Unit 2- The Golden Age 1924-28 Flashcards
(91 cards)
1
Q
What was the “Great Coalition” of 1923 ?
A
- Led by Stresseman
- Parties from the left and right wing
- DVP + Centre Party + Socialists+ DDP
2
Q
How did Stresseman end Passive Resistance?
A
-Stopped paying workers who refused to comply and work for the French
=Reduced government expenditure
3
Q
What was the name of the new currency introduced by Stresseman ?
A
- The Rentenmark
- Replaced the worthless Reichmark
4
Q
How was the new Rentenmark being exchanged for the old Reichmark ?
A
-One Rentenmark exchanged for One trillion old marks
5
Q
How was the new currency supported ?
A
- Mortgage on all industrial and agricultural land
- Didnt have gold reserves to back the currency
6
Q
How did Stresseman keep a tight control of the money to prevent inflation ?
A
- Rentenmark became the Reichmark and was backed by gold reserves
- Had to be maintained at 30% of the value of the Reichmarks in circulation
- Inflation seased to be a problem
7
Q
How did Stresseman balance the Budget ?
A
- Cut expenditure, raised taxes
- Salaries of government cut
- 300,000 civil servants lost their jobs
8
Q
Who benefitted from Stresseman’s economic changes ?
A
- Well managed companies that didnt build debt continued to prosper
- Weaker companies that relied on credit, crumbled
- People that lost in the collapse of the old currency didnt gain anything from the introduction of the new one.
9
Q
What did the number of Bankrupt Companies rise to between 1923 and 1924 ?
A
1923- 233
1924- Over 6000
10
Q
What was the Dawes Plan 1924 ?
A
- Plan with USA
- Amount paid each year by Germany should be reduced until 1929, when the situation would be reassessed.
- Germany should re-start reparations by paying 1000 million marks and this would be raised by annual increments over 5 years
- After sum paid is related to Germany’s industrial performance
- Loan of 800 million marks from USA
11
Q
Why was the USA interested in helping Germany with their reparations ?
A
- Wanted Germany to get back to the position where reparations could be made to France
- Much of this money was then passed on to the USA to repay loans
12
Q
What opposition did the Dawes Plan face ?
A
- Stresseman himself didn’t believe in the plan and called it an “economic armistice” but agreed to secure foreign loans
- DNVP and right wing groups attacked the policy and believed Germany should refuse to pay reparations
- Seen as a betrayal for accepting terms of TOV
13
Q
How did the Dawes Plan benefit Germany ?
A
- Allies accepted that Germany’s problems with reparations payment was real
- Loans were granted so new machinery, factories, houses and jobs could be provided- economy could be rebuilt
- French left the Ruhr once it was clear Germany would restart reparations payment
14
Q
What showed an Economic Recovery in Industries after 1924 ?
A
- Big businesses made agreements with smaller firms to form cartels (3000 cartel agreements) inc: 90% of German coal and steel production
- Allowed to protect industries by introducing tariffs on imported foreign goods
- Advances made in the chemical industry such as the large scale production of artificial fertilisers
- Car and aeroplane industries developed
15
Q
What showed an Economic Recovery in Living Standards after 1924 ?
A
- Inflation rate close to zero
- Wages began to increase from 1924
- In 1927, wages increased by 9%
- Loans financed the buildings of houses, schools, roads
- In 1925, over 70,000 more dwellings were built
- In 1926, there were 205,793 new homes
16
Q
What shows the limits of the Economic Recovery in 1924?
A
- Industrial output didn’t reach 1913 levels until 1929
- 1929 Export down by 61%
- Cars were still expensive for the average German
- End of 1925, unemployment = 1 MILLION
- White collared workers didn’t enjoy wage rises of industrial sector
17
Q
How were Farmers affected by the Economic Recovery in 1924?
A
- Increased taxes regarded as unfair on farmers (prices were falling)
- Few farmers able to make a profit off their land
- Increase in bankruptcies amongst farmers
- By 1929, agricultural production was at less than 3/4 of its pre-war level
- Foreclosures- lost their farms
18
Q
What did the Young Plan 1929 state ?
A
- Obliged Germany to continue paying reparations till 1988
- Total of reparations was reduced to £1.8 billion
- Annual repayments increased
- Britain and France agreed to withdraw troops from Rhineland
- All foreign control over reparations ended
19
Q
What opposition did the Young Plan 1929 face ?
A
- Leader of right wing DNVP launched a nationwide campaign against the plan (included Nazis)
- Drew up “Freedom law” - demanded it be submitted to a national referendum
- Law required government to reject TOV and any minister who signed TOV to be tried for treason
20
Q
What was the results of the Freedom Laws ?
A
- Attracted 4,135,000 signatures
- Was debated and rejected in a referendum
21
Q
What social welfare reforms were introduced 1924-27 ?
A
1924-Public Assistance System- provided help to the poor and destitute was modernised
1925- State Accident Insurance System- To help those injured at work and who had occupational diseases
1927-National Unemployment Insurance System- Provided benefits for the unemployed- financed through contributions from workers and employers
22
Q
What were the problems with Social Welfare?
A
- Promised more than it delivered
- Very expensive
- Needed a large and expensive bureaucracy to administer it
- Means tests introduced- to see people weren’t cheating the system
- War Veterans and their families felt humiliated and insulted by the welfare system
- Undermined their support for the Weimar Republic
23
Q
In 1926 how many people were the state supporting with welfare ?
A
- 800,00 disabled war veterans
- 360,000 Widows
- Over 900,000 War Orphans
24
Q
Which groups enjoyed improved living standards ?
A
- Workers in trade unions- were able to maintain living standards by negotiating wage increases
- Business owners and their employees benefitted from the improved trading position for German companies at the time
25
Which groups didnt benefit from the new living standards?
- Those dependant on welfare suffered some hardships
- People who lost savings during Hyperinflation were unable to regain their previous lifestyles
- Farmers suffered from poor trading conditions, low prices and their incomes were falling
26
What did the "New Woman" symbolise ?
- Symbolised the way women's lives had changed since the end of the war
- Was free, independent, sexually liberated, increasingly visible in public life
27
What caused women to gain more opportunities after the war ?
- Change in gender balance due to war
- Over 2 million males killed in war= fewer opportunities for women to follow conventional path
- Many more women brought into paid employment to replace men who's fought in the war
28
What law limited the ability for women to get employment ?
- The Civil Code of Conduct 1896
| - In a marriage, the husband had a right to decide on all matters concerning family life
29
Who were the League of German Women (BDF) ?
- Most popular women group in the 1920's
- 900,000 members
- Promoted traditional family values and maternal responsibilities
- Opposed changes of freedom and liberation
30
What rights did women gain in employment ?
- Greater equality in employment rights
- Equal opportunities in civil service
- Right to equal pay
- In 1925- 36% of German workforce are women
31
What was the reality of women's rights in employment ?
- Demobilisation Laws= women to leave jobs so ex-soilders could find employment
- Required to give up employment when marries
- Married women who worked, attacked as "double earners" - conservative parties campaigned to dismiss them
32
How did Women's sexual freedom increase ?
- Birth control widely available
- Divorce rates increased
- Rise in abortions
- By 1930- 1 million abortions a year
33
What was the reality of women's sexual freedom ?
-Abortion was illegal, performed by unqualified people -10-12,000 deaths
34
What rights did women gain in politics ?
- Gained equal voting rights to men
- Right to be Reichstag deputies
- In 1914, 41 women were elected to Reichstag
35
What was the reality of women in politics ?
- No political party had a female leader in the Weimar years
- Only communists (KPD) made gender equality a key element in its party
36
Who was Clara Zetkin ?
- KPD member of Reichstag
| - Organised first International Women's Day in 1911
37
What were the Youth turning to a life of in Weimar Germany and why ?
- Turning to a life of crime
- Would have to leave school at 14 if they didnt go to a Gymnasium school
- Fewer apprenticeships, more youth unemployment
- In 1925- 17% of unemployed were aged 14-21
- Were seeking employment at a time where workforces were being reduced
38
What measures were put in place to help young people ?
- Benefits system provided help
| - Day Centres established to help youth acquire skills needed to find work
39
Why did many of the youth join gangs ?
- Lack of unemployment
| - Sense of adventure that was lacking in their lives
40
How was the German education system divided ?
- Divided along class lines
- Gymnasium schools= middle/upper class
- Realschule= people who wanted to do apprenticeships
- Catholic and Protestant churches had a very powerful influence over religious education
41
What was introduced as a reform in the education system ?
- Elementry schools = all children attend for first 4 years of education
- Able to continue for 4 more years if they don't get into gymnanism school
- Kept them in school and off the streets
42
What were the 3 types of Youth Groups established ?
- Wandervogen (Wandering Birds)- Group of middle-class boys, nationalistic, would do outdoor activities
- Political Groups-SPD had the most members of any political youth group, Hitlers Youth
- Church Groups- Promote religious beliefs, instil respect for family and church
43
How many Jews were there in Germany during the Weimar period ?
-1% of the population
44
What was the position of Jews in Politics and the Press?
- Jewish run newspapers- The Berliner Tageblatt prompted liberal political views
- Walther Rathenu, Foreign minister, also a member of the DDP
- Prominant in SPD and KPD (rosa luxenburg)
45
What was the position of Jews in Industry and Banking ?
- Jewish Firms dominated coal-mining and steelworks
- Jewish banking families owned 50% of private banks (Rothschilds)
- Jewish banks made up 18% of the banking sector in Germany
46
What was the position of Jews in professions ?
- 16% of lawyers in Germany
- 11% of doctors in Germany
- 9 awarded nobel prizes to Jews
47
How did Jews assimilate into German society ?
- Looked and acted like Germans (dress sense)
- Many married non-jews
- Converted to christianity
48
What problems did Jews face during the Weimar ?
- Jews seen as alien by Germans
- Backlash against Jews (related to communists and are a danger to Germany )
- Hostility against Jewish finances at time of Hyperinflation
- Accusations of Corruption by Jewish bankers and businessmen
49
What was the Barmat Scandal of 1925 ?
- Barmat Brothers= Jewish Businessmen
- Convicted of bribing public officials to obtain loans from the Prussian state bank and national post office
- 11 months in jail
- Provided ammunition for anti-semitic attacks
50
What was the influence of Berlin nightclubs ?
- Renowned for cabarets (nudity featured strongly)
- Gay men, lesbian and trans could display sexuality
- American Jazzer's music played by black americans popular
- Comedians performed and attacked politicians
51
How did older, traditional minded Germans feel about the Berlin nightclubs ?
- Horrified
- hated USA's influence
- Felt order and discipline was destroyed by the revolution of 1918
52
What was the influence of art ?
- Expressionism was a huge movement
- Believed their works should express meaning or emotion
- Vivid and abstract in style
53
What was the influence of music ?
- Expressionism influenced German classical composers
| - Atonal music- lacks key and sounds hash
54
What was the influence of Literature ?
- Expressionism key influence
- Novelists and poets focus on characters internal mental state
- Key themes = revolt against parental authority
55
What was the influence of architecture ?
- Students encouraged to incorporate metals like steel and glass into their designs
- taught to make functions of buildings and objects a key element in their designs
56
What was the influence of theatre ?
- German dramatics incorporated expressionist ideas into their productions
- Sets were stark
- Attacked war and capatilsim
57
What was the influence of films ?
- Berlin important centre for world cinema
- Used modern techniques
- Best known film of weimar = The Blue Angel
58
How many elections were there in 1924 ?
- 2 elections in 1924
59
What did the 1924 elections show a greater support for ?
- Greater support for pro-republican parties that supported the Weimar Republic- The SPD, DDP and Centre
- Over 61% voted for pro-republican parties in May
- 67% in December
60
What happened to the positions of anti-republican parties in the 1924 elections ?
- Nazis share of the vote went down to 3% in December
- Communist party in decline after May 1924
- Nationalists on right began to work with republic as their position weakened
- DNVP joined Reich coalition government in Jan 1925
61
What happened to the extreme and anti-republican parties in the 1928 election ?
- Support for extreme and anti-republican parties declined further
- Nazis vote share reduced to 2.6% and won only 12 seats
- Communist KPD however saw a revival of electoral support
62
How many coalition cabinets were there between Nov 1923 and March 1930 ?
- 7 coalitions between 1923-1930
- More stable than coalitions in the year 1919-1923
- Only 6/23 cabinets between 1919-1932 had majority support in the Reichstag
63
What are some of the issues that occurred in the coalition governments ?
- Luther's government collapsed over a flag in 1926
- SDP and DNVP would not serve in the same cabinet (unable to form coalitions and get majority )
- Moderate centre parties did not have enough seats to command a Reichstag
64
How were the anti-republican parties still in a position to threaten the Weimar Republic ?
- KPD saw a revival of electoral support in 1928, 54 deputies elected to Reichstag(increase)
- Nationalist party had 73 deputies elected to the Reichstag in Dec 1924, still was a threat
65
What was one stable coalition ?
- The Grand Coalition led by Muller of the SPD
- Longest lived coalitions of Weimar era
- In office until March 1930, established in 1928
66
What were problems with the Grand Coalition ?
- Government established in June 1928
- Did not agree on polices until 1929
- Ongoing disputes over budget and foreign policy
- Only survived due to strong working relationship between Muller and Stresseman
- Only lasted 2 years, despite being the longest coaltion
67
Who was the largest party in the Reichstag in the years 1924-1928 ?
- The SPD
- Left Wing
- Vital interest in democratic government
68
How did Hindenberg become president ?
- Jarres (the right) won the most votes in the first round
- In the 2nd round, Jarres withdrew in favour of Hindenberg
- Centre and communist party left in running, left vote was split
- Hindenberg won with 48.3% of the vote
69
What were the issues with Hindenberg becoming president ?
- Had authoritarian views
- Revered by right
- His election was seen as a restoration of the old order
- Seen as a step away from parliamentary democracy
70
How was Hindenberg really as president ?
- Appealed to parties in the Reichstag to work with them and restore national unity
- Didn't abuse power and stuck closely to the Weimar Republic
- Election important in reclining anti-democratic political parties
- Made parliamentary democracy work
71
What was Hindenberg like as president by the 1930's ?
- Became increasingly impatient with party-political manoeuvring at a time of serious economic crisis (party's didn't prioritise national interests)
- Used Article 48 to rule by decree on routine basis
- Didn't believe in democracy
72
What were attitudes to the Republic from the elites?
- Hostile to parliamentary democracy
- Held view the republic was born out of betrayal of the fatherland
- Hostility strengthened by signing of TOV
- Election of Hindenburg- thought it would steer Germany back to authoritarian form of government
73
What were the attitudes to the Republic from other social groups ?
- Industrial workers felt republic had not delievered on its problems of greater equality and social justice
- Crushing of revolt by army and police- evidence democracy was failing
- Some middle class were still supportive of the Weimar, except Mittlstand who lost out during hyperinflation
- Mittlstand welcomed Stresseman's economic recovery
74
What was Stresseman's Policy of Fulfilment ?
- Complying with the TOV
| - To revise or remove the terms of the TOV
75
What did Stresseman see as the biggest obstacle in revising the TOV terms ?
- French suspicion of Germany
| - Concentrated on ways to reassure France of Germany's peaceful intentions
76
What were successes of the Locarno Pact 1925 ?
- Germany, France and Belgium promised to respect the Western Frontiers
- Germany agreed to keep its troops out the Rhineland
- Britain and Italy promised to aid Germany, France or Belgium if any of these countries were attacked by each other
- France weren't permitted to cross into Germany if there's a dispute
- Gets Germany into League of Nations
- Stresseman won Nobel Prize
- Eastern borders not recognised in same way as the west(could expand)
77
What were the Criticisms of the Locarno Pact 1925 ?
- France signed Mutual Guarantee- would make sure Germany did not break agreement
- French still suspicious
- Right attacked Stresseman for appeasing the allied and giving too much away
78
What was the Mutual Guarantee ?
- Would make sure Germany did not break Locarno Pact agreements
- Showed French still had suspicions
79
What were the similarities in the post war situation of Russia and Germany ?
- Both defeated in the war and suffered from peace treaties
| - Hated Poland, thought it was a threat to their security
80
What were terms of the Treaty of Rapallo ?
- Germany and Russia resumed trade and economic cooperation
- Diplomatic relations restored
- Outstanding claims for war compensation dropped
- Germany allowed to develop new weapons and train pilots in Russia
81
What were criticisms of the Treaty of Rapallo ?
- France angered
- Showed Germanys intentions to get around disarmament terms of the TOV
- Refusal to accept its eastern frontier with Poland
82
What was the Treaty of Berlin ?
- Germany and Russia renewed their earlier treaty
| - Germany would remain neutral if the USSR were to be involved in a war
83
What was the IMCC ?
-Set up to ensure Germany complied with the disarmament terms of the TOV
84
How did Germany get around disarmament clauses ?
- Built submarines in Spain
- Tanks and artillery in Sweden
- Developed new weapons and trained pilots in Russia
- New fortifications built along Polish frontier
85
Why was secret disarmament important for Germany ?
-Ensured Germany did not fall behind other powers in technological developments
86
What did secret disarmament not provide Germany with ?
- Fully operational air force
| - Army with unlimited supplies of modern weapons
87
How did Germany secretly rearm their army?
- General Von Seekt
- Most recruits to the army were enlisted for short periods of time
- Would receive intense military training
- Led to a reserve of highly trained men who could be recalled at short notice
- Aimed to restore Germany's military
- Worked towards military alliance with Russia, which aimed to destroy Poland
88
What was the Kellogg-Briand Pact 1928 ?
- With France and the USA
- States would agree to voluntarily give up the use of offensive ways to resolve disputes
- Not use armies aggressively
- International agreement to avoid war
89
What was a criticism of the Kellogg-Briand Pact 1928 ?
-Lack of enforcement limited its effectiveness
90
What caused the end of Allied Occupation in Germany ?
-Dawes and Young Plan provided evidence of Germanys willingness to cooperate with the allies
91
What was the end of Allied Occupation in Germany ?
- Removal of foreign forces from German soil
- Secured by 1930
- Policy of fulfilment was successful
- Occupation forces from zone 1 of Rhineland removed
- IMCC withdrew form Germany
