Europe in the 1920s

Europe 1914

Europe in 1919

Germany

The Weimar Republic Germany: largest experiment in liberal government in inter-war years (except Soviets) Constitution enacted in city of Wiemar - Germans associate government with their non-defeat - seen as imposed government - most wanted Kaiser Wilhelm back Constitution allowed small parties in Reichstag (parliament) - gave president dictatorial powers in emergency.

Continued The republic also lacked broad popular support. It was viewed as the government that had saddled Germany with the humiliation of the Versailles treaty. In the early 20s there were a number of violent uprisings, but they failed There was massive inflation, due to the reparations imposed by the allies.

The German Government: 1919-1920

Weimar Germany: Political Representation [1920-1933] Political Parties in the Reichstag May 1924 Dec. 1924 May 1928 Sep. 1930 July 1932 Nov. 1932 Mar. 1933 Communist Party (KPD) 62 45 54 77 89 100 81 Social Democratic Party (SDP) 131 153 143 133 121 120 Catholic Centre Party (BVP) 88 78 87 97 90 93 Nationalist Party (DNVP) 95 103 73 41 37 52 Nazi Party (NSDAP) 32 14 12 107 230 196 288 Other Parties 102 112 122 22 35 23

From the German Point of View  Lost—but not forgotten country. Into the heart You are to dig yourself these words as into stone: Which we have lost may not be truly lost!

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

German “Revolutions” [1918]

German Freikorps German officers private armies

Sparticist Poster Sparticist was a left-wing Marxist revolutionary movement organized in Germany during World War I

Rosa Luxemburg [1870-1919] murdered by the Freikorps The Spartacist League Rosa Luxemburg [1870-1919] murdered by the Freikorps

The French in the Ruhr: 1923 In January 1923 French and Belgian troops occupied the Ruhr coalfields in order to enforce German payment of reparations stemming from the First World War. The Germans, unable to resist militarily, responded with acts of civil disobedience, strikes and riots; in turn, these actions were met with measures of repression by the occupying forces.

The French Occupation of the Ruhr

Weimar Germany After French invade Ruhr Valley and stop German industry, economy collapses Rates of German mark to U.S. dollar conversion: 1914 - 4 to 1 1921 - 64 to 1 1923 - 800million to 1 Savings wiped out, but debts easy to pay.

The German Mark

The Beer Hall Putsch Putsch - attempt coup against the government November 8, 1923 - crowd gathers at the Burgerbräukeller to hear Erich von Ludendorff, prominent WWI General, speak - Hitler takes over Hitler and Ludendorff arrested & tried for treason - both jailed - Hitler becomes national figure during trial.

The Beer Hall Putsch: 1923

Hitler in Landesberg Prison

Hitler’s Plan Writes Mein Kampf (My Struggle) in jail - outlines political views including plan for Germans to have “lebensraum” (living space) by conquering surrounding areas Seeks legal path to power.

Gustav Stresemann Leader until death in 1929 Stops putsches of Hitler and communists Introduces new currency Dawes & Young Plan - restructures German debt.

The Dawes Plan (1924)

1925 Locarno Agreements Revision of Versailles Treaty - stabilized western border - France leaves Ruhr and Rhineland - eastern border un-addressed Italy and Britain vow help to the invaded Allies giving control of German affairs Germany invited to join League of Nations 1928 - Kellogg-Briand Pact signed - outlawed war as an instrument of foreign policy.

Locarno Pact: 1925

Austin Chamberlain (Br.) Locarno Pact: 1925 Austin Chamberlain (Br.) Gustave Stresemann (Ger.) Aristide Briand (Fr.) Guaranteed the common boundaries of Belgium, France, and Germany as specified in the Treaty of Versailles of 1919. 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.

England

Great Britain After the War Economic Confusion The new government in 1919 was a Liberal-Conservative coalition. The economy was depressed throughout the 1920s. After 1922 government welfare was the normal means of income for thousands of British families First Labour Government In 1923 Labour took over. Though Socialistic in outlook, they were non-revolutionary. This was the beginning of the end for the Liberal party. The General Strike of 1926 In 1924 Labour fell, and the Conservatives took power again. In order to make their industry internationally competitive, British management attempted to cut wages. In 1926 coal miners went on strike, followed by sympathetic workers in other industries. In the end, they capitulated, but there was continued unrest. The Empire Crumbled In the 1920s India gained independence. In 1921, most of Ireland gained independence.

Ramsay MacDonald: 1924, 1929 Labour Party takes over under Ramsay McDonald – Liberal Party sides with Labour Labour Party

Breakup of the British Empire Already formed commonwealth with Canada and Australia - not completely independent - maintain loyalty to mother country Gave Ireland (except northern counties) same status after Irish Easter Rebellion of 1916 - Brits put down, execute leaders 1918 Sinn Fein elects member to Parliament, government refuses to seat them Guerilla war breaks out.

Irish Independence Eamon de Valera and Michael Collins lead new rebellion - de Valera rises to president of Ireland, Collins killed by IRA 1921 British grant limited independence in Commonwealth for allegiance to crown

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

France

France Legislature becomes conservative Georges Clemenceau driven from power for being too lenient on Germans at Versailles Rapid turnover in leadership after WWI. France seeks alliances to replace Russia, Britain

Raymond Poincaré & the Conservative Right He sent French troops into the Ruhr in 1923. Pushed for large-scale infrastructure reconstruction programs [counting on German reparations to pay for them]. After 1926-29: New taxes & tightened tax collections. Drastic decline in govt. spending that stabilized the franc [the threat of runaway inflation was avoided!]

Edouard Herriot & the French Socialists 1924-1926. Progressive social reform. Spoke for the lower classes, small businessmen, and farmers. Committed to private enterprise and private property. Fervently anti-clerical.

Art in the 1920s

Themes in Early Modern Art Uncertainty/insecurity. Disillusionment. The subconscious. Overt sexuality. Violence & savagery.

George Grosz Grey Day (1921) DaDa

The Pillars of Society (1926) George Grosz The Pillars of Society (1926) DaDa

Picasso  Studio with Plaster Head [1925] Cubism

Georges Braque  Still Life LeJeur [1929] Cubism

The Great Depression

European Debts to the United States

Stock Market Crash Americans take money out of European investments and put them into booming stock market in 1928 stock market crashes in 1929 as a result of virtually unregulated financial speculation people cannot pay back loans to banks and many banks collapse little money invested in Europe

The Great Depression [1929-1941] London in 1930 Paris in 1930

German Unemployment: 1929-1938

The End of Reparations As the German economy worsens, American president Herbert Hoover announces a one-year moratorium on all payments of international debts the Lausanne Conference in 1932 effectively ends reparations

The Great Depression [1929-1941]

Decrease in World Trade: 1929-1932

German Election Results in 1933

The “New Napoleons?”