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Weimar Germany 1924 – 1929.‘How far were successive Weimar Governments able to bring stability to Germany’s foreign relations, economic and political positions in the period 1924 to 1929?”
Introduction.
In the mid to late 1920’s, there was a description made of this time, as the “golden years” of the Weimar republic. Between 1924 and 1929, there were many issues uprising such as:
• Germany’s international standing improved.
• A measure of economic recovery.
• A strengthened social welfare.
• Arts flourished.
• No putsch attempts.
There was also a political instability and paramilitary violence that did not go away and this caused conflicts between employers and unions. There was also and avowed monarchist elected as president.
The Development of Gustav Stresemann’s Role 1907 -1923.
The first entry into the Reichstag, made by Gustav was in 1907, he was noted here for the virulence of his right wing views.
Stresemann’s first political standpoint was in 1918 when he co-founded the peoples party (DVP).
He co-founded the DVP, this was a small- medium sized business interested and managerial classed party. Originally it was monarchist that viewed the republic with disdain.
There was a shift in the early 1920’s with opinion in favour of making the republic work.
Stresemann served as chancellor for only 103 days in august to November 1923. However, in that time the republic emerged from the crisis that was threatening it. Gustav Stresemann’s diplomacy in the mid-late 1920’s contributed to a series of international agreements from which Germany benefited substantially. The allies undertook not to occupy German cities in the event of non-payment of debts, and a sizeable loan was arranged to boost Germany’s financial reserves. He proceeded to stabilise the currency, overseeing in November the introduction of a new currency, the
Rentenmark, which unlike is predecessor, was issued in strictly limited quantities.
Also he forestalled a threatened communist rising in Saxony and he refused to be panicked by the activities of the Bavaria extremist right party. Stresemann in late 1923, made enemies on both left and right, this cost him the chancellorship.
International Relations 1924 – 1929.
(a) Stresemann was then made foreign minister, a post which he held through successive governments until his death in 1929. He followed a policy of ‘fulfilment’ in his foreign policy, at first this idea had been by Wirth and Rathenau in 1921-22.
The idea of ‘fulfilment’ was at first intended to improve Germany’s position by revising or modifying the treaty of Versailles in order to improve relations with Britain and France.
(b) 1924 – Dawes Plan – at this time, the French troops withdrew from the Ruhr on the basis of the Dawes Plan. It was named after the American banker who helped draft it, and it put the payment of reparations onto a new ground. There were many other benefits for Germany in the Dawes plan, such as loans and the allies not occupying their cities.
1925 – Locarno Pact – this pact gave rise to a deal of optimism that the long standing quarrel between France and Germany had finally been buried. This was because Germany had gained more out of Locarno than it [next page]