Esther, Miriam, Annika, Lina, Julia, Kirstin, Candy, Helen
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Stresemann – strengthening or weakening the Weimar Republic?
( = concerning central question)
-
Weimar 1923-1929 = “Stresemann Era”
Germany’s Foreign Minister
successful foreign policy needed to reduce public hatred (of Versailles
Treaty) and help economy grow
“Ludendorff’s young man”: supported unrestriced submarine warfare and
the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk
he formed the German People’s Party (DVP)  conservative; wanted
constitutional monarchy
Aug. 1923: appointed as Chancellor to deal with economic crisis
1926: was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his diplomatic work
1929: death
and strategy:
aims
aims:
- wanted to restore G.’s power and prosperity
- policy of co-operation with the West and conciliation/pressure on other
powers  hoped revision of treaty
- other powers were reliable on G.’s economy (supplier for coal to Fr., market
for Br., investment opportunity for USA)  countries could not afford to let
G. economy collapse…
 realistic strategy = Erfüllungspolitik (fulfilment): fulfilling terms of the
treaty to improve relations with Br. and Fr.  encourage them to revise treaty
strategy:
- negotiation  G. lacked military power
- gaining confidence of Western powers  end diplomatic isolation
- using G. economy to revise treaty rather than force
- co-operation with USA  economic aid
- satisfying French
- links with USSR  pressure on the West
his hopes:
- less reparation costs
- end of Ruhr occupation
- end of military control over G.
fulfilled
- eastern borders revised
reparations issue 1919-1932:
- USA set a high limit for reparations to be paid by G.: 226,000 million marks
over 42 yrs.
- problems to be solved with Dawes and Young plans because reparations too
high
Dawes Plan (1924):
- created by financial expert Charles Dawes
- attempt for Allies to collect war reparations debt from G.  unsuccessful
- reduction in the annual amount of German reparations
- annual payments started at 1,000 million marks and increased to 2,500
million after 5 yrs.  total payment: 132,000 million
- Reichsbank reorganized and under Allied supervision as well as railways
- 800 million was given to G. for ecomic aid!
- outcome: helped economy recovery
- problems: no end was set for payment; total payment still too high;
dependence on USA; international control over railways etc.
Esther, Miriam, Annika, Lina, Julia, Kirstin, Candy, Helen
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Young Plan (1929)
- programme for settlement of G. reparations debt presented by Owen Young
- result of Dawes Plan because G. couldn’t meet huge annual payment
- total payment reduced to 37,000 million marks
- lower annual payment ove 58 yrs.
- Allied supervision abrogated
- outcome: Allied troops were withdrawn in 1930s
- problems: internal opposition by nationalists  arranged referendum on its
acceptance (didn’t want to pay reparations at all) NSDAP wanted
Freiheitsgesetz ("Liberty Law") to renounce all reparations (amongst others);
the Young Plan collapsed with the coming of the Great Depression
 G. only paid 1/8 of original sum (paid in form of coal, manufactured
goods and gold)
Locarno Pact (1925)
- seven agreements negotiated at Locarno/Switzerland between G., Br., Fr.,
Italy, Belgium
- thought to secure post-war territorial settlement
- divided orders in Europe into western borders (guaranteed by Locarno
treaties) and eastern borders (open for revision)
- G. reassured Fr.’s borders  G. could concentrate on revision in east
- outcome: all countries renounced use of invasion; G. also signed arbitration
treaties with Poland and Czechoslovakia renouncing use of force
 improved western European climate; hope for international peace (“spirit of
Locarno”)
League of Nations (1926)
- internationals organization founded as a result of Versailles Treaty
- G. joined in 1926 and was given a veto power on League Council  great
power!
- G. used its position to raise G. interest
Treaty of Berlin (1926)
- G. and USSR pledged neutrality in event of attack on the other by third
country for the next 5 yrs.
 helped to develop good relations between these two countries
 Stresemann transformed G. from being a distrusted outcast to being
actively involved in European diplomacy!
Allied occupation (1924-1925)
- Stresemann called off passive resistance  Fr. withdraw from Ruhr
- Young Plan: Allies withdraw completely in 1930
Disarmament
- Stresemann wanted to address issue of disarmament
- 1928: Kellog-Briand-Pact was signed with 70 other countries to renounce use
of force to end war and create international peace  ineffective…
- 1926: minor success = Inter-Allied Military Control Commission was
withdrawn
- G. secretely rearmed
Esther, Miriam, Annika, Lina, Julia, Kirstin, Candy, Helen
Central question:
PROs: (strength)
-
-
-
Erfüllungspolitik (negotiations)
Dawes Plan (reduced
reparations; 800 million loan 
economic recovery)
Young Plan (reduced
reparations again; Allied troops
withdrwan)
Locarno Pact (improved
European climate)
League of Nations (great power
to G.)
Treaty of Berlin (G. involved in
European diplomacy)
Allied occupation (no passive
resistance anymore)
Kellog-Briand-Pact (renounced
use of force)
CONs: (weakness)
-
-
Dawes Plan (reparations still too
high; dependence on USA)
Young Plan (international
opposition)
League of Nations (too much
power for G.  fear for other
countries)
Kellog-Briand-Pact failed
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