Events In Ruhr And Hyperinflation Flashcards
(7 cards)
What was the Ruhr?
The industrial heartland of Germany and vital to it’s economic growth
Why was the Ruhr invaded?
In Jan 1923, Germany failed to pay reparations to France and Belgium
Why were the French angry?
They needed the reparations money to help pay off war debts to the USA
What did the French and Belgians decide to do?
60,000 F + B troops took goods from the Ruhr rather than wait for Ger,any to pay. This was easy as the Ruhr was in the demilitarised zone of the Rhineland
How did Germans respond to the French occupation?
Passive resistance. German workers went in strike as a protest against the invasion
How did the Government support the striking workers?
They payed them by printing money. Striking workers spent their money quickly as they were getting paid for not working. This lead to shops raising prices, so the government printed more money
Name a statistic
Workers were being paid 2x a day + carrued their wages in wheelbarrows
