sign in sign up
<<
Home , August 1923, January 1923, Occupation of the Ruhr, Ruhr (river)

Another bad year for the

Aim: To evaluate the key events of 1923 and their importance going forward. 1. The French occupation of the –

What can you interpret from this source?

Ruhr fact file:

• was bankrupt, especially following Versailles (Coalfields given to and the reparations) • Germany couldn't afford to pay the £6.6b and so missed their payment in • 60,000 French and Belgian troops entered the Ruhr, Germany’s industrial zone, confiscating raw materials, manufactured goods and machinery

If you were Ebert, what would you do? 1. The French – January 1923

What can you interpret from this source as to what Ebert did?

STRIKE:

• Ebert told the German workers to strike (passive resistance) • Germans were very unhappy with the French, but also further anger towards the Weimar Republic for not resisting the French • Germany’s army had been reduced to 100,000 at Versailles so it was unable to resist • The occupation of the Ruhr further crippled Germany as it was 80% of its coal, iron and steel reserves. • Germany’s debts increased, rose and a crippling shortage of goods led to inflation

1. The French occupation of the Ruhr – January 1923

Stick your sources in and annotate them both with the information we have discussed so far 1. The French occupation of the Ruhr – January 1923

What problems do you think might arise from Ebert’s strike actions?

• The workers didn't want to strike so Ebert will still have to pay their wages • But, nothing was being produced in the Ruhr, so there was no money to pay them • Inflation went up because there were less goods so higher demand = higher prices

So what next?... In order to keep paying the workers and pay the debts, the German Government had to PRINT MORE Money which led to… 2. Hyperinflation

Minutes Cost of Pen and Chocolates (Deutschmarks) What can you infer 0 12 Marks Hyperinflation 1 134,444.4 from this 2 268,888.8 photograph? 3 403,333.2 When inflation is out of 4 537,777.6 control. Prices increase 5 672,222.0 rapidly as the currency 6 806,666.4 loses its value. It usually 7 941,110.8 happens when there is a 8 1,075,555.2 massive increase in the 9 1,209,999.6 supply of money. 10 1,344,444.0 11 1,478,888.4 12 1,613,332.8 13 1,747,777.2 14 1,882,221.6 15 2,016,666.0 16 2,151,110.4 17 2,285,554.8 18 2,419,999.2 19 2,554,443.6 20 2,688,888.0 2. Hyperinflation 2. Hyperinflation

Discuss the messages in these sources…

2. Hyperinflation

Normal living became impossible: People with savings: - wages were paid in wheelbarrows - Those with money in the bank - Paid twice a day so they could rush out were hit the hardest and by goods before they rose in price - Pensioners on a fixed pension even more suffered too - Shops began trading goods instead of - Middle classes were worst affected money - Some people raided shops as they couldn't afford food and were starving

Everyone suffered from Not everyone suffered: shortages: - German marks became • People with loans and mortgages benefitted worthless so couldn't trade • Some people hoarded goods and sold them for with other countries meaning a larger profit as prices went up imports stopped • Some farmers benefitted as the prices of food - Foreign suppliers refused to went up accept the German mark, • Foreign visitors benefitted as their own shortages of food got even currency was stronger meaning they could buy worse for people more 2. Hyperinflation

After Ebert had been replaced by , but was the damage to the Weimar Republic done after 4 years in power?

Recap and summarise the events the Weimar Republic had dealt with starting with the Armistice ending with Hyperinflation… Armistice 11.11.1918

Hyperinflation