GERMANY ESSAY PLANS
PART A
Was the work of Gustav Stresemann the main reason for the Weimar government’s ability to
overcome the challenges it faced 1919-29?
The work of Gustav Stresemann
Improved German international standing which had been wounded by WWI
In the early 1920s with the Ruhr Crisis in 1923 and the Rapallo Treaty with Russia in 1922, relations were
antagonistic at best
Locarno treaty 1925 agreed Germany’s western borders and made the Ruhr German territory
Agreements with the west meant that Germany were again able to exert their power in Europe
However, some of the improving relations were a result of Britain and France’s government changes in 1924
to become more open to conversation with Germany
Stresemann managed to get Germany a seat on the LON 1926 which allowed them to exercise authority on a
worldwide scale and have a say on major issues- but France did object to their seat
Was able to deal with the French occupation of the Ruhr to Germany’s advantage
After Germany failed to pay its reparations in 1923, French troops marched into the Rhineland and occupied
it, trying to take charge of German industry
September 1923: Stresemann calls for an end to passive resistance on the Ruhr
Locarno Treaty 1925 made the Ruhr German and so the French occupation of the Rhineland was illegal
despite the TOV
Showed German willingness to solve disputes diplomatically which gained more trust from the west
Victory as French troops has to leave- by 1926, 60 000 foreign troops left Germany- Germany once again
have control of their own land- displayed the increasing trust in Germany that Britain and France had
Worked to make the demands of the TOV more manageable
1924, successful negotiations -Dawes plan which gave Germany more time to repay their reparations
Good as it made reparations more manageable but they still has to be paid and the TOV was still a burden
Gave Germany loans to rebuild the economy meaning that Germany could focus more on advancing the
German economy rather than a constant preoccupation with paying reparations
The role of Schacht in stabilising the post war economy
Schacht’s reformation of German currency meant the economy was able to recover after being destroyed by
the first world war
WWI had caused hyperinflation and the Ruhr crisis made inflation worse to the point where prices went up
several times a day and people lost faith in the mark and turned to barter
October 1923: Rentemark introduced to replace mark and limit set on how much money could be printed-
important move by Schacht as it avoided more inflation whilst allowing the economy and trade to restart
By December 1923, faith restored in currency at home and abroad
However, also relied on Hindenburg for the new currency to work because the government used emergency
decrees to control rents, wages and prices- Schacht’s power was limited
Schacht’s actions encouraged increased trade with Germany which not only helped the economy, but helped
to overcome international hostility to Germany
New currency and introduction of state arbitrators in pay disputes in October 1923 meant that employees
were more content and trade could begin to grow
1925-29 exports rose by 40% and wages grew every year- not only was this good for government, but
average worker was also happy as made enough to live on and did not have to battle with inflation
New currency did cause many small businesses to go bankrupt and encouraged price fixing and cartelisation-
this may have been negative as created some unemployment and reduced competition but was a necessary
outcome of fixing the currency
Schacht’s actions meant that Germany could have both a strong domestic economy with social welfare as
well as paying the reparations demanded from them in the TOV
PART A
Was the work of Gustav Stresemann the main reason for the Weimar government’s ability to
overcome the challenges it faced 1919-29?
The work of Gustav Stresemann
Improved German international standing which had been wounded by WWI
In the early 1920s with the Ruhr Crisis in 1923 and the Rapallo Treaty with Russia in 1922, relations were
antagonistic at best
Locarno treaty 1925 agreed Germany’s western borders and made the Ruhr German territory
Agreements with the west meant that Germany were again able to exert their power in Europe
However, some of the improving relations were a result of Britain and France’s government changes in 1924
to become more open to conversation with Germany
Stresemann managed to get Germany a seat on the LON 1926 which allowed them to exercise authority on a
worldwide scale and have a say on major issues- but France did object to their seat
Was able to deal with the French occupation of the Ruhr to Germany’s advantage
After Germany failed to pay its reparations in 1923, French troops marched into the Rhineland and occupied
it, trying to take charge of German industry
September 1923: Stresemann calls for an end to passive resistance on the Ruhr
Locarno Treaty 1925 made the Ruhr German and so the French occupation of the Rhineland was illegal
despite the TOV
Showed German willingness to solve disputes diplomatically which gained more trust from the west
Victory as French troops has to leave- by 1926, 60 000 foreign troops left Germany- Germany once again
have control of their own land- displayed the increasing trust in Germany that Britain and France had
Worked to make the demands of the TOV more manageable
1924, successful negotiations -Dawes plan which gave Germany more time to repay their reparations
Good as it made reparations more manageable but they still has to be paid and the TOV was still a burden
Gave Germany loans to rebuild the economy meaning that Germany could focus more on advancing the
German economy rather than a constant preoccupation with paying reparations
The role of Schacht in stabilising the post war economy
Schacht’s reformation of German currency meant the economy was able to recover after being destroyed by
the first world war
WWI had caused hyperinflation and the Ruhr crisis made inflation worse to the point where prices went up
several times a day and people lost faith in the mark and turned to barter
October 1923: Rentemark introduced to replace mark and limit set on how much money could be printed-
important move by Schacht as it avoided more inflation whilst allowing the economy and trade to restart
By December 1923, faith restored in currency at home and abroad
However, also relied on Hindenburg for the new currency to work because the government used emergency
decrees to control rents, wages and prices- Schacht’s power was limited
Schacht’s actions encouraged increased trade with Germany which not only helped the economy, but helped
to overcome international hostility to Germany
New currency and introduction of state arbitrators in pay disputes in October 1923 meant that employees
were more content and trade could begin to grow
1925-29 exports rose by 40% and wages grew every year- not only was this good for government, but
average worker was also happy as made enough to live on and did not have to battle with inflation
New currency did cause many small businesses to go bankrupt and encouraged price fixing and cartelisation-
this may have been negative as created some unemployment and reduced competition but was a necessary
outcome of fixing the currency
Schacht’s actions meant that Germany could have both a strong domestic economy with social welfare as
well as paying the reparations demanded from them in the TOV
