To what extent did the Republic recover after 1923?

Question 1

Who was Gustav Stresemann?

Answer 1

• Chancellor of Germany for 102 days
• A new government formed under him in August 1923
• Foreign Minister from 1923 to 1929
• Led Germany through economic recovery in 1920s

Question 2

What was Europe like during the 1920s?

Answer 2

Many countries were gradually recovering from post-war depression

Question 3

What issues did Stresemann tackle in Germany?

Answer 3

• Industry and economy
• Politics
• Foreign policy / international relations

Question 4

What did Stresemann achieve addressing Germany’s industry and economy?

Answer 4

• In 1923, worthless marks were burned and hyperinflation ended. Instead he introduced the Rentenmark, so businesses could trade again
• In 1924, Dawes Plan secured US loans worth 800 million marks as investment in industry + public facilities
• Production exceeded pre-war levels by 1928
• In the 1929 Young Plan, reparation payments were lowered (132 billion -> 112 billion) and renegotiated again

Question 5

What did Stresemann achieve addressing Germany’s political scene?

Answer 5

• Passive resistance called off in 1923 and French troops left the Ruhr by 1925
• Stresemann agreed to start paying reparations again in 1923
• Politics stabilised + moderate parties received more of the vote + more stable coalitions
• By 1928, pro-Weimar parties had 136 more seats than anti-Weimar parties

Question 6

What did Stresemann achieve addressing Germany’s foreign policy?

Answer 6

• In 1925, Locarno Treaties (Locarno Pact) guaranteed Germany’s western borders and improved foreign relations with western powers
• In 1926, Germany joined the League of Nations and was given a seat on the Council
• In 1929, Young Plan removed British, French and Belgian troops from the Rhineland

Question 7

What were Stresemann’s weaknesses in addressing German industry and economy?

Answer 7

• Germany’s economy dependent on US loans that could be called back
• Unemployed remained at over a million and continued to rise
• Increasing economic inequality (rich vs. poor)
• Farmers in particular suffered from lower prices and farming income was half the national average

Question 8

What were Stresemann’s weaknesses in addressing Germany’s political scene?

Answer 8

• Nationalists saw his actions as giving into the allies
• Nazis launched Munich Putsch on 9th November 1923 to try seize power
• Extremist parties still captured 13% of the vote in 1924 Reichstag elections (building up their party organisations)
• In 1925, nationalist war hero Hindenburg was elected president (reflects people’s sentiment)

Question 9

What were Stresemann’s weaknesses in addressing Germany’s foreign policy?

Answer 9

• Nationalists criticised Locarno Treaties and membership of League of Nations
• Meant Germany accepted terms of Treaty of Versailles