Democracies in the 1920’s

Fear of Communism 1919 fear of Bolshevism spread Red Scare Communists took over Berlin for a week

Weimar Republic Social Democratic Party (S.P.D) took control of German government Nov Kaiser abdicates SPD proclaims a Republic, afraid of Communism

Weimar Republic Threats from the Left (Communism) – Lack of exposure to democracy – Relied on conservative groups to maintain order – Military supported government in return for getting rid of Bolsheviks – Weimar gov’t became a prisoner of the German Army

Weimar Republic Freikorps – Anti-communist repression – Right wing paramilitary group Spartacists – Communists – Rosa Luxemburg – killed – Anti-communist repression – Right wing paramilitary group

The “Stabbed-in-the-Back” Theory Disgruntled German WWI veterans

German “Revolutions” [1918]

German Freikorps

Sparticist Poster

The Spartacist League Rosa Luxemburg [ ] murdered by the Freikorps

Weimar Republic January 1919 election – Center-left coalition – S.P.D had most seats – Shared with Center Party and German Democratic Party – German capital to Weimar

Weimar Republic Treaty of Versailles – Dictated peace – Article 231 – Reparations – Alsace & Lorraine to France – Lost territory to Poland – France occupied Rhineland, demilitarized

Weimar Republic France wanted to punish Germany Secure its borders Britain believed a healthy German economy was tied to a healthy British economy “Stab in the Back” John Maynard Keynes – Criticized Versailles Treaty

Weimar Republic New Constitution – Reichstag – Universal suffrage – Chancellor & President

Friedrich Ebert: First President of the Weimar Republic

Weimar Republic Ruhr Crisis 1923 – French occupy Ruhr, take over factories, passive resistance by workers – Poincare – Runaway inflation – Social revolution – Middle class resentment, blamed gov’t, big business, Jews, workers, communists

The German Mark

The French in the Ruhr: 1923

Weimar Republic Beer Hall Putsch, 1923 – Hitler, Nazi, arrested, jail, Mein Kampf Gustav Stresemann, 1923 Called off passive resistance Locarno Pact

The Beer Hall Putsch: 1923

Hitler in Landesberg Prison

Mein Kampf [My Struggle]

Weimar Republic Dawes Plan, 1924 Young Plan, 1929

European Debts to the United States

The Dawes Plan (1924)

The Young Plan (1930) For three generations, you’ll have to slave away! $26,350,000,000 to be paid over a period of 58½ years. For three generations, you’ll have to slave away! $26,350,000,000 to be paid over a period of 58½ years.

Weimar Germany: Political Representation [ ] Political Parties in the Reichstag May 1924 Dec May 1928 Sep July 1932 Nov Mar Communist Party (KPD) Social Democratic Party (SDP) Catholic Centre Party (BVP) Nationalist Party (DNVP) Nazi Party (NSDAP) Other Parties

France Multi party system, had to form coalitions, too much compromise Economic chaos Conservatives (right) dominated government – Supported the status quo, business, army and the church backed them – Raymond Poincare Slashed spending, raised taxes

Edouard Herriot & the French Socialists   Progressive social reform.  Spoke for the lower classes, small businessmen, and farmers.  Committed to private enterprise and private property.  Fervently anti-clerical.   Progressive social reform.  Spoke for the lower classes, small businessmen, and farmers.  Committed to private enterprise and private property.  Fervently anti-clerical.

Great Britain Social equality Unemployment 12% 1926 General Strike Labour Party wins 1924 and 1929, Ramsey MacDonald Conservatives win between – Compromised, kept social welfare

1926 General Strike Trades Disputes Act (1927):  All general or sympathy strikes were illegal.  It forbade unions from raising money for political purposes. Trades Disputes Act (1927):  All general or sympathy strikes were illegal.  It forbade unions from raising money for political purposes.

Ramsay MacDonald: 1924, 1929 Labour Party

Stanley Baldwin Conservative Party

Collective Security League of Nations Locarno Pact, 1925 League of Nations, 1926 Kellogg-Briand Pact, 1928 Maginot Line Washington Naval Conference

League of Nations Members

Locarno Pact: 1925 Gustave Stresemann (Ger.) Aristide Briand (Fr.) Austin Chamberlain (Br.)  Guaranteed the common boundaries of Belgium, France, and Germany as specified in the Treaty of Versailles of  Germany signed treaties with Poland and Czechoslovakia, agreeing to change the eastern borders of Germany by arbitration only.  Guaranteed the common boundaries of Belgium, France, and Germany as specified in the Treaty of Versailles of  Germany signed treaties with Poland and Czechoslovakia, agreeing to change the eastern borders of Germany by arbitration only.

Kellogg-Briand Pact: 1928  15 nations committed to outlawing aggression and war for settling disputes.  Problem  no way of enforcement.  15 nations committed to outlawing aggression and war for settling disputes.  Problem  no way of enforcement.

The Maginot Line

Washington Naval Conference [ ] U. S. Britain Japan France Italy

Great Depression Causes – Weak international economy – Overproduction – Unstable banking – Certain weak industries – ½ of Americans living below poverty – STOCK MARKET CRASH – Hawley Smoot Tariff and retaliation – New York Banks recall loans

Great Depression Impact on Europe – Shattered optimism in political leaders – Production declined, except USSR – Unemployment Germany 43% Britain 18% U.S. 25%

Great Depression Attempted Remedies New Deal, USA Scandinavia, most successful Britain: off gold standard, increase tariffs, cut spending, 1932 was better than in 1920’s, not completely out until WWII

Great Depression France – Radical right increased, supported fascists – Popular Front, Leon Blum – French New Deal – France divided on what to do in Spanish Civil War destroyed Popular Front – Politically divided into the 1930’s