1928
Social Welfare - incorporated basic social rights and addressed social provision through creation of welfare state. Erzberger aimed to offset costs by implementing progressive taxes including increasing taxes on capital & increase in highest income tax. Large state subsidies provided for construction of public works like parks, over 2 million houses built and 200,000 renovated, homelessness reduced by 60%, increase in no of cars
Weaknesses - economic growth uneven, 1926 production declined, value of imports exceeding exports, unemployment never below 1.3 million, agriculture grain production still three quarters of its 1913 figure and farmers faced falling incomes, income per head was 44% below national average, world economic conditions didn’t favour Germany as exports hindered by tariffs and loss of valuable resources from territories effected Germany, peasantry affected by world prices falling so failed to make profits so fall in demand, increase in population meant increase in unemployment, savings/investments discouraged from great inflation and less enthusiastic to invest money so relied on foreign investors, continued to spend increasing sums of money and 1928 public expenditure reached 26% of GNP
A sick economy? - foreign loans made it liable to suffer from any problems that arose, investment too low to encourage growth, cost of welfare state could only be met by governments taking on increasing debt and agricultural sector faced problems and slowed down economy
How politically stable was Weimar in 1924 to 1929?
Explore the parties involved in coalition, were they stable? Responsibilities of each party, Hindenburg and limitations of the political system
Fall in left/right parties - DNVP fell to 73 seats in 1928, Nazis lost ground in both elections and only 12 seats in 1928, KPD recovered slightly with 54 seats
Coalition Politics - differences between the main parties meant workable coalitions were limited: never any possibility between SPD and DNVP, KPD isolated, DVP and DNVP disagreed on foreign affairs, SPD, DDP, DVP and Centre differed on domestic issues, minority government only exist by seeking support from left or right - 7 governments between 1923 to 1930
Responsibility of the parties:
SPD - remained largest party, firm support of the republic, party divided between interests of working class and commitments to democracy, some were committed to old style extreme left socialist programme - not prepared to take on responsibility of government until 1928
Centre Party - Social/economic policies aimed at bridging the apps between classes led to internal quarrels, party move to the right and divisions widened
Liberal Parties - DDP/DVP joined in all coalition governments but share of the vote halved to 14% in 1928, decline due to divisions within the parties and DDP lacked clear leadership and membership involved in internal bickering - liberalism failed to gain popular support
DNVP - DNVP totally opposed republic and refused to take part in government gained 103 seats in 1924 but republic began to recover and DNVP hopes diminishing - 1925 to 1927 DNVP joined government coalitions, Hugenberg elected as leader rejected republic and refused to join governments - worked closely with Nazis against the Young Plan
President Hindenburg - no immediate swing to the right, loyal to the constitution and carried out duties with correctness. Difficult to ignore pitfalls due to appointment of an old man, no sympathy for the republic and around him made up of anti republican figures many from the military. Preferred to include the DNVP and exclude the SPD, viewed government should move to the right
Limitations of the system - parliament failed to make progress and work with only limited success. Stable government not established, one collapsed in 1926 over use of the national flag or old imperial flag or another fell over creation of religious schools. Future growing contempt and cynicism shown by people towards power politics. Growth in small fringe parties.
What were Stresemann’s aims in foreign policy?
To what extent was Stresemann successful?
Look at Dawes Plan, Locarno Pact, Treaty of Berlin,
Foreign Policy aims - free Germany from limitations of Versailles and restore country to great power, equal of UK and France - using diplomacy. Main aims were - recognise France did rightly have security concerns and that France also controlled balance of power on the continent. Franco-German friendship essential, play on Germany’s importance to world trade to co-operate with UK/USA, sympathy of USA vital, maintain Rapallo friendship with USSR, encourage co-operation and peace with Western powers
Dawes Plan - Accepted in April 1924, monthly instalments over first five years calculated on Germany’s capacity to pay and provided for a large loan to German economic recovery. Germany’s economic problems got international recognition, Germany gained credit for cash starved economy, resulted in French promise to leave Ruhr in 1925, short term success as reparations were being paid improving relations
Locarno Pact - Stresemann proposed international security pact for western frontiers - Britain/USA backed the idea. Series of treaties signed in Oct 1925 - main points were: mutual guarantee agreement accepting the Franco-German and Beligan-German borders, all 5 countries renounced use of force except in self defence, Rhineland demilitarised permanently, arbitration treaties between Germany, Poland, Czechoslovakia agreed to settle disputes peacefully - Gemany freed from isolation by its partners and achieved a lot at little cost. Improved Franco-German relations too as France lessened need to find eastern allies
Treaty of Berlin - signed between Germany/USSR in April 1926 to continue basis of good Russo-German relations. Meant understanding between east and west Europe. Reduced strategic fears on Germany’s Eastern Front
Further diplomatic progress - 1926 invited to League of Nations, 1928 signed Kellogg-Briand Pact declared outlaw that war an instrument of national policy cooperate with 68 nations, 1929 Allies evacuate Rhineland and Young Plan settled revising payments and total sum reduced to £1850 million
Success/Failure? - praised for staunch parliamentary support and condemned for being a democrat - portrayed as an idealist but an opportunist. Achieved a big deal over a short time, achieved in peaceful methods especially after position Germany was in 1923 , failed to generate broad enough domestic support for Weimar, nationalist opposition already mobilised itself against Young Plan
In what ways were the 1920s a culturally rich period?
Why was there a conflict of cultures in Weimar Germany?
Look at art, architecture, literature, theatre, film, radio, cabaret
Possible conflicts
Term used is Neue Sachlichkeit. New functionalism - express reality with more objective view on the world
Art - artists in favour of new objectivity broke away from traditional nostalgia and aimed to comment on state of society. Paintings/caricatures by Otto Dix seedy/aggressive style had strong political messages
Architecture - Bauhaus school established in 1919 in town of Weimar - new style influencing design - approach was functional and close relationship between art/technology. Used steel, cement and plastic in geometric designs
Literature - Not all we ties were expressionists e.g. Thomas Mann and the big sellers wrote traditional nostalgic literature like Hans Grimm. Some explored range of social issues - examining life of a worker in Weimar society for example
Theatre - New dramatic methods often with explicit left wing sympathies were most evident in plays - used innovative techniques like banner and slogans and slides adopting controversial methods to portray characters behaviour
Film - German film industry became most advanced in Europe and more cinemas in country than anywhere else in Europe. Also respected for high quality was ok. Metropolis 1926 - raised frightening issues about direction of modern industrialised society. German film market dominated by UFA - American films made exceptional impact - popular appeal of Charlie Chaplin shows Weimar part of international mass culture
Radio - German Radio Company established 1923 and radio network and nine companies set up in different regions - one in four Germans owned a radio by 1932
Cabaret - Vibrant night life evolved, cabaret clubs opened up mocking conventions of old Germany, satirical comedy, jazz music, parties included interest in sexual experimentation
Conflicts - some respected conservative figures condemned New Democratic/industrial society, Some enjoyed social experimentation but most were horrified by decline in moral and cultural standards, suggested that Weimar never established a genuine tolerant attitude
