Weimar Germany: Recovery Under Stresemann 1924-1929 Edexcel History 2A

revision cards.

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Simple key points

  • The Dawes Plan- 1924
  • The Young Plan- 1929
  • The Locarno Pact-1925 October.
  • Kellogg-Briand Pact-1928 August.
  • Rentenmark-old currency was scrapped and replaced with this one.
  • Stresemann became Chancellor in September 1923, and died October 1929.
  • This improved Germany economy and international relations very much.
  • Economic & Foreign policies.
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The Dawes Plan-Economic

  • Set by Charles G Dawes, who was asked by the Allies to resolve non-payment in Germany.
  • Annual payments were reduced to an affordable level.
  • There were American loans.
  • Advantages:
    • Industrial output doubled from 1923-8.
    • Imports and exports increased.
    • Employment went up.
    • Government income from taxation improved.
  • Disadvantages:
    • Extreme political parties were furious that, yet again, Germany agreed to the reparations.
    • Fragile economic recovery depended only on US loans.
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The Young Plan-Economic

  • Stresemann agreed this in the last year of his life.
  • It was put forward August 1929 by a committee, set up by the Allies, and headed by an American banker-Owen Young.
  • It reduced the overall reparations amount from £6.6 billion to £2 billion.
  • Also, Germany had another 59 years to pay.
  • Advantages:
    • It reduced the annual amount the government had to pay.
    • It was possible to lower taxes.
    • It released spending power, boosting industry and employment.
  • Disadvantages:
    • Annual payments were still £50 million per year.
    • Payments now stretched until 1988.
    • Extreme political parties were incensed.
    • Hitler said that extending the length of payments was: 'passing on the penalty to the unborn.'
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The Locarno Pact-Foreign

  • Also known as the Rhineland Pact, a treaty between Germany, France, Britain, Italy and Belgium.
  • Germany agreed to keep its new 1919 border with France and Belgium.
  • Allied troops left the Rhineland.
  • France promised peace with Germany.
  • the powers agreed to open talks about German membership of the League of Nations.
  • Advantages:
    • Germany was being treated equally, not dictated to.
  • Disadvantages:
    • Some resented that fact that the hated Versailles borders was confirmed.
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League of Nations- Foreign.

  • In September 1926, Germany was accepted as a member of the League of Nations.
  • They were on the Leaue of Nations Council- where the most important decisions took place.
  • Stresemann saw it as another step toward equality.
  • Some saw it as a symbol of the hated Treaty of Versailles.
  • In 1926, Stresemann was given the Nobel Peace Prize as a further sign of international approval for Germany.
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Kellogg-Briand Pact- Foreign.

  • In August 1928, Germany was one of th 65 countries to sign this.
  • It was an agreement not to use war to achieve foreign policy aims.
  • Germany was more respectable as a member of the international community.
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Recovery

  • Confidence was regained in the Weimar Republic.
  • This confidence was reinforced when President Ebert was replaced by Hindenburg, a well-respected ex-field marshal of the German Army.
  • Economic stability was restored.
  • Germany had a place on the international stage.
  • The Weimar Republic was being steered from its troubled early years.
  • However, when he died of a heart attack, it was a severe blow to the Weimar Republic.
  • Later that month, the Wall Street Crash occured.
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