Worksheet 23

Weimar Germany 1924–1929 Stresemann’s rule – and Hitler’s wilderness years

© Hodder Murray Germany 1918–1945

REMIND ME ...

The Weimar Republic was the name given to the German government after the First World War – the first democratic government in Germany’s history.

The government started in the town of Weimar because of all the unrest in the capital, Berlin. Its first leader was Friedrich EBERT.

HOW SUCCESSFUL WAS IT?

At first, not at all. 1923: Rioting, hyperinflation, French invading the Ruhr, Hitler’s attempted Munich Putsch ...

BUT WHAT ABOUT 1924?

Ah, that’s when things began to change for the better. This was largely because of one man ...

WHO?

Gustav Stresemann, who was Chancellor (roughly the same as our Prime Minister) from Aug. to Nov. 1923.

He then became Foreign Minister and was a big success.

WHAT HAPPENED?

Hyperinflation was sorted out. The worthless banknotes were called in, burned and replaced by a new currency.

WHAT ELSE?

Stresemann worked hard to improve relations between Germany and the rest of the world, especially Britain, France and the USA.

Stresemann thought Germany would get better treatment by accepting and fulfilling the terms of the Treaty of Versailles than by arguing.

WITH WHAT RESULT?

ØIn 1924 the USA lent Germany money to help pay reparations. This was called the DAWES PLAN:

The Dawes Plan, named after an American banker, worked out a reasonable schedule for reparations repayments. Even the French found this acceptable!

ØFrench troops were gradually withdrawn from the Ruhr;

ØGerman industry began to recover – and so did the rest of Europe’s economy;

ØIn 1929 he negotiated a reduction in reparations under the Young Plan.

The Young Plan reduced the figure by 75 per cent, but the Depression finished off the Plan before it got started.

HIS BIGGEST SUCCESSES?

Apart from reducing and rescheduling reparations, Stresemann achieved two great advances, both in foreign policy.

WHAT WERE THEY?

First, Stresemann built good relations with Aristide Briand of France. This led to the signing of ...

THE LOCARNO PACT (1925)

This was signed at Locarno in Switzerland. It was actually a group of treaties. The idea was to tidy up arguments left over from the First World War.

SUCH AS?

Borders. Germany promised always
to observe its western borders with France and Belgium. Britain and Italy guaranteed these borders.

Germany also signed treaties with Poland and Czechoslovakia, promising to use only peaceful means to alter those borders. But only France guaranteed these borders.

AND THE RESULT?

The Locarno Pact put Germany back in the ‘family’ of European nations.

ØIn 1926 British troops who were in the Rhineland Occupied Zone left Germany. The French went in 1930.

ØIn 1926 Germany joined the League of Nations as a full member.

ØLater, she became a member of the Council.

Stresemann and Briand won the 1926 Nobel Peace Prize for their efforts.

THE KELLOGG PACT

In 1928 Stresemann joined the leaders of more than 60 nations to sign the Kellogg-Briand Pact.

This treaty was simply a statement that all those who signed it rejected war as a means of settling arguments.

Unfortunately, it was really rather pointless. Many of those who signed had broken the treaty within a few years.

Frank Kellogg was the US Secretary of State (Foreign Minister). He hoped to keep Europe at peace by means of this treaty.

SO WHAT ABOUT HITLER?

A good question. Hitler came out of prison in 1924 only to find a much more stable, prosperous Germany.

People weren’t interested in his extreme ideas.

By 1928 there were only 650,000 unemployed. Confidence rose as Dawes Plan cash helped revive the German economy.

WHAT DID HITLER DO?

The only thing he could do. He bided his time, waiting for his big chance.

He had decided not to try to seize power by violent means ever again.

He kept on speaking out against the Treaty of Versailles, especially the War Guilt Clause and the Reparations.

Hitler built up his SA – Brownshirts – during this time. In 1927 they numbered about 30,000. They broke up his opponents’ meetings and fought with Jews and Communists.

DOING THE BUSINESS ...

Hitler also developed good relations with some rich businessmen and industrialists. He promised them a Germany free of Communists and troublesome trade unions.

These people helped to bankroll the Nazis at this time – and kept on doing so.

DID PEOPLE VOTE NAZI?

Look at these figures. They show the number of seats the Nazis won in elections for the Reichstag (parliament).

May 1924 / 32 / Note that the Communists also did better after 1929 – why?
Dec. 1924 / 14
1928 / 12
1930 / 107
July 1932 / 230

In 1929 Stresemann died. Shortly afterwards the Wall Street Crash occurred, to be followed by the world slump.

Hitler’s big chance had arrived.

© Hodder Murray Germany 1918–1945