How far did Germany recover under Stresemann (1923-9)?

1
How far did Germany recover under Stresemann
(1923-9)?
? Aims

• To assess the skills of Gustav Stresemann
• extent of recovery in Germany after the crisis
  year of 1923

2
? Your task

• Read p.26 and list the reasons why Stresemann was
  a good politician

3
Role of Stresemann

• Experienced politician - Chancellor, Foreign
  Minister
• Diplomat Locarno Tr. (1925), League of nations
  (26), Young Plan (29)
• Gifted orator
• Nobel Peace Prize (1926)

Do Stresemanns skills remind you of other
leaders we have studied?
4
? Your task

• Read p.26-7. Which problems have been solved by
  1929? Which problems still remain?

5
Economic recovery

• Rentenmark
• 1924, Dawes Plan US lent 800 million marks
• 1925, French ended occupation of Ruhr
• 1929, Young Plan, reduced reparations 60
• 1928, industrial production topped pre-war levels
• Construction infrastructure, 3 million new homes

6
International Relations

• 1925, Locarno Treaty with GB, Fr., It.
  guaranteeing its frontiers
• 1926, Germ. joined League of Nations
• 1928, Kellogg-Briand Pact the solution of all
  disputes shall only be sought by peaceful means

Why might the Locarno Treaty have been unpopular?
7
Political situation

• Stable govt. Social Democrats formed a
  coalition supporting Weimar Republic
• Decline in support for extremists (NAZIs won 12
  seats in 1928 Reichstag elections)

Why do you think there was less support for
extremist parties at this time (1923-9)?
8
Problems

• American loans
• Depression in agriculture
• Extremism (NAZIs / Communists)
• 1925, Hindenburg elected President opponent of
  Republic
• 1929, death of Stresemann
• 1929, Wall St. Crash

Why do you think Hindenburg opposed the Weimar
Republic?
9
Culture

• Cultural revival
• Berlin pleasure capital of Europe (C. Isherwood,
  Goodbye to Berlin AKA Cabaret)
• Lifts on censorship
• Experimental art, e.g. Georg Grosz, Erich Marque,
  All Quiet on the Western Front,

Otto Dix depiction of First World War generals.
Why would images like this not have been possible
under the Kaiser?
10
Plenary
How healthy was the Weimar Republic in 1929?
11
? Homework

• It is 1929. You have been asked to write a
  confidential report for the Chancellor on the
  current health of the Weimar Republic. Refer to
  the following
• The crisis year of 1923
• Improvements in relations with other countries
• Politics
• Economy
• Which problems have been solved which remain
  unresolved by 1929? Which problem is the most
  serious?