Key Question 2: Change in Foreign and Economic Policy (1924-1929)

Question 1

Stressmann’s 100 Days: Problems

Answer 1

• hyperinflation
• French and Belgium troops occupying Ruhr
• gov had no clear policy
• various left-wing political disturbances - attempted communist uprising
• Bavaria was defying national gov - Munich putsch

Question 2

Stressmann’s 100 Days: Achievements

Answer 2

• appointed in August 1923, led a broad coalition of DVP, DDP, ZP and SPD
• called passive resistance in Ruhr and promised to resume payment of reparations
• conciliate the french to gain sympathy
• appointed Schaht to oversee introduction of new currency - Dec 1923 trillions was replaced by the Rentenmark
• evolved sympathy from allies - conference held on German economy (Daws established)

Question 3

Stressmann’s 100 Days: Survival of Weimar

Answer 3

• anger directed towards french and allies than the republic itself
• inflation: not as bad as depression
• employers showed less hostility
• businessmen did have good run in inflation
• years of stability 1924-1929
• economic recovery
• political stability

Question 4

What did President Hindenburg do?

Answer 4

• no clear successor after Ebert died
• very controversial election, but he proved to be loyal to the republic
• some hoped he would restore the empire or create a new military regime
• acted as the Kaiser
• he had no sympathy for Republic, used DNVP in gov and excluded SPD
• “he refused to betray the republic, but didn’t rally people under the banner” - Nazi slips in
• failed to make progress - coalition collapsed 1926, growing contempt

Question 5

What were Stressemann’s views before joining the Republic?

Answer 5

• supported the Kaiser (1919) - supporter of Siegfreidge
• 1918 support for Treaty of Brest-Litvosk
• Ludendorff’s young man
• formed DVP party

Question 6

Main Dates for Stressmann

Answer 6

• 1918 founded Germans People Party and sought to form a coalition government with other parties
• Chancellor in 1923, Foreign Minister in 1923-1929

Question 7

Pointers that state Weimar didn’t have a ‘Golden Era’

Answer 7

• 1926 production declined, overseas trade the value of imports exceeded exports
• unemployment never fell bellow 1.3 million, even before the Wall Street crash 1.9 million were jobless
• income per head in agriculture was 44% below the national average
• savers lost a great deal of money in the Great inflation, there was less enthusiasm to invest
• 1925 kept running into debt

Question 8

Weimar Political Parties (1924-1929): Liberals (DDP, DVP)

Answer 8

• not strong, DDP and DVP joined in all the coalition gov of the period
• leader was Stressmann, possessing Republic’s only really capable statesman
• collapse in 1930s due to divisions in parties
• DDP had a clear lack of leadership and it’s membership was involved of Bickering over policy
• failed to gain popular support; 1929 position declined

Question 9

Weimar Political Parties (1924-1929): DNVP/NSVP (German National People’s Party)

Answer 9

• opposed to Republic and it’s refused to take part in government
• republic recovered after 1923 and hopes of a right wing gov was failing
• influence on government, meant they had to participate in government
• 1925-1927 joined gov coalition
• not popularly and vote fell by a quarter

Question 10

Weimar Political Parties (1924-1929): SPD

Answer 10

• 1932 SPD remained largest party in Reichstag, although firmly supported the Republic
• divided by desire to uphold interests of working class and it’s communicated to democracy
• some members connected with trade unions, feared that joining coalition with other parties, would weaken principles

Question 11

Weimar Political Parties (1924-1929): Centre Party (Zentrum ZP)

Answer 11

• provided real political leadership in Weimar politics
• ZP electoral support was solid and party participation in all coalition gov from 1919-1932
• support didn’t increase
• 1928 leadership eventually passed the Ludwig Kaas and Heinrich Bruning

Question 12

What were Stressmann’s Aims and Objectives?

Answer 12

• free Germany from ToV
• Play on Germany’s vital importance to world trade
• maintain Rapallo Treat based on friendship with USSR
• encourage co-operations and peace with Western Powers
• restore power and prosperity, end climatic isolation
• comply/fulfil terms of ToV to improve relations with France and Britain
• gain economic aid from USA

Question 13

Stressmann’s Help: Young Plan 1929

Answer 13

Annual reparations payments are lowered and time to repay was lengthened to billions and given until 1988 to pay. Allies supervisions discontinued, as a settlement Germany was apart of the reparation negotiations.

Question 14

Stressmann’s Help: Dawes Plan

Answer 14

• in 1924 USA loaned Germany 800 million gold marks.
• Payment of reparations was to be made annually in line with Germany’s economy.
• Allies maintained control of the railways, the reich bank and custom dutties
• French promised to evacuate Ruhr in 1925, currency changed to the Rentenmark
• helped economy
• only paid 1560 million and later payments suspended in 1932

Question 15

Stressmann’s Help: Locarno Pact

Answer 15

• signed 1 December 1925, 1926 joined League of Nations, 1928 signing of Kellog-Birand pact and 1929 evacuate Rhineland
• France, Britain, Italy, Germany, Belgium, Poland and Czechoslovak were involved
• Germany freed from isolation and was treated equally
• confirmed existing frontiers and remilitarising of the Rhineland
• no border with Poland

Question 16

Stressmann’s Help: Treaty of Berlin

Answer 16

• signed 24 April 1926 - reversed claims made by Russia
• Austria-Hungary, France, Germany, Britain, Ireland, Italy, Russia and Ottoman Empire were involved
• Germany and USSR pledged to neutralise in the event of an attack by a third party
• allowed Germany to circumvent some of the military restrictions imposed on Versailles

Question 17

Points of Good European

Answer 17

• some people criticise Stressmann for ignoring German interests at all time e.g. Erfullungspolitik
  (Accepting ToV terms)
• even when facing attacks he still perused politics he is prepared to accept ToV causes
• pushed for minimal reforms related to Versailles to keep peace e.g. Locarno (Germany wouldn’t gain back western land)
• helped global relations by gaining permanent seat on LofN

Question 18

Points for Good German

Answer 18

• pro-European actions were a ploy to regain power
• fulfilment was German policy before and it also saw Germany gain better
• Locarno helped secure western boarders and have them a chance to win back western territory
• removed allied troops from Rhineland (1930)