The Weimar Republic - A Golden Era

Question 0

What increased ahead of inflation?

Answer 0

Wages

Question 1

When had heavy industry recovered to 1913 pre-war levels by?

Answer 1

1928

Question 2

Unemployment remained below what throughout the golden era? (Percentage)

Answer 2

10%

Question 3

There was a lot of what and a lack of what in terms of investment, and why?

Answer 3

Large foreign investment, lack of internal German investment. Due to war bonds - Germans lost trust in government economically.

Question 4

What rose by 40% in the golden era?

Answer 4

Exports.

Question 5

What became commonplace in German business and what benefit did it have?

Answer 5

Cartels - it made costs of goods lower.

Question 6

IG Farben became the biggest manufacturer in Europe of what?

Answer 6

Chemicals.

Question 7

In the golden era the government started the biggest social welfare scheme of it’s kind - when and what was it?

Answer 7

1927 - compulsory unemployment insurance. It covered 17 million workers.

Question 8

Despite an economic recovery, what persisting problem did the government have and why?

Answer 8

Balance of payments problem - due to exports still being lower than imports, despite increases.

Question 9

What big persistent problem in government did the Republic carry through from the Crisis Years and why?

Answer 9

Coalition governments, due to proportional representation.

Question 10

Who was made president in 1925 and why?

Answer 10

Hindenburg - because Ebert died suddenly.

Question 11

What was the problem with Hindenburg being President?

Answer 11

He was a nationalist - he didn’t sympathise at all for the Republic’s socialist values.

Question 12

What significant events happened in government in 1928? (Two things)

Answer 12

Müller’s Grand Coalition - significant because it had a 60% majority. The SPD also took part in government, they hadn’t done so since 1922.

Question 13

Who was the Foreign Minister from 1923-1929?

Answer 13

Gustav Stresemann.

Question 14

What was the Dawes Plan and when was it?

Answer 14

The revision of the Treaty of Versailles - it allowed Germany to pay it’s reparations according to it’s financial ability for the next 5 years. Occurred in 1924.

Question 15

What was the Locarno Pact and when was it?

Answer 15

1925 - Agreement accepting the French and Belgian borders with Germany and agreed on no use of force except self defence. The demilitarisation of the Rhineland was recognised as permanent. Germany will settle future disputes with Poland and Czechoslovakia peacefully.

Question 16

What world organisation did Germany join permanently in 1926?

Answer 16

The League of Nations.

Question 17

When and what was the Treaty of Berlin?

Answer 17

1926 - treaty with Russia to maintain a good relationship.

Question 18

When was the Young Plan and what did it entail?

Answer 18

1929 - Stated the amount Germany was to pay in reparations would be reduced to 25% of what it was in the original Treaty, and they would pay until 1988.

Question 19

What happened to Stresemann and when?

Answer 19

He died suddenly of a heart attack in 1929, a few months after the Young Plan was finalised.