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 hyper-inflation in the early 1920’s? What happened when Germany stopped paying reparations? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=18WlSbVja-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

Does Gustav Stresemann put Germany back on it’s feet?

Tasks Think back over all the problems Germany has faced since 1918 NOT just 1923 Decide what Stresemann’s problems are. Find solutions for the problems. Assess the potential success of these solutions. In grouyps of four students put their ideas down on sugar paper, each student has a marker. 10 MINS APPROX. Then students move to another table and add ideas to the paper there and so on. Then discuss

Germans fall behind with French occupy the Ruhr Germans fall behind with reparations German workers in Ruhr strike. Government continues to pay workers. Inflation at its peak Munich Putsch Nov 1923 French leave Ruhr Inflation rises Sept 1923 Strike is called off. Germans agree to pay August 1923 Stresemann becomes Chancellor Hyperinflation

Problem 1: Hyperinflation Solution: Scrap old currency and introduce the Rentenmark Problem 2: French troops in the Ruhr Solution: Persuade French to Leave and agree to start paying reparations again (Dawes Plan) Problem 3: No one trusted the Germans Solution: Improve Germany’s relationship with other countries Problem 4: Economy and industry were in Trouble Solution: Arrange loans (Dawes Plan) to rebuild German industry. Refer back to slide 5, how far down the list are they?

Britain and France The Dawes Plan 1924 Germany USA LOANS Reparations War loans repaid Britain and France

Stresemann He was Chancellor for only 100 days in 1923 and then became Foreign Minister. He restored German pride by: Putting Germans back to work and stabilising the economy. Arranging loans (Dawes Plan) to rebuild industry and the economy Doing a deal to extend reparation payments. (Young Plan) 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: Answer questions 4 and 5 on page 27 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)

Do you agree? Explain your answer. 12 marks 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=WilPoLV1r5Y&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