Eduqas History: Germany in Transition - The Recovery of Weimar

Name 4 things that the Weimar Government did to end hyperinflation

Dawes Plan, US loans, Rentenmark and Young Plan

When was the Dawes Plan?

August 1924

Name some features of the Dawes Plan

Reparations was 1bn marks for the first year then 2.5bn marks per year, Ruhr area evacuated by Allies in 1925, German Reichbank reorganised, USA gave Germany some loans

What was the value of the first loan given to Germany in the Dawes Plan?

800 million marks

How did the Dawes Plan help Weimar recover?

Strikes stopped, reparations pressures eased, banks reorganised, more money didn't need to be printed

When did US loans begin?

1924

Name features of US loans

Begun with a loan of 8m marks, over 6 years US companies and banks gave nearly $3000m worth of loans, helped economic recovery and allowed reparation payments

How did the US loans help Weimar recover?

Helped economic recovery, more money didn't need to be printed

When was the Rentenmark introduced?

November 1923

How was the Rentenmark distributed?

It was issued in limited amounts and was based on property value than gold

Was the Rentenmark permanent?

No; in 1925 it was converted into the Reichmark, which was based on gold reserves

How did the Rentenmark help Weimar recover?

Old currency that brought hyperinflation gone, limited amounts of new currency allowed stability, confidence in new currency

When was the Young Plan?

1929

In the Young Plan, from how much money was the reparations reduced?

From £6.6bn to £1.85bn

How was the length of time for Weimar to pay reparations changed in the Young Plan?

Extended to 59 years, with an average of 2.05m marks per year

Name people who criticised the Young Plan

Alfred Hugenberg, Adolf Hitler

How did the Young Plan help Weimar recover?

Less reparations to pay, don't need to print more money

Name 6 ways the Weimar Republic regained credability internationally and domestically

Locarno Pact, League of Nations, Kellogg-Briand Pact, wages, housing, unemployment insurance

When was the Locarno Pact?

1925

What was the Locarno Pact?

A treaty between Germany, France, Britain, Italy and Belgium to keep post-ToV borders

How did the Locarno Pact impact the Weimar Government's credibility?

Improved overseas relations, seen to be entering international agreements

What is the "Locarno Honeymoon"?

period of cooperation between Germany, France and UK

When was the League of Nations?

September 1926

What was the League of Nations?

Germany joined the League of Nations and got a permanent seat to activate the Locarno Pact

How did the League of Nations impact the Weimar Government's credibility?

Brought prestige onto Stresemann and Germany, allowed the Young Plan to happen, seen to be entering international agreements

When was the Kellogg-Briand Pact?

1928

What was the Kellogg-Briand Pact?

Germany signed a pact with 64 other nations to only use the army for self-defence, agreed to try and solve all disputes "by peaceful means"

How did the Kellogg-Briand Pact impact the Weimar Government's credibility?

Improved relations internationally, seen to be entering international agreements, confirmed Germany back as a Great Power (and not a Pariah)

Pariah

an outcast

How did Weimar Germany not really prosper as a result of wages?

Middle class forgotten and didn't recover from 1923 hyperinflation - over 184,000 middle class were seeking employment, and half didn't qualify for benefits (they didn't benefit from social changes)

How did Weimar Germany prosper as a result of wages?

By 1928 there was an increase in real wages of over 10%; Germany had some of the best paid workers in Europe

How did the wages impact the Weimar Government's credibility?

Helped domestic credibility; seen to be tackling issues

How did Weimar Germany prosper as a result of housing?

Between 1924 and 1931 more than 2 million new houses built and almost 200,000 renovated, homelessness reduced by 60%, government spending on housing increased by x33 (1929 compared to 1913)

How did housing impact the Weimar Government's credibility?

Helped domestic credibility; seen to be tackling issues

How did Weimar Germany prosper as a result of unemployment insurance?

The scheme first introduced by the Chancellor Bismarck to help the ill and old was extended with the Unemployment Insurance Law in 1927 - workers and employees had to contribute for this

How did unemployment insurance impact the Weimar Government's credibility?

Helped domestic credibility; seen to be tackling issues

Who was Gustav Stresemann?

Chancellor of Germany in 1923-29

Name some great things Stresemann did to help Germany recover

Made France withdraw from the Ruhr, made Allies agree to the Dawes and Young Plan, caused Allies to withdraw from parts of the Rhine 5 yrs before schedule, reduced reparations, increased real wages by 10%, got Germany a seat in the League of Nations, stopped hyperinflation, gained huge respect from signing the Locarno Pact, (got a Nobel Peace Prize)

When did Stresemann die?

October 1929 (just before the Wall Street Crash)

What did pre-war censorship removal mean for people?

They had more freedom to express, criticise and use humour

How did Weimar artists show everyday life?

They painted with new objectivity, it suggests being detached not subjective

Which interest increased during the Weimar Golden Age?

An interest in sci-fi and dystopia; it highlighted people's concerns and fears

What did right wing artists portray?

Critical of democracy and glorified WWI

Name a right wing artist

Moller, Spangler

What did left wing artists portray?

Often very anti-war and pacifist

Name a left wing artist

Remarque

When were women over the age of 20 given the vote?

1919

What did the Weimar constitution introduce equality in?

Education, civil service, equal pay

In which particular jobs did the volume of female workers increase?

Civil service, teaching, social work

What changed culturally for women?

They had more freedom

Name some things a Weimar woman did

Wore short skirts, wore make-up, revealing clothing, smoked and drunk in public, were unescorted, voted and took an interest in politics

In 1907, what % of women were employed?

31.2%

In 1925, what % of women were employed?

35.6%

How did the employment rates for women in some jobs change?

Female domestic servants and farm workers decreased while female industrial and office/public employment workers increased