Edexcel 2A Past Paper Questions and Answers

Questions

Was agreeing the Dawes Plan the most important action taken by Stresemann in bringing stability to Germany in the years 1924–29?

Stresemann decided to get rid of the existing currency because of hyper-inflation. He set up a new currency called the Rentenmark and a new independent bank, the Reichsbank was put in charge of it. This helped bring stability because it increased confidence in Germany’s economy in Germany and outside. Signing the Locarno Pact was important. This was a treaty between Germany, Britain, France, Italy and Belgium. Germany agreed to respect its new border with France and Belgium and so Allied troops were withdrawn from Germany and talks began on Germany joining the League. Obviously this brought stability to Germany’s foreign relations. Stresemann also agreed the Dawes Plan. This said that annual payments of reparations were to be reduced and that American banks would invest in Germany. So Germany’s economy improved. Industrial output doubled and unemployment declined. As the economy improved so Germany became more stable. I think the introduction of the rentenmark is more important, because it dealt with a very serious immediate problem – hyperinflation. Until that was solved, Germany could never have stability. Nor would it have been able to have successful relations with foreign countries. So in the end it depends what you are looking at. If stability is having good relations with other countries, then Locarno and Kellogg-Briand are the most important. If it is developing your economy then its introducing the rentenmark and agreeing the Dawes and Young Plans. You might say none of the other measures could have  happened without ending hyper-inflation.

Describe Germany’s territorial losses in the Treaty of Versailles.

They lost their colonies. These were 11 colonies in Africa and the Far East which were given to the victorious powers as orders. These powers would look after them until they were ready for independence. For example, Samoa was given to New Zealand to govern. The Germans also lost land to Poland. Danzig was made a free city under the League of Nations so that Poland could have a port. Posen and West Prussia were given to Poland. This had the effect of cutting Germany in two by creating the ‘Polish Corridor’.

Explain the effects of the 1923 Munich Putsch

The Munich Putsch happened in 1923. Hitler and his supporters marched on Munich but were fired on by state police. Hitler and three…