Weimar Recovery

The Stresemann Era (1924-1929) - Economic Recovery

The Weimar Republic overcame some of their difficulties with the help of Gustav Stresemann. He was Chancellor in 1923 and Foreign Minister from 1923-29. Between 1924 and 1929, German citizens came to accept the Weimar Republic, and so did international powers.

Stopping hyperinflation

To help stop hyperinflation, Stresemann called off passive (non-violent) resistance in the Ruhr.
In November 1923, Stresemann set up a new currency called the ‘Rentenmark’.
- Unlike the previous currency, Rentenmark was tied to the price of German land and held real value.
In August 1924, this currency was renamed the Reichsmark and placed under the control of the Reichsbank. With this new currency, hyperinflation was stopped.

The Dawes Plan, 1924

Stresemann helped negotiate the Dawes Plan, which helped Germany pay their reparations (payments to the victors).
- In 1924, Banks in the US loaned 800 million Reichsmarks to German industries.
- Reparation instalments (fixed regular payments) were temporarily made £50 million a year.

The Young Plan, 1929

Stresemann next negotiated the Young Plan, which proposed to reduce German reparations (payments to the victors).
- In 1929, the Young Plan planned to lower the total reparations from £6.6 billion to £2 billion.
- The payments would continue until 1988.

The Wall Street Crash and the Young Plan

The Wall St Crash abruptly stopped the Young Plan in 1929.
- American banks had to recall loans made to Europe, undermining (reducing the effectiveness of) the Young Plan.
By 1933, 4 years after the Wall St Crash, world trade had fallen by over 60%. This got rid of any chance of German success through exporting (selling to other countries).
- German exports had risen 40% between 1925 and 1929.

Economic recovery

To an extent, the economy did recover.
- By 1928, industrial production levels were higher than they were in 1913.
- Between 1925 and 1929, exports rose by 40%.
- In 1927, the Weimar Republic set up a number of pension, health and unemployment schemes to help German society.

The insecurity of the economy

But the economy was not completely secure.
- Economic recovery depended on American loans.
- Unemployment was still a big problem for Germany.
- Germany spent more money on imports than they received on exports, a ‘trade deficit’.

The Stresemann Era (1924-1929) - International Recovery

To an extent, the Weimar Republic overcame their difficulties with the help of Gustav Stresemann. As well as helping the domestic economy, Stresemann was crucial to Germany re-entering European politics.

Foreign policy achievements

Stresemann’s key foreign policy achievements were the Locarno Pact, League of Nations and Kellogg-Briand Pact.
Because of his domestic (at home) and foreign achievements, the German population became more confident in the Weimar Republic.
- Their support for extremist parties, such as the Communists and Nazis, weakened.

Locarno Pact, 1925

In 1925, Germany signed an agreement with Great Britain, France, Italy and Belgium called the Locarno Pact.
- In this pact, Germany recognised their borders with France and the demilitarisation (withdrawing military from an area) of the Rhineland.

League of Nations, 1926

In 1926, Germany was invited to join the League of Nations.
- US president Woodrow Wilson set up the League of Nations, which was an international peacekeeping body.

Kellogg-Briand Pact, 1928

In 1928, Germany signed the Kellogg-Briand Pact with 62 other countries.
- In this pact, countries agreed to disarm (give up or reduce armed forces) and not use war to resolve disagreements.

The Treaty of Rapallo, 1922

The 1922 Treaty of Rapallo improved German-Russian relations.
Curiously the Russian Communists agreed to allow the German army, the Reichswehr, to use Russian training camps which the USA, Britain, and France could not discover. This would allow the German army to train with tanks, banned under the Treaty of Versailles.

Internal threats to the Weimar Republic

Despite the achievements, the Weimar Republic still faced potential threats.
- The German population still resented (felt bitter about) the Treaty of Versailles and the League of Nations.
- Although support for extreme left and right-wing parties had declined, the Communist and Nazi Parties still existed.

1The Weimar Republic 1918-1929

1.1World War One

1.1.1WW1

1.1.2The Weimar Republic

1.1.3Early Challenges to Weimar

1.1.4Reparations & the Ruhr

1.1.5Weimar Recovery

1.1.6Weimar Living Standards

1.1.7Weimar Culture

1.1.8End of Topic Test - WW1 & Weimar

1.1.9Grade 9 - The Weimar Republic

2Hitler's Rise to Power 1919-1933

2.1Early Development of the Nazi Party

2.1.1Hitler & the Beginnings of the Nazi Party

2.1.2End of Topic Test - Start of the Nazi Party

2.2The Munich Putsch & the Lean Years

2.2.1The Munich Putsch

2.2.2The Lean Years, 1923-1929

2.2.3End of Topic Test - Putsch & Lean Years

2.2.4Grade 9 - Hitler's Rise to Power

2.3The Growth of Support for the Nazis

2.3.1The Impact of the Great Depression

2.3.2End of Topic Test - Great Depression

2.4How Hitler Became Chancellor

2.4.1Article 48 & Political Turmoil

2.4.2von Papen & Hindenburg's Pact

2.4.3End of Topic Test - Chancellory

2.4.4Grade 9 - How Hitler Became Chancellor

3Nazi Control & Dictatorship 1933-1939

3.1Creating a Dictatorship, 1933-1934

3.1.1The Rise of Hitler

3.1.2End of Topic Test - Dictatorship

3.2The Police State

3.2.1The Police State

3.2.2Repression & Concentration Camps

3.2.3The Nazis & Religion

3.2.4End of Topic Test - Police State

3.2.5Grade 9 - Dictatorship and Police State

3.3Controlling & Influencing Attitudes

3.3.1Propaganda & Censorship

3.3.2Nazi Art & Culture

3.3.3Church Opposition & Social Conformity

3.3.4Youth Opposition & the July Plot

3.3.5End of Topic Test - Controlling Attitudes

3.3.6Grade 9 - Controlling Attitudes

4Life in Nazi Germany 1933-1939

4.1Life in Nazi Germany

4.1.1Women in Nazi Germany

4.1.2Youths in Nazi Germany

4.1.3Employment & Living Standards

4.1.4End of Topic Test - Life in Nazi Germany

4.2The Persecution of Minorities

4.2.1Nazi Racial Beliefs

4.2.2The Persecution of the Jews

4.2.3The Death Camps

4.2.4End of Topic Test - Persecution

4.2.5Grade 9 - Life in Nazi Germany

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