1. AP EURO Unit #6 – Early 20th Century (The World Wars) Lesson #607 Search for Peace and Stability during the 1920s

2. The New Germany THE WEIMAR REPUBLIC
The Kaiser had abdicated – passed power to an elected Reichstag, based in Weimar
They had to deal with MAJOR issues
What are they?
War guilt clause
Reparations payments
Mass strikes and unrest
A belligerent France on one side, an expanding Bolshevik (Communist) movement on the other

3. The New Europe France: keep Germany weak Why? How would they benefit?
Britain: rebuild the German economy
Why? How would the benefit?
USA: you’re both dumb!
Why? Where does out attitude come from?
Maynard Keynes: an impoverished Germany is bad: why would he say that?
(he thought it could entice Bolshevism)
(Keynesian Economics)
France was forced to find new friends with common fears: THE LITTLE ENTENTE

4. LITTLE ENTENTE

5. LITTLE ENTENTE

7. Reparations 33 Billion Gold Marks 2.5 Billion/year
Germany started to pay in 1921
Announced it was unsustainable in 1922
France insisted – why? (three reasons)
Still owed huge debts to USA
Needed $$ to repair damages
Keep Germany weak!
By 1923 – France demanded – threatened military invasion

8. The Ruhr Invasion Industrial region of Germany
Weimar government ordered a general strike
France decided to isolate and starve Germany into submission
Brought in African workers
(to shame Germans)
“Black Shame”
Ruhr
35sec

9. Hyperinflation German response: (economy was paralyzed)
What would you do, if you were Mr. Weimar?
Just print more $$
1914: 4.2 Reich Marks - $1
1921: 64
1923: 800
Then… the inflation…

11. Click – Hyperinflation – 6m

12. Hyperinflation results
End value: 1 trillionth of original value
(that’s one million millionth)
Economy collapsed
Middle Class Savings erased
Lower class lost everything
Negotiated prices on the spot
$$ not worth the paper it was printed on
Chancellor Gustav Stressman – introduced a new currency:
1 trillion Reich Marks = 1 new Rentenmark

13. Click
Hyperinflation 3m

18. Hope for getting along The Dawes Plan (1924) The Young Plan (1929)
Americans suggested a solution
Why were they the ONLY country with the right do to so?
Decrease Reparations Payments
Agreed to by Allies and Germans
The Young Plan (1929)
Lower payments again
Remove supervision of Germany
Was that a good idea?
Locarno Agreements (1925)
France and Germany agreed to new border changes
France supported German entrance into League of Nations
France agreed to pull out of Rhineland within five year (1930)
What does this show?
Kellogg-Briand Pact

19. Meanwhile… back in the dark alleys of Germany…
Lots of people joined fringe political groups.
Bolsheviks were popular.
So were extreme nationalist groups.

20. Hitler joined the Nazi Party
Nazis: Nationalist Socialists (extreme nationalists)
Their goal: full repudiation of Versailles
Rebuild Germany to former greatness
What’s he talking about?
In 1923 – they struck
Beer Hall Putsch – 1923
Coordinated attack on local and national governments
Poorly planned and amateurishly executed
Hitler and friends arrested
How could Hitler use this [rather public] trial as a platform for his politics and popularity? 1m

23. Hitler in the 1920s Adolf thrown in jail
Sentenced to five years for treason
Took the time to write Mein Kampf
He was released in just six months
In mean time, Germany was actually improving - on road to recovery
WHY WOULD RECOVERY NOT WORK FOR HITLER?
Hitler’s team gathering a following of fringe nutty nuts on the right wing
But… US Stock Market Crash will change EVERYTHING…

24. Economy of post war powers
France – repair of trench region and Maginot Line – put France deep in debt
Britain – massive unemployment (23% by 1921