1924-1929: Stresemann Era

• When was Gustav Stresemann appointed Chancellor and how long did he remain in this role for?

  1923 - only 3 months
• What role did Stresemann hold after Chancellor and until when?

  Foreign Minister until his death in 1929
• How did Stresemann end hyperinflation in his time as Chancellor?

  • Ended the German workers’ strike in the Ruhr which increased production and boosted the economy
  • Pledged to begin reparation payments again
  • Introduced the Rentenmark which stabilised prices
  • Government redundancies to reduce spending
• What was the Dawes Plan?

  Sept 1924

  • lowered the reparation payments to 1 billion Marks per year for the first five years
  • 2.5 billion after that
  • USA loaned Germany 800 million Marks
• What was the Young Plan?

  1929

  • reduced the reparation amount by 20% to £2.2 billion
  • payments to end in 1988
  • USA would provide further loans to help
• What Treaties were agreed in 1925 where Germany promised to respect its existing borders with France and Belgium?

  Locarno Treaties
• What key event happened in 1926?

  Germany was admitted into the League of Nations
• What agreement was signed in 1928 by 62 countries whereby disputes would be settled peacefully?

  Kellogg-Briand Pact
• What was the Treaty of Berlin?

  • Soviet-German agreement which renewed the Treaty of Rapallo (1922).
  • Strengthened the countries’ economic and military ties
  • Allowed Germany to secretly build up its armed forces on Soviet territory, so the Allies couldn’t find out about this breach of the Versailles treaty.
• How did culture expand in this period?

  • Weimar Constitution removed strict censorship experienced under the Kaiser
  • Art, design and architecture all developed and influenced culture
  • 1920’s was a golden age for German cinema
  • Berlin became famous for its nightlife
• What did this period become known as?

  The Golden Age
• What were the signs of recovery during the Stresemann era?

  • By 1928 industrial production levels were higher than those of 1913 (before World War One)
  • Between 1925 and 1929 exports rose by 40 per cent
  • Hourly wages rose every year from 1924 to 1929 and by 10 per cent in 1928 alone
  • Generous pension, health and unemployment insurance schemes were introduced from 1927
• What were the signs of continued weakness during the Stresemann era?

  • agricultural production did not recover to its pre-war levels
  • Germany spent more on imports than it earned from exports, so they were losing money
  • Unemployment did not fall below 1.3 million and in 1929 increased to 1.9 million
  • German industry became dependent upon loans from the USA
• How was the Nazi party affected by the Stresemann era?

  • in 1924, they held 32 seats in the Reichstag, dropped to 12 by 1928
  • Worked on improving the party to appeal to more voters
  • Set up youth organisations and recruitment drives
• What event happened in 1929 which shattered German recovery?

  Wall Street Crash