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Gustav
Stresemann When the exercise has been completed click here for the answers. The history of the Weimar Republic between 1923 and 1929 is sometimes referred to as ‘The Stresemann Era’. This reflects Gustav Stresemann’s importance in the politics of the period. His reputation, however, has been widely debated since his death in 1929. Was he ‘a Good German’, or ‘a Good European’? You must decide. The man Gustav Stresemann was born in 1878, the son of a Berlin publican. He studied economic at university and went on to enjoy a successful business career. He became the youngest member of the Reichstag in 1907. He supported the Monarchy and was a co-founder of the right-wing DVP in 1918. Although not a natural supporter of the Weimar Republic at first, he believed it to be the best alternative available to left- or right-wing dictatorship. Stresemann’s abilities, as speaker and administrator, and the assassination of other leaders, meant that he emerged as the most effective Weimar politician. In August 1923 he was appointed Chancellor to deal with the economic crisis. He lost the Reichstag’s confidence as Chancellor in November 1923, but remained as Foreign Minister from 1923 until his death in October 19929. In 1926 Gustav Stresemann was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his diplomatic work. The background The Weimar Republic was in turmoil. The First World War and the humiliating defeat had resulted in political and economic chaos. The Kaiser had abdicated, bringing about a political revolution, but democracy was tarnished from the beginning as the politicians were blamed for betraying the military. ‘November Criminals’ had ‘stabbed the army in the back’ by signing the armistice that ended the fighting. This view was reinforced by the severity of the ‘Diktat’, the Treaty of Versailles, in 1919. Attempts were made to overthrow the new state. First there was the communist-inspired Spartacist uprising in January 1919, then the right-wing Kapp Putsch in 1920, and there a number of key political assassinations, including Erzberger and Rathenau.Economically the war had been disastrous for Germany. The war had been financed through borrowing and printing more money, both of which continued after the war. After 1919 the entire Reich budget was needed to pay the interest on the wartime loans and the policy of printing more money produced rampant inflation. The Treaty of Versailles made the situation worse. It took away land rich in resources such as iron ore and cola, important agricultural areas, and fixed a reparation bill of 132, 000 million marks. Even before 1923, events were spiralling out of control. Then, late in 1922, the Germans were late delivering reparations to France, so the French and Belgians sent 100,000 troops into the Ruhr, Germany’s industrial heartland, to collect them. They were faced by passive resistance as the German workers refused to work for the French. Coal now had to be imported, the striking workers needed paying and the tax revenue from the Ruhr dried up, so the Government printed more money. Inflation became hyper-inflation. People no longer carried their money in purses and wallets. Instead they stuffed banknotes into wheelbarrows, suitcases and laundry baskets. Money had gone mad. It was worthless. Everyone suffered. In these circumstances, Stresemann became Chancellor in August 1923. ACTIVITY Table A
Table B 1. Reparations were paid on time. 2. Germany was able to continue rearming in secret, beyond the restrictions imposed by the Treaty of Versailles. 3. This agreement was seen as strengthening the League of Nations. 4. Provided Hitler and the Nazis with the opportunity to challenge the Weimar Republic. 5. It seemed that the Allies were increasingly seeing the western and eastern parts of the Treaty as two separate issues. 6. After the humiliation of Versailles, it seemed that Germany was once again being forced to surrender and publically acknowledge its own weakness. 7. Germany used its position to raise matters of German interest, such as disarmament and the early withdrawal of the forces of occupation from the Rhineland. 8. For the first time, all major powers were involved. 9. The Allies agreed to end their occupation of the Rhineland in 1930, 5 years early. 10. The currency was stabilised, and purses and wallets could be used again. 11. Stresemann showed that he was prepared to co-operate with the east, as well as the west, to further his goals. 12. Now that Germany seemed committed to international peace, the Inter-Allied Military Control Commission, monitoring Germany’s compliance with the military terms of Versailles, was withdrawn. 13. The German economy seemed to be beginning to recover, but was heavily dependent on foreign loans. 14. The Allies saw that the Germans were serious about stabilising the economy and paying reparations. 15. It was hoped that this further substantial easing of reparations would no longer make it a major issue, as France would still receive the money she demanded, but Germany would not be put under continuous pressure. 16. Stresemann was able to put mild pressure on the West to improve its relations with Germany, through fear of Germany moving closer to the USSR. 17. The Allies saw Stresemann as a leader with whom they could do business. 18. The impact of the Wall Street Crash, in October 1929, effectively ended all payments of reparations. 19. Germany was reassured that there would be no further French invasion, such as had happened in 1923, although it was clear that she still wanted to revise her eastern borders. 20. Paved the way for international negotiations, with Britain and America anxious to avoid a repetition of France’s heavy-handed tactics. The Dawes Plan and French withdrawal from the Ruhr, 1924-5, were the results. 21. Stresemann was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. 22. The first Rhineland zone was evacuated before the end of 1925, with hopes that a total evacuation would be completed well ahead of 1935. 23. This was the first sign that the Allies were prepared to take Germany’s plight seriously and offer constructive assistance. 24. It seemed to represent a moment of genuine international goodwill and to herald a period of stability and co-operation. When the exercise has been completed
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for the answers. The
resource is provided by history-ontheweb.co.uk |
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