invasion of the ruhr

Card 1 Q: What was the Invasion of the Ruhr? A: The Invasion of the Ruhr was the military occupation of the Ruhr industrial region of Germany by French and Belgian troops.

Card 2 Q: When did the Invasion of the Ruhr begin? A: It began in January 1923.

Card 3 Q: Why did France and Belgium invade the Ruhr? A: Germany failed to meet its reparations payments as required by the Treaty of Versailles.

Card 4 Q: Which part of Germany was affected by the invasion? A: The Ruhr, Germany’s main industrial region in the west.

Card 5 Q: What resources were the French and Belgians trying to seize? A: Coal, iron, and steel.

Card 6 Q: How did Germany respond to the invasion? A: The German government ordered passive resistance, encouraging workers to strike and refuse to cooperate with the occupying forces.

Card 7 Q: What was the impact of passive resistance on the German economy? A:

  • Industrial production came to a standstill.

  • Hyperinflation worsened as the government printed more money to pay striking workers.

Card 8 Q: What was the international reaction to the Ruhr invasion? A: Many countries criticised France and Belgium, accusing them of worsening the economic crisis.

Card 9 Q: How did the crisis of the Ruhr damage the Weimar Republic politically? A: It deepened resentment among Germans toward the Weimar government and made extremist groups like the Nazis more popular.

Card 10 Q: How did Gustav Stresemann resolve the Ruhr crisis? A:

  • Called off passive resistance in September 1923.

  • Entered negotiations with France and Belgium to end the occupation.

Card 11 Q: What economic measure accompanied Stresemann's resolution to the Ruhr crisis? A: He introduced the Rentenmark in November 1923 to stabilise the German currency and end hyperinflation.

Card 12 Q: When did the French and Belgian troops leave the Ruhr? A: They withdrew in 1925 after the Dawes Plan was agreed upon.

Card 13 Q: What was the Dawes Plan, and how did it help end the crisis? A: The Dawes Plan (1924) restructured Germany’s reparations payments and secured loans from the USA, helping Germany recover economically