How stable were the Stresemann years of the Weimar Republic 1924-29?

1. How stable were the Stresemann years of the Weimar Republic 1924-29?

2. Was there relative political stability? • The years 1924-29 had a reduction in threat from the right and the left. • Yet the parliamentary system failed to mature and develop. A key reason was the failure of the coalition system to produce governments that had sufficient support to take the problems faced by the new democracy. This failure should be placed with the political parties.

3. What was the result of the political parties not working together? • Before 1914 political parties in Germany had little experience of forming governments, and particularly in compromising with each other to create viable governments. • An example of this is when the DVP refused to go in a coalition with the SPD in 1926. This led to political paralysis. • The inability of many coalition governments to act or legislate resulted any of the problems in Weimar Germany both political and economic not being tackled.

4. What happened in the election in May 1924? • Gustav Stresemann’s government lacked support and collapsed in November 1923. • Replaced by Wilhelm Marx of the centre party. • Stresemann continued as foreign minister until 1929. • The country was in a state of financial collapse, this only improved in 1924. • In the may elections the Nationalist and Communist parties made gains at the expense of moderate parties.

5. What was the Dawes Plan? • Stresemann created the Dawes Plan. It stated that the French would leave the Ruhr. • Reputations would be paid over a longer period of time, and credit would be given to help rebuild the German economy. A loan of 800 million marks would be given to cover 4/5 of the reparation payments.1 million marks a year would be paid back until 1929 • In 1929 the higher level of 2.5 million Reichmark, would be paid each year. • The Reichsbank would also be reorganised.

6. Was the Dawes plan difficult to pass? • Main problem was Germany accepting that Reparations would still have to be paid. • The collapse of the SPD vote in the May 1924 elections, made this even harder. • The plan was approved in the Reichstag in August 1924 with support from the DNVP, which was the largest party of the right. It was a mixed group of conservatives and liberals. • Many in the party did not approve of the Versailles treaty, but were willing to work to improve their parties power. Yet this action caused some nationalist BNVP to align themselves with other groups such as the DDP, and the centre party to withdraw their support.

7. How did the behaviour of the SPD party, causes problems? • The new government of 1925 excluded the Socialists but included some members of the DNVP (Nationalist). • The DNVP then objected to the Locarno treaties in November 1925. This was passed only because of the SPD. • The SPD refused to join a coalition with ‘bourgeois parties’ (DDP/Centre party/DVP). It was the Reichstag's largest party, but would not join a government. • Such a rejection of political responsibility weakened the process of democracy. • 1925-President Hindenburg was elected he was anti-Socialist and he tried to exclude the Socialists from influence in government. • The SPD played into the hands of their opponents.

8. Was their political instability? • January 1926 Hans Luther formed a government. In May 1926 the Reichstag passed a vote of no confidence and William Marx became the new chancellor. • In late 1926 Marx’s government fell from power after the SPD removed their support. • In January 1927 it was replaced by a new Marx’s government, including the DNVP. This government passes some social legalisation but fell in February 1928.

9. What happened in the May elections of 1928? • A key turning point, as the left made important gains. • SPD increased their seats from 22 to 153, and the KPD rose from 9 to 54 seats. Parties of the right and centre saw their votes drop. • A rise in splinter groups. • Forming a stable government had become nearly impossible as there was political polarisation that was a feature of the period.

10. How did the DNVP change? • The DNVP used to cover a broad coalition of groups to one with a narrow anti-republican outlook. • The sharp fall in the DNVP’s vote, caused the party to change. (20.5% in 1924-14.2% in 1928) • Lamback article in 1928 triggered a change in the party, it urged DNVP members to reconcile them selves to the republic. Caused a backlash. • Alfred Hugenberg was elected leader of the DNVP in October 1928, party drifted more right. • December 1928 Monsignor Kaas elected party leader of the Centre party.

11. What was the Young plan? • In June 1928 a coalition led by Muller was created. It included the DDP/DVP/Centre party and the BVP. A key aim was to get the Young plan passed. • This plan dealt with the issues of reparations, as the Dawes plan of 1924 stated that the higher level of repayment began in 1929. • The Young plan proposed-a) A timescale for the next 59 years set for repayments. B) Responsibility for making repayments was passed to Germany. c) Payments to increase gradually from 1929-1932, Germany would pay 1,700 million marks less than the Dawes plan said. D) The French would leave the Rhineland by 1930, 5 years ahead of schedule.

12. What was the freedom law? • Many politicians not happy, as did not want to pay reparations. • The leader of the DNVP asked the Reich for a referendum to oppose the Young plan. (The constitution said you could petition for a referendum.) 4 million people signed for a petition, enough for a referendum. • Campaign included the leader of the NSDAP Hitler. It increased Hitler’s profile. Aim was to pass a freedom law to destroy Article 231 of the Versailles Treaty. • Only 13.9% supported the new law and the Young plan was passed in 1930.

13. Why did the coalition collapse? • America demanded repayment of loans, as depression world wide hit. • High unemployment, and a strain on benefit system. • 1927 unemployed 1.3 million in 1929 was 3. 6 million. Reich institution in charge of benefits had to borrow more and more money from the government. • SPD- wanted local and centre governments to increase contribution to unemployment fund by 4%. • DVP-said benefits should be cut. • Centre party- wanted to delay a decision until 1930. • SPD could not agree to a compromise with the Centre party, and so Muller government fell. Voters more and more looked to extreme parties.

14. Was there Foreign investment? • 1924-1929 there was monetary stability. • Due to the Rentenmark being established and as a result of the Dawes plan. • 25.5 billion from loans between 1924-30, most from America. German industry could be reconstructed. • A downturn in the world economy would lead to problems. • Growth in capital was partly as a result of delaying reparations. • National income in 1928 was 12% higher than in 1913.

15. What were the key problems of the workers? • Collapse in food prices in 1922 led to rural poverty. • Employers- attack by employers on the rights of labour. New law said that a 10 hour day rather than a 8 hour day was acceptable. • Union demanded higher wages, and between 1924-1932 around 76,000 cases brought to arbitration. Employers resented this. In 1928 the ironworkers in the Ruhr locked out 210,000 workers rather then accept the findings in arbitration.

16. Was a welfare state incorporated in the constitution? • Concept of a German welfare state enshrined in the constitution. • Increased taxation was to going to pay for welfare. • Religious freedom guaranteed/family life important/new housing and employee protection were all seen as important. • The war had created many orphans and war widows and disabled soldiers. Reich Relief Law and Serious Disability laws all passed in 1920. • Most benefits still at a subsistence level. • In 1927 the Unemployment insurance Law was introduced.

17. Did housing and public health improve? • Public spending on housing grew in the 1920’s. By 1929 spending 33 times more than in 1913. • 1927-1930= 300,000 homes built or renovated. • It improved the quality of homes for many Germans. • Better health insurance meant better medical provision and a reduction in deaths from certain diseases, such as TB and Pneumonia.

18. What changes did the government have on Women? • Proportion of women who worked outside the home in Weimar Germany was about the same as in 1913. • Many women now in the civil service, teaching or social work- a big change. • Most women who took over men’s jobs in WW1, gave them back at the end of WW1. • Debate in Germany if married women should work (Doppelverdiener). More criticized this after 1924 when men laid off work. • 1932 Legal status of Female civil servants- women could now be dismissed if they were married. • Some opposition, but most accepted this.

19. What changes did the government have on the Youth? • Reich Youth Law of 1922 said all children had a right to a decent upbringing, difficult to fulfil. • Reich Crime and rehabilitation of Young offenders covered in the same law. • Reich Juvenile court law of 1923.

20. What was Weimar culture like? • 1924-29 a new style NeueSachlichkiet. • Architecture- dominated by Bauhaos movement. Stressed the link between art and technology. • Theatre and cinema- plays that reflected social issues. Numerous work based on WW1. • Alienation from the Weimar republic was a common feature for some writers.

21. What was the conservative side of Weimar culture? • There were some who chose the more traditional- romanticism and escapism. • In books- some writers glorified the experiences in WW1, or books based on fairy tales. • In the Cinema- Charlie Chaplin was a key favourite for escapism. • The wars legacy created divisions within Germany and this was reflected in culture. • Neither culture gave support to the Republic, both opposed it. • Culture did not act as a force of stability.

22. Why did relations with the allies improve? • Between 1919-1924 relations between the allies and Germany were poor. • Treaty of Versailles, Germany’s agreement with the Bolsheviks at Rapello in 1922, the Ruhr crisis all caused mistrust. • Changes in 1924- Election of a Labour government in Britain in January 1924 with a friendly attitude to Germany. • May 1924 in France a leftwing government gained power. The architect of the hard line policy against Germany Raymond Poincare resigned. The new government open to talking with Germany. • New opportunities for Stresemann to revise the Versailles treaty.

23. What was the Locarno treaty? • In April 1925 new French foreign minister agreed to meet with Britain and Germany to discuss the Rhineland. It resulted in the Locarno treaty. • Treaty of mutual guarantee of the Franco-German and Belgium-German borders. Britain and Italy guaranteed the agreement. • All parties agreed not to use force to alter these frontiers. • Germany could join the league of nations, it was a permanent seat but with no military obligations. • Arbitration treaties were signed, between Germany and France, Poland, Czechoslovakia and Belgium.

24. More about the treaty.... • Stresemann would not sign a treaty about the eastern borders, as he hoped they could be revised later. • Got a guarantee from France that it would not attack if there was a Polish-German war, if Germany was not the aggressor. • French agreed to move troops out of the Rhineland. • In the Young Plan in 1929, it was agreed that the Rhineland would be evacuated by June 1930.

25. Was there any evidence of improved relations with allies? • In April 1926 the Treaty of Berlin was signed between the Soviet union and Germany. Each country reaffirmed neutrality in the event of a attack by a third power. • In 1926 the allied forces in Germany reduced by a further 60,000and in January 1927 the allies withdrew the Inter Allied Control Commission that oversaw German disarmament. • Economic effects- a commercial treaty was signed between France and Germany in August 1927.

26. Gustav Stresemann was he a success or a failure?

27. Was Gustav Stresemann a successful foreign minister? • His aim in foreign policy was to restore Germany to ‘great power’ status. • Some claim that he failed in his main aim of reversing the Versailles treaty. • Others thought that considering the difficult international situation he was dealing with, he was very successful.

28. He was successful? • Significant progress was made towards the revision of the Versailles Treaty. • FULFILMENT-This was done by a policy of fulfilment, by fulfilling the terms of the treaty Germany could show how unjust and unworkable it really was. • SOVIET UNION- Germany worked towards an agreement with the Soviet Union as shown in the Treaty of London of 1926. So it made the allies more sympathetic to Germany.

29. He was successful? • LOCARNO- It showed a good understanding with France when this was signed in 1925. It was quite possible that a Anglo-French agreement would be made to secure French borders, but Germany made an agreement instead. • REVISION OF VERSAILLES- In 1925 the first evacuation of the Rhineland took place. A big contrast to French attitude in 1923 when Ruhr invaded. Young Plan- reparations linked to withdrawal of the Ruhr linked, showed both countries working together. His tactics were successful in revising the treaty.

30. He was successful? • GROWING DIPLOMATIC INFLUENCE- His policy allowed Germany to regain diplomatic influence and the ability to influence the allies. • Permanent seat on the league of nations in 1926. • Absence of a Locarno type settlement on Germany’s Eastern borders. • Two plans to revise the Versailles treaty- Dawes and Young. Gave Germany some breathing space to develop her economy. • Removal of the Inter Allied Control Commission in 1927 and the French withdrawal form the Ruhr, all point to the success of the policy of fulfilment in achieving good results.

31. He was successful? • Dawes Plan- It strengthen Germany’s industrial base, improved trade, and developed relations with the USA. • Young Plan- Linked the evacuation of the Rhineland to the revision of the Reparations programme. The rescheduling of the debt also made it more affordable.

32. He was not successful? • Stresemann’s success was not recognised in Germany. It is difficult to conclude his diplomacy led to domestic political stability. • TREATY OF VERSAILLES- Article 231 reparations and the stab in the back theory still undermined the Weimar Republic. Fulfilment did not change the German feeling of humiliation. Examples seen in the 1929 Freedom law referendum, 5.8 million Germans voted for a law that rejected Stresemann’s policy and labelled him a traitor, shows show problems in Stresemann’s policy. • Versailles treaty caused problems in government and even led to the collapse of the coalition in 1925 over the Locarno treaty.

33. He was not successful? • LACK OF ROOM FOR MANOEUVRE- lack of military resulted in few options open to him, other than peaceful options. • Led to greater economic stability, but the gradual approach resulted in those wanted more radical action to end the Versailles treaty were able to destabilise German politics. • It was not Stresemann who was responsible for this, but the Versailles Treaty.