Stresemann

Stresemann believed that it was in Germany’s interests to pursue a foreign policy based on the ‘fulfilment’ of the Versailles peace treaty.

Extreme right wingers in Germany detested the policy of ‘fulfilment’.

Stresemann negotiated the Dawes Plan in 1924 and the Young Plan in 1929 that helped Germany manage the payment of her reparations much better.

The Locarno Pact 1925 helped improve Germany’s image abroad and in 1926 Germany was admitted to the League of Nations.

Reparations repayments led to the German economy becoming devalued. Having to pay such large sums to the Allies resulted in the German economy having a rapidly reduced capacity to purchase goods, as they were compelled to give much of their accumulated wealth and produce to the Allies in part payment towards the Reparations bill.

The economic crisis of 1923 led to rifts in government. Coalition governments struggled to agree a suitable course of action and as a result the democratic process fell into decline. Parts of Germany were in a state of emergency and the opponents of the Weimar state used the situation to try and further destabilise the situation. In 1923 there were many strikes, fuelling a fear of Communism amongst the middle classes. They in turn looked, on an increasing level, to the right wing for support. This plays into the hands of political groups such as the NSDAP (Nazi Party). Given the climate and the apparent failings of the government to be able to respond to challenges to its authority – the Kapp Putsch had not been dealt with in a particularly convincing manner, it appears to be an ideal opportunity to challenge the government. In the case of the Nazi’s, this was to happen as part of a co-ordinated attack on democracy from Nationalist groups in Bavaria.

A putsch is a group of people to try to overtake the government

He was a man who wanted to return to Kaiser. He was right wing.

Kapp used Freiorps. This is weird because they joined the police in 1920.

The putsch didn’t work as the workers of Berlin went on strike. This bought the whole city to a standstill. Everything including transport.