Germany revision notes number 2: How far did the Weimar Republic recover under Stresemann? Please remember that these are revision notes. You need to make full use of your exercise book and textbook pages 26-30. You also need to make sure that you apply your knowledge appropriately to the demands of the exam questions, especially if you wish to secure an A/A* grade. How far did the Weimar Republic recover under Stresemann? The crisis facing the Weimar Republic reached its peak in November 1923. For the next six years Germany went through a period of prosperity that is sometimes called the 'golden age of the Weimar Republic’. The role of Stresemann Gustav Stresemann was leader of the German People’s Party (DVP). He became Chancellor briefly in 1923 and was Foreign Minister from 1923 to 1929. As Chancellor, he introduced a new currency, the Rentenmark, to replace the old worthless mark. He ordered the striking workers in the Ruhr back to work and agreed that Germany should start paying reparation again. This made him unpopular and he was forced to give up the post of Chancellor in November 1923. As Foreign Secretary Stresemann did more than anyone else to make Germany acceptable again to the European powers. In 1929 he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. Sresemann was also important in countering extremism within Germany and did much to keep governments going during the 1920s. It was a tragedy that he died in October 1929-at a time when Germany needed his special qualities. Economic recovery The introduction of the Rentenmark stabilised the German currency. To avoid another financial collapse in the future, other measures were also taken. In 1924 Germany agreed the Dawes Plan with the USA, Britain and France, in which the USA lent Germany 800 gold million marks. The Germans could use this to build new factories that would produce jobs and goods, and which would raise the standard of living for the German people. The Dawes Plan also spread the load of reparation payments according to Germany’s ability to pay. Over the next few years, Germany would make repayments starting at £50 million and rising to £125 million. Afterwards, payments would be linked to the prosperity of the German economy. The Dawes Plan did much to restore confidence in the German economy, and investment poured in from abroad. By 1925 all French and Belgian troops had been withdrawn from the Ruhr. This seemed to be a period of economic prosperity as German industry produced more goods, exports rose, unemployment fell and most Germans were better off. The Young Plan of 1929 extended the deadline for payments of reparations for a further 59 years. International relations Other countries began to treat Germany as an equal. In 1925, Germany and France signed the Locarno Pact, in which they agreed never to try to change the border between them. In the following year, Germany was allowed to join the League of Nations. In 1928, Germany signed the Kellog-Briand Pact with over 60 other countries. This said that these countries would never go to war against one another. Impact of recovery The republic was now more stable than at any time since 1919. The result was a decline in support for extremist parties such as the Communists and National Socialists. The moderate Social Democrats, on the other hand, increased their support after 1924. It seemed that the Weimar Republic was safe. People had more money to spend. Berlin became the pleasure capital of Europe. Going to clubs and cafes became an important part of Berlin life. Artists flocked to Berlin. There was little censorship and people could do whatever they wanted. The late 1920 saw a huge cultural revival in Germany. As the economy and politics became more stable, writers and artists had more chance to try out new ideas. The artist George Grosz used art to criticise society. A golden age? Although Germany did experience economic recovery after 1923, there were still problems. The German economy now became very dependent on US loans. This was to have disastrous consequences in 1929. Much of the money borrowed from US banks was invested in projects that in the long-term would pay off the loans and the interest. What was needed was time. Even as early as 1927, however, industrial growth had started to slow down and there was depression in farming. Some critics saw the Weimar Republic as ‘decadent’ and unpatriotic. Its new culture did not seem to represent the more traditional virtues of Germany. Many blamed the new wave of art for a decline of moral standards in the 1920s. The Great Depression In October 1929, Stresemann, the most able minister in the government died. Shortly after, the American financial marked on Wall Street in New York crashed. The effects of the collapse were felt not only in the USA, but across the world. Germany was hit particularly badly because of the scale of the loans from America after 1924……..MORE ABOUT THIS TOPIC ON THE NEXT REVISION SHEET. Some example exam questions You might want try to complete some of them as part of your revision. What would you write about? Question Marks Using Source F and your knowledge, explain how Gustav Stresemann tried to strengthen Weimar Germany. 8 How important was Gustav Stresemann, amongst other factors, in making the Weimar government successful 12 between the years 1924 and 1929?