5 Good Years And Card Sort

• L.Os1. Explain why 1924-1929 are

considered the Golden Years of the Weimar Republic

2. Explain the effect the Great Depression had on the Weimar Government AND the Nazis.

1924-1929: ‘The Golden Years’ of the Weimar

Republic

1924-1929: ‘The Golden Years’ of the Weimar

RepublicYEARS OF HOPE

In GERMANY

INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

Following the crises of 1918-23, Germany began to stabilise and prosper between 1924- 1929.

• Worked hard to get Britain & France to trust Germany

• Got Britain and France to agree to changes in the Versailles settlement

• Gustav Stresemann as Chancellor in 1923 then as Foreign Minister 1923-29 was a key figure in these good years.

• Politician of stability 1923-29 in several coalition governments

• Germany’s old enemy, France became friendlier towards them

• He was bitterly hated by right wingers who called him a traitor.

• Awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1926

OTHER FEATURES OF THE STRESEMANN YEARS

• Unemployment and poverty still Unemployment and poverty still highhigh

• Growing prosperity based on USA Growing prosperity based on USA loans – loans –

what would happen if USA wanted what would happen if USA wanted the money back ? the money back ?

POSITIVES

• Golden age of German cinemaGolden age of German cinema• Night life, cabaret etcNight life, cabaret etc• Removal of censorshipRemoval of censorship• Weimar Republic became more popularWeimar Republic became more popular

NEGATIVES

Anything else?

• BUT both the Nazis and the Communists made little progress in these years because people were much better off and their EXTREME ideas did not appeal to people

• Stresemann wasn’t popular with either the extreme nationalists like Hitler and the Nazis, or with the Communists

• Hitler disliked the League because it supported the Treaty of Versailles

THE WEIMAR REPUBLIC’S 5 GOOD YEARS 1924-1929

A USA economic plan to help Germany recover from the economic crisis of 1923.

• Amount of reparations reduced

• Large US loans would help German trade and industry• Old currency destroyed and a new stable currency introduced • Coal & steel industries modernised

All very successful. Germany was beginning to prosper, and there was a positive and confident atmosphere

In GERMANY

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INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

• 1925 LOCARNO TREATY- between Germany, France and Belgium. Germany promised to respect its western borders= France & Belgium feel safe.• 1926 GERMANY JOINS THE LEAGUE OF NATIONS

Major successes

• Allied occupying force in the Rhineland was reduced

Stresemann (Germany)Joseph

Chamberlain (UK)

Briand (France)

• 1924 DAWES PLAN- loans & reparations

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WHAT WERE THE POLITICAL RESULTS OF THESE GOOD YEARS??

• Political parties who were committed to the Weimar Republic eg SOCIAL DEMOCRATS did much better in the 1928 elections than in previous ones. Democratic govt more popular than before.• RIGHT WING NATIONALIST parties did not receive many votes- when things are going well people do not need to turn to them for solutions. The NAZIS had no one to appeal to in these 5 years.• MIDDLE CLASS parties lost support because middle class voters had suffered in the Great Inflation• COMMUNISTS were still well supported- a sign that extremists were still dangerous

In times of stability and prosperity, support for extremist political parties falls.

Events Consequence

1924 Dawes Plan-Secures massive loans for Germany from the USA.

1924 Locarno Pact signed with France (secures Germany’s western borders).

1926 Germany joins the League of Nations

1924-1928: Golden age of German cinema and culture.

1924-1929: Majority of Germans happy with Weimar Government and support the Republic.

1929 Young Plan- final reparations agreement means Germany have to pay only 1/3 of full amount.

This enables Germany to rebuild economy after hyperinflation. It does mean Germany is in huge debt to the USA though? What will happen if the USA needs the loans paid back quickly?

Relationship with France greatly improved.

Status as a great power recognised by world.

Germans spending more and becoming proud of their country again.

Extremist parties such as the Nazis lose popularity.

Economy boosted as German can now plan to pay reparations and don’t have to pay as much.

Task 1G/C: 4 mark KU question1. Explain why 1924-1929 can be called

‘The Golden Years’ of the Weimar Republic? (4)

Extension: Write the heading: Stressemann’s other achievements. Underneath this, list the two events you did not use in your answer and explain the consequences of these for Germany.

BUT…..in 1929 the Great Depression occurs in the

USA• USA economy in bad

health-they need to recall ALL their loans to survive.

• This affects Germany more than most because of the Dawes Plan of 1924

• Weimar Republic poor again-poverty, unemployment and hunger widespread.

As a leading Nazi said in 1929…. ‘It is in times of crisis that we will find the greatest opportunity…’

And as a leading historian has put it…..‘The Great Depression put the wind in Hitler’s sails…’

COMMUNISTS

DEMOCRATS

DEMOCRATIC PARTY

CENTRE PARTY

PEOPLE’S PARTY

GERMAN NATIONAL PEOPLE’S PARTY

NAZI PARTY

GREAT DEPRESSION

Cause:Great Depression in USA

Task 2: Group answer

As a group, work out the BEST answers to the following questions and make sure everyone in your group has the same answer written down.

2 Explain why the Great Depression in the USA plunged Germany into a crisis. (3)

3. Why can it be argued that the Great Depression ‘…put the wind in Hitler’s sails…’ (3)

• L.Os1. Explain why 1924-1929 are

considered the Golden Years of the Weimar Republic

2. Explain the effect the Great Depression had on the Weimar Government AND the Nazis.

1924-1929: ‘The Golden Years’ of the Weimar

Republic

1924 Dawes Plan-Secures massive loans for Germany from the USA.

1924 Locarno Pact signed with France (secures Germany’s western borders).

1926 Germany joins the League of Nations

1924-1928: Golden age of German cinema and culture.

1924-1929: Majority of Germans happy with Weimar Government and support the Republic.

1929 Young Plan- final reparations agreement means Germany have to pay only 1/3 of full amount.

This enables Germany to rebuild economy after hyperinflation. It does mean Germany is in huge debt to the USA though? What will happen if the USA needs the loans paid back quickly?

Relationship with France greatly improved.

Status as a great power recognised by world.

Germans spending more and becoming proud of their country again.

Extremist parties such as the Nazis lose popularity.

Economy boosted as Germany can now plan to pay reparations and don’t have to pay as much.

Events Consequence