The recovery of the
Weimar Republic
By the end of this lesson you will:
Understand how the Weimar
Republic appeared to recover from
the disasters of 1923.
Was 1923 a year of disaster
for the Weimar Republic?
EXPLAIN
Re-cap
• What is hyper – inflation?
• Why did Germany suffer from hyperinflation in the early 1920’s?
• What happened when Germany stopped
paying reparations?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=18WlSbVj
a-g&feature=related
Learning objectives
By the end of this lesson:
I will be able to describe the problems
Germany faced in 1923
I should be able to explain the solutions
to these problems
I could also be able to evaluate how
effective each of the solutions were
Gustav Stresemann
became Chancellor
of Germany in 1923
at the height of
the hyperinflation
crisis
Tasks
Think back over all the problems Germany
has faced since 1918 NOT just 1923
1.Decide what Stresemann’s problems are.
2.Find solutions for the problems.
3.Assess the potential success of these
solutions.
Germans fall behind with
reparations
French leave
Ruhr
French occupy the Ruhr
Inflation at its
peak
Munich Putsch
Nov 1923
German workers in
Ruhr strike.
Government continues
to pay workers.
Inflation rises
Sept 1923
Strike is
called off.
Germans agree
to pay
August 1923
Stresemann becomes
Chancellor
Hyperinflation
LOANS
USA
War loans
repaid
The Dawes Plan
1924
Germany
Reparations
Britain and France
Stresemann
He was Chancellor for only 100 days in 1923 and
then became Foreign Minister.
He restored German pride by:
1. Putting Germans back to work and stabilising
the economy.
2. Arranging loans (Dawes Plan) to rebuild
industry and the economy
3. Doing a deal to extend reparation payments.
(Young Plan)
4. Making Germany trusted in Europe again.
The Dawes Plan 1924
 The Dawes Plan reduced Germany’s reparation
payments and provided huge loans from the USA.
 After the Great War Germany’s factories were run
down, there were few jobs and poor schools, housing
and hospitals.
 The Dawes Plan meant Germany could begin to rebuild
it’s economy and invest in new businesses, hospitals,
schools etc. This also created more jobs.
 In all Germany borrowed 3,000 million dollars from
US banks.
The new currency
Stresemann introduced a new currency
called the Rentenmark which ended
hyperinflation.
Locarno Treaty- 1925
• Stresemann formally argued that
Alsace-Lorraine should return to
France.
• He was saying this land was French and
belonged to them and so lets be friends
again.
• Many Germans didn’t like this.
• 1926- Germany allowed to join the
League of Nations.
Evidence of recovery
 Support for extremist parties like the Nazis
decreased. They won only 12 seats in the 1928
elections.
 There was increased support for parties such as the
Social Democrats who supported the Republic.
 Germany was accepted again as an important power in
Europe.
 New factories were built.
 Unemployment went down.
 New roads, railways and homes were built.
 Foreign banks lent to German borrowers.
To what extent did the
Weimar Republic recover?
‘The economic position is only flourishing
on the surface. Germany is dancing on a
volcano. If America calls in their loans, a
large section of our economy would
collapse’
Gustav Stresemann in 1928
Was Germany now stable?
Stresemann referred to Germany as
‘Dancing on a volcano’ after he had
secured the Dawes Plan.
What do you think he meant by this?
Learning objectives
By the end of this lesson:
I will be able to describe the problems
Germany faced in 1923
I should be able to explain the solutions
to these problems
I could also be able to evaluate how
effective each of the solutions were
The Stresemann Years
Plus points
• Economy strongest in
Europe (unemployment
low)
• Democracy is being shown
to work (Nazis only have
12 seats in Reichstag)
• Germany is respected again
eg. League of Nations
Minus points
• Economy based on loans
– if US economy goes
wrong so does Germany’s
• Anti-democratic groups
(Nazis and Communists)
still there
• Who else is there apart
from Stresemann?
After 1924 there were no
more revolts (putsch) in
Germany for five years.
In the 1928 elections the
Nazis got 2% of the vote
Why do you think this was?
Summary
 In 1923 the WR suffered its worst year. The French
occupied the Ruhr in order to force reparation
payments from the Germany. This triggered
hyperinflation.
 Hitler set up the Nazi Party in 1920 in order to
overthrow the WR. By 1923 it had it’s own private
army known as the SA and was ready to seize power.
 The Munich Putsch of 1923 was a failure. Hitler was
arrested and put in prison. However, his trial had
gained publicity.
 The WR seemed to recover in the years 1924 to 1929
mainly as a result of the work of Stresemann.
TASKS
Using pages 25 -29:
1.Answer questions 4 and 5 on page 27
2.Answer question 8 on page 29
3. Complete resource sheet 1.2d
Home work
The boxes below show actions taken by
Stresemann.
Choose ONE and EXPLAIN how it helped
Germany to recover in the 1920’s (9 marks)
The introduction of a new
currency (Rentenmark) in
1923
The Dawes Plan (1924) and
the Young Plan (1929)
HOMEWORK
‘As a result of the work of Stresemann
between 1924 and 1929 the Weimar
Republic fully recovered from the problems
it had faced in it’s first four years.’
Do you agree? Explain your answer.
12 marks
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WilPoL
V1r5Y&feature=related
Learning objectives
By the end of this lesson:
I will be able to describe the problems
Germany faced in 1923
I should be able to explain the solutions
to these problems
I could also be able to evaluate how
effective each of the solutions were