International relations
After losing World War One, being forced to take the blame for the conflict and the subsequent issues
surrounding payment of reparations, Germany was an international outcast. Yet, Germans were still incredibly
bitter about their treatment in the Treaty of Versailles, where they also lost territory on all sides. However, as
Foreign Minister, Stresemann oversaw a dramatic improvement in Germany’s relationship with the rest of
Europe between 1925 and 1928. This is best illustrated by three events:

Locarno Treaties 1925. In October 1925 Germany, France and Belgium agreed to respect their postVersailles borders, whilst Germany agreed with Poland and Czechoslovakia to settle any border disputes
peacefully. Germany had previously complained bitterly about their loss of territory.

League of Nations 1926. When the League of Nations was set up as part of the Versailles agreement
Germany was initially excluded. By signing the Locarno Treaties Germany showed that it was accepting the
Versailles settlement and so a year later was accepted as a permanent member of the Council of League,
making it one of the most powerful countries in the League.

Kellogg-Briand Pact 1928. Germany was one of 62 countries that signed up to this agreement, which
committed its signatories to settling disputes between them peacefully.
These developments meant that Germany was accepted into the emerging ‘international community’ that
sought to work together during the 1920s to avoid another destructive war. It also helped Germany’s internal
wounds to heal – the government was seen to be taking decisive action to make life better for people and
right some of the wrongs that the Treaty of Versailles had caused. This led to greater political stability and less
extremism. This ethos of collaboration and peaceful cooperation only lasted, however, until the onset of the
Great Depression following the Wall Street Crash of October 1929.
Changes in society, 1924–29
Changes in the standard of living
There is doubt from some historians as to whether the ‘Golden Age’ actually existed. However, there were
improvements that helped ordinary working Germans during this time:

Hourly wages rose in real terms (ie above inflation) every year from 1924 to 1930, with a rise of 10 per cent
in 1928 alone.

Pensions and sickness benefits schemes were introduced.

Compulsory unemployment insurance was introduced in 1927, which covered 17 million workers.

Government subsidies were provided for the building of local parks, schools and sports facilities, and there
was a massive programme of council house construction.
Despite all of this, a large increase in the working age population during the mid-20s led to increasing
unemployment, and farmers in particular, suffered from declining incomes.
Changes in the position of women
Work
German women contributed massively to the war effort during World War One. However, after the war the
government ordered women to return to their pre-war roles, either in low-skilled jobs or in the home, to allow
returning soldiers to take up work:

Women experienced pressure to return to their ‘traditional’ role as wives and mothers.

However, attitudes towards women and work changed according to how well the economy did.

During times of economic crisis, such as the hyperinflation of 1923 and during the Great Depression, women
returning home were seen as a solution to the problem of unemployment.

However, during the recovery of the mid-1920s women were welcomed into the workforce. The number of
women in work was 1.7 million higher in 1925 than it had been in 1907.

Women were increasingly taking on white collar jobs, though these were mainly done by single women
under 25.

Overall, the percentage of women in work only rose by less than 1 per cent between 1907 and 1925.
Politics
German women achieved the vote on an equal basis with men when the new German constitution was
announced in August 1919, along with the right to be elected to the Reichstag and all other governmental
bodies. There is evidence that women’s roles in politics grew during the Weimar Republic, but there were also
limitations to the progress they made:
Progress
Women participated in democracy
Women’s voting turnout in the elections for the National Assembly in January 1919 was the same as men’s at
82 per cent.
Politicians recognised women
Political parties quickly realised the need to appeal to the women’s vote and much propaganda was directed
towards them.
Women became politicians
Women were elected to local and regional assemblies all over Germany, and typically made up around eight
per cent of the representatives in the Prussian Landtag, the most powerful regional parliament.
Stayed the same
Not all women participated
During the rest of the Weimar period women’s voting turnout was typically 5-10 per cent lower than that of
men.
Politicians stereotyped women
Propaganda usually appealed to women as wives and mothers, rather than asking for their vote on the basis of
improving their own lives.
Women didn't become very influential
By 1933 women made up just 4.6 per cent of the representatives in parliament. No women held cabinet posts
during the Weimar Republic’s 14 year existence and no women sat in the upper house of parliament, the
Reichsrat.
Women and men tended to vote for similar parties, although women were more likely to vote for religious
parties, which tended to be more conservative. Historians disagree on how decisive women’s votes were in
bringing the Nazis to power in 1933, but the party’s propaganda targeted women heavily.