Section 2 Golden Age 1924-28 Flashcards
(46 cards)
How did Stresemann’s govt try to fix hyperinflation in 1923?
End of passive resistance saved money by not paying striking workers in Ruhr. Very unpopular and led to Munich putsch.
Introduction of Rentenmark to replace worthless Reichsmark. 1 rentenmark = 1 trillion reichsmarks. By Aug 1924, Rentenmark became Reichsmark, backed by German gold reserve. All under Schacht’s direction.
Balancing the budget: cut spending and raised taxes. Government employee salaries cut. 300,000 civil servants fired
Outline the Dawes plan
Nov 1923 Stresemann requested that the allies’ reparations committee to set up group of financial experts to address Germany’s repayment concerns.
Dawes plan 1924:
Amount to be paid reduced until until 1929
Germany would receive loan of 800,000 marks from USA.
Significant as allies accepted Germany’s repayment issues were real and Germany could invest in industry to rebuild economy using the loans.
Describe German industry in the golden age
By 1925 Germany more stable and prosperous. Industrial output grew after 1924 but didn’t reach 1913 levels until 1929. Large advances in chemical industry made e.g. large scale production of artificial fertilisers. Car and plane businesses developed although still too expensive for normal Germans. Inflation rate close to zero and living standards rose after wages began to increase from 1924.
Number of strikes decreased from 1924-28, partly due to new system of compulsory arbitration.
Limits to economic recovery?
Stresemann 1929 “economic position only flourishing on the surface…. if short terms loans called into large section of economy would collapse.
3 million unemployed in 1926
Mittelstand gained very little from ‘economic miracle’. White collar workers wages didn’t increase and became equal to or less than industrial wages. 180,000 white collar workers unemployed.
Agriculture in golden age?
Farmers gained little in golden age
Worldwide agricultural depression kept food proces low and few farmers able to make a profit on their land.
Larger farmers took out loans to buy land and expensive equipment during hyperinflation, smaller farmers hoarded savings which were wiped out by hyperinflation.
Became easier for farmers to borrow money in 1923, which resulted in farmers being saddled with debt when prices were rising, making them unable to repay. By late 1920s increase in farmers facing bankruptcy.
Agricultural production golden age= less than 75% of pre-war levels
Describe the young plan 1929.
Dawes plan = temporary. Young plan aimed to produce report of the final settlements of the reparations issue.
Germany to continue reparations until 1988.
Total payment reduced from 6.5 to 1.8 billion pounds. Amount paid annually would increase.
All foreign control over payments removed putting responsibility solely on German govt e.g. allies gave up control of the Reichsbank.
In return GB and Franxe withdrew all troops from the Rhineland by June 1930.
Social welfare reforms in golden age?
1924: the public assistance system that provided help for the destitute eas modernised.
1925: state accident insurance system, introduced by Bismarck for workplace injuries extended to those suffering from occupational diseases.
Problem with social welfare system and what was done as a result?
Very expensive: 1926 > state supporting 800,000 war vets, 360,000 war widows and 900,000 war orphans. As well as old age pensions and unemployment benefits. Therefore large and expensive bureaucracy needed to administer it.
Therefore, means tests were tightened up. Snookers sent to check claimants weren’t cheating the system. Those in need of support felt humiliated by the welfare system, undermining the WR.
Living standards and lifestyles in Golden Age?
Employed: living standards definitely improved 1924-28. Especially those in unions, who could negotiate wage increases.
Dole merchants: less well off, but welfare system prevented them from falling into abject poverty.
Business owners: benefitted from the improved trading system of German companies at this time.
Exceptions: those who lost savings due to hyperinflation unable to recover comfy lifestyles, farmers suffered from poor trading positions and low prices.
Employment of women myth vs reality?
Myth
Constitution gave women greater equality in employment rights
By 1925, 36% German workforce = women
By 1933, there were 100,000 female teachers and 3,000 doctors
Reality
The ‘demobilisation’ laws required women to leave work after war so ex-soldiers could find employment
Women had to give up employment when they married in many jobs
Women paid less
Married women with jobs attacked as ‘double-earners’ and blamed for male unemployment. There were campaigns in press and by right wing parties for the dismissal of married women from work.
Sexual freedom of women myth vs reality?
Myth
Birth control more widely available and birth rates declined.
Divorce rates went up.
Rise in abortions estimated 1 million a year by 1930
Reality
Abortion was criminal and done by unqualified people. In 1930, estimated 10-12,000 deaths annually from abortions.
Declining birth rate described by conservative press as ‘birth strike’ that threatened health of the nation and existence of German race
Cath and Prot church vigorously opposed birth control, abortion, and divorce.
Women in politics and public life myth vs reality?
Myth
Women gained equal rights and right to become Reichstag deputy in weimar constitution.
In 1919, 41 women elected to Reichstag.
Women also very active in local govt.
Reality
No females in Reichsrat
No women cabinet members in WR
No political party led by a woman in WR.
Only least appealing party to women, KPD made gender equality a key element
Catholic centre party gained most from women’s suffrage. Prot women areas went for conservative DVP and DNVP. None of these parties gave any support to feminist issues.
Education in the golden age?
One of best state education systems in Europe. Gynasiums for those aiming for Uni, there was Realschule which gave 6 years of schooling for those who would go on to get apprenticeships.
Although few elite private schools, schools divided by class as most gymnasium attendees coming from middle and upper class. Also religiously divided as prot and cath both had influence over religious education.
Education reformers in the WR wanted to break down these divides to provide a free, non-sectarian education for all. Main reform was elementary schools, which everyone attended for 4 years before taking test to get into gymnasium school. Those who failed admission spent a further 4 years at the elementary school rather than going straight into employment.
Describe young people in the golden age
Growing concern that young Germans were breaking free from school, religion and family and turning to a life of crime. These working class kids didn’t attend highly selective gymnasium schools and meant to seek employment at 14.
Less apprenticeships in WR = higher youth unemployment with 17% of unemployed aged 14-21. Partly due to baby boom 1900-10.
Resulted in many young, working-class Germans in urban areas joining gangs to find comradeshio and sense of adventure they lacked.
Youth groups?
Wandervogel: mainly consisted of middle-class boys. Highly nationalistic and had romanticised view of Germany’s past. Hated industry and city. Some had unconventional lifestyles e.g. vegetarian and nudist
Church youth groups: catholics had many diff youth groups aimed at diff sections of youth. Prot youth groups had far less members. Aim of these groups was to promote respect for family, school and church.
Political parties: every major party had youth group. SPD youth, young communist league, Bismarck youth (DNVP), and the Hitler Youth.
Influence of Jews in politics and press 1924-28
Already well established in politics pre 1914. Jewish publishing firms had powerful influence with newspapers such as the Frankfurter Zeitung promoting liberal views. Theodor Wolff, editor of the Berliner Tageblatt was the driving force behind the Liberal DDP. Hugo Haase, Rosa Luxemburg and Kurt Elsner ( leader of Bavarian revolution in 1918) all Jews.
Influence of Jews in industry, commerce and professions 1924-1928
Jews gas considerable wealth and influence in industry, though greatly exaggerated by antisemitic propaganda. Jewish banking families such as the Rothschilds owned about 50% of private banks. Jews owned 50% of firms involved with cloth trade.
38 Nobel prizes given to Germans by 1938, 9 were to Jews
Extension of assimilation and antisemitism?
Most Jews wanted to assimilate in language, dress and lifestyle. Many had non-jewish spouses and had converted to Christianity or given up religious observance.
Chief limiting factor in assimilation: many Germans still saw Jews as somehow alien.
What was the Barmat scandal of 1925?
Some scandals in later 1920s gave ammunition for antisemitic attacks. Most prominent was Barmat scandal in which the Barmat brothers, businessmen who emigrated from Poland after the war, were found guilty of bribing public officials to obtain loans from the post office and prussian state bank.
Describe Berlin nightclubs.
Greater cultural and personal freedom of WR epitomises in vibrant Berlin nightlife, especially in the more prosperous years after 1924.
Berlin nightclubs became renowned for their Cabarets which nudity featured heavily. Gays Lesbians Transvestites felt free to express themselves openly after having to conceal their identity before 1918.
Describe art and music in WR
Art: predominant movement in German art was expressionism. Expressionist painters such as George Grosz thought their works should express meaning or emotion rather than physical reality.
Music: expressionism also influenced German classical composers in this period. Among the most innovative was Arnold Schoenberg, who attempted to convey powerful emotion in his music.
Describe literature and architecture in the WR.
Literature: expressionism key influence on German Novelists and poets tried to focus on character’s internal mental state rather than external reality. Common theme = revolt against parental authority
Architecture: the founding of the Bauhaus by William Gropius in 1919 was a key turning point in development of modernist art in Germany. The school taught art, design and photography as well as architecture
Describe theatre and film in WR
Theatre: many German dramatists incorporated expressionist ideas into their productions. Plays relied on symbolism to convey their messages. Many were political attacking capitalism, war and nationalism.
Film: Berlin became important for world cinema. Important figure in Weimar cinema = Josef Von Sternberg who directed WR most famous film , the blue Angel starring Marlene Dietrich.
Describe coalitions in the WR
7 coalition cabinets Nov 1923- March 1930. Govts in the so called golden age were therefore scarcely less stable than 1919-23. Only six of 23 cabinets 1919-32 had majority support in the Reichstag and minority govts only survived as long as there was semblance of unity between the parties that made up the coalitions.
