The Golden Age of Weimar and the Great Depression
The mid-1920s saw a period of relative stability and prosperity in Germany, often referred to as the "Golden Age" of the Weimar Republic. This was largely due to the policies of Foreign Minister Gustav Stresemann 1924−1929.
Stresemann's key achievements included:
- Introducing the Rentenmark to stabilize currency after hyperinflation
- Negotiating the 1924 Dawes Plan for U.S. loans to Germany
- Securing Germany's entry into the League of Nations in 1926
- Negotiating the 1929 Young Plan to reduce reparations payments
Highlight: This period saw a cultural revival in Germany, including the avant-garde art movement, Bauhaus architecture, and a flourishing nightlife scene.
However, the prosperity was short-lived. The Wall Street Crash of October 1929 triggered a global economic crisis that hit Germany particularly hard:
- U.S. loans dried up, crippling the German economy
- Unemployment skyrocketed, reaching 6 million by 1932
- Farmers fell into debt and poverty spread across all classes
Quote: "Mass poverty and people queuing for jobs or food" became a common sight in German cities.
The economic crisis led many Germans to turn to extremist parties, particularly the Nazi Party:
- Nazi Reichstag seats increased from 12 in 1928 to 230 in 1932
- The party appealed to a wide range of groups, including the middle class, farmers, and industrialists
- Nazi propaganda exploited public resentment of the Treaty of Versailles and fear of communism
This section of the Gcse history germany 1890 1945 exam preparation notes pdf is crucial for understanding how economic instability paved the way for the Nazi rise to power, a key focus of the AQA GCSE History Germany textbook pdf.
