1. Weimar Politics & Economic Problems 1924-1929 ► Weimar Politics: ► Usually seen as the high point of the Weimar Republic - “Golden Age” ► Its success coincided with the influence of Gustav Stresemann

2. Positive Economic & Social Success of Weimar ► Dawes Plan restored confidence in the economy & investment; new homes, roads, & public facilities were built ► Factories equipped w/ new machinery; industrial output doubles ► Wages rose in real terms; working hours shortened & social insurance improved ► Women had more equality (Reichstag & professional jobs)

3. The “Roaring twenties” in the Berlin hotel Esplanade, 1926

4. Negative Economic & Social Elements of Weimar ► Germany’s recovery dependent on US loans ► German farmers (1/3 population) did not prosper; Farm prices fell ► Farmworkers’ earnings in 1929 only ½ the national average ► Even @ peak in 1928 unemployment @ 1.3 million ► German balance of trade always in the red ► Not all favored women’s emancipation; most women favored traditional roles

5. Other Economic Issues ► Reparations organized on a more reasonable level in the Dawes Plan & later the Young Plan – but it still caused nationalistic resentment ► Inflation was cured by 1924 never to return (Stresemann & Schacht) ► Mark  Retenmark (mortgage of Germany’s industrial & agricultural resources) ►  Reichsmark (gold)

6. Political Successes of Weimar ► No further attempts to overthrow the govt. ► 1924 & 1928 elections extremist parties lost ground ► Hindenburg elected President after Ebert’s death ► Useful figurehead

7. Hindenburg Campaign in 1925

8. People Crowd Around Hindenburg’s Villa 1925

9. Political Failings of Weimar ► Political situation still unstable; seven governments between 1924 & 1930 ► By the late 1920s moderate parties finding it harder to ally ► Frequent violence between the SA & KPD ► Many Germans were cynical of party politics ► Hindenburg’s election a potential threat  a right-wing conservative who did not identify with the Republic or its values

10. The Weimar Republic (Political)

11. Disenchantment & Dissatisfaction ► Politics seen as a matter of maneuver rather than something they control ► Voting system-  vote for the party not the individual  party machinery selects Reichstag deputies ► Parties to blame: moderate parties inconsistent with support of Republic

12. Müller’s “Grand Coalition” 1928-1930 ► Hermann Müller (SPD) – June 1928 led a ministry dominated by socialists but broad enough to include the (DDP, DVP, Z, & BVP) ► Main task was to steer the Young Plan through the Reichstag ► French connect this reparations plan to the withdrawal from the Rhineland

13. Müller’s Cabinet

14. The Young Plan ► 1 st time, the timescale for reparation repayment was set ► Germany was to:  A) make payments for next 59 years (  1988)  B) pay 2 billion marks a year instead of the 2.5 billion (Dawes Plan) ► Transfer of payments from marks to foreign currency to be handled by a Swiss Bank ► Payments were to increase gradually & from 1929-1932 were to pay less than they would have under the Dawes Plan

15. The Young Plan (continued) ► If Germany agreed to the Young Plan, France agreed to evacuate the Rhineland by June 1930 (5 years ahead of schedule) ► The Reichstag eventually passed the Young Plan in March 1930

16. The Decline of Parliamentary Government in Germany Decline of Parliamentary Government Parliamentary Government (1928-1930) Presidential Government (1930-1933) Dictatorship Dictatorship

17. Source 8.1: The Role of the Reichstag & the President 193019311932 Presidential decree laws 54466 Reichstag laws 98345 Reichstag: days sitting 944213