the ruhr

• in November 1922, Germany defaulted from their payments, causing France and Belgium to invade the Ruhr in January 1923 as they believed they had to take their reparations by force to stop Germany from sabotaging them. France needed to pay back American loans
• Chancellor Wilhelm Cuno suggested the idea of passive resistance, in which the Ruhr's industrial workers refused to work. however, Germany had to pay these strikers in return for there being no production, causing more money to be printed and causing prices to soar.
• the Ruhr was part of the demilitarized rhineland and was a major contributor to the german economy. the ruhr had 2 million workers and was a hub for coal, steel, and iron production
• Germany needed the Ruhr's production to pay reparations and sell foreign capital. France and Belgium occupied the ruhr as a way of reclaiming the money they were owed
• france and belgium seized factories, mines, railways, and demanded food and goods from shops