How accurate is it to say that, by 1929, Germany was economically strong and politically stable?

ECONOMIC STRENGTHS of Weimar Germany by 1929

1. Production quickly re-reached pre-war (1913) levels: new production methods (eg assembly line production) and high investment (eg Ford, General Motors)

2. Exports rose +40% ‘25-‘29: helped by LoN membership (Sep ‘26) and Locarno treaties (‘25)

3. Annual wage rises ‘24-‘30 (leading to increase in SoL)

4. Dawes Plan (Aug ‘24) achieved M800mn loan to aid recovery, lower annual reps, Young Plan (Aug ‘29) reduced total reps

ECONOMIC WEAKNESSES of Weimar Germany by 1929

1. International trade not recovered since GW - US tariffs, UK tended to trade w/ Empire, trade deficit

2. Issue of unemployment - not enough jobs created, 1.9mn unemployed by ‘29

3. Reliance on US loans for prosperity - if withdrawn in short notice, collapse of sectors ‘dancing on the edge of a volcano’

4. Agriculture falling behind the world, farmers -44% national avg income, grain production 75% of pre-war levels

POLITICAL STABILISERS of Weimar Germany by 1929

1. No major putsch attempts after bier hall putsch (Nov ‘23). Less paramilitary threat to before

2. ‘Feme’ killings had largely subsided after ‘23. By ‘29, there had been few major political assassinations in many years. Less paramilitary threat to before

3. Support for extremist parties low (KPD <15%, NSDAP 2.6% May ‘28). DNVP began to work with the Republic in Jan ‘25. Increased compliance with republican system

4. ‘Grand coalition’ (May ‘28) showed that parties were willing to work together, provided a stable and reasonably long-lasting government

POLITICAL DESTABILISERS of Weimar Germany by 1929

1. Of 8 governments between ‘23-‘29, 5 minority governments

2. Very little SPD government participation by ‘29, despite being the largest party - unwillingness to co-operate or compromise

3. ‘Blutmai’ 1st-3rd May, KPD-police clashes in Berlin, 32 dead. First fighting in Berlin since 1920 - radical threat persisted

4. Reichspräsident Hindenburg not committed to democracy nor republicanism

ECONOMIC criteria

• Economic growth, economic development

• Increases in production levels and balance of trade

• Increases in standard of living/quality of life

• Availability of loans (though not dependent on them)

• Low unemployment

POLITICAL criteria

• No major putsches or political assassinations

• Politicians committed to the republican system

• Strong coalition governments with popular and parliamentary support

• Reductions in extremist support

ECONOMIC conclusion

Growth in the German economy had happened, but mostly thanks to foreign loans. Not ‘economically strong’ as it was propped up almost entirely by US money rather than domestic output. Structural issues (unemployment, intl. trade) persisted without resolution

POLITICAL conclusion

Definitely more politically stable than the turbulent ‘19-‘23 era, yet that isn’t saying much. Republic more embedded and accepted in Germany than before, however credible opposition to the system still remained. Government coalitions in Berlin generally weak, ineffective with little support. By ‘29, opposition back on the rise, even before devastating impact of the WSC