A good one

1. How did the Weimar
Republic survive?
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/history/mwh/
germany/weimarsurviverev1.shtml

2.  In 1923 the Weimar Republic was
teetering at the brink of a very large
cliff with problems such as
hyperinflation, attempted revolutions
and public discontent, pushing it
increasingly towards the edge. How
could the Republic possibly survive?

3. Gustav Stresemann and Charles
Dawes
 In 1923, the Weimar Republic was on
the verge of collapse, but, surprisingly, the
crisis was the start of a period of stability and
success. The period 1923-1929 was a time
when the economy boomed and cultural life
flourished in Germany.
 This dramatic turnabout happened because
Germany was saved by two people - Gustav
Stresemann and Charles Dawes.

4. Gustav
Stresemann
 Gustav Stresemann had been a
nationalist, but he realised that
something needed to be done to save
Germany.
 The most important thing he did in
1923 was to organise the Great
Coalition of moderate, pro-democracy
parties in the Reichstag. At last,
Germany had a government that could
make laws!
 Under Stresemann's guidance, the
government called off the strike,
persuaded the French to leave the Ruhr
and even got the rest of the world to
allow Germany to join the League of
Nations in 1926.
 Stresemann also introduced reforms
to help ordinary people such as job
centres, unemployment pay and better
housing.

5. Charles Dawes Charles Dawes was the US
budget director. In 1923, he
was sent to Europe to sort out
Germany's economy. Under his
advice, theGerman
Reichsbank was
reformed and the old money
was called in and burned. This
ended the hyperinflation.
 Dawes also arranged the
Dawes Plan with Stresemann,
which gave Germany longer to
pay reparations. Most
importantly, Dawes agreed to
America lending Germany
800 million gold marks,
which kick-started the German
economy.

6. Was Weimar stable during 1923-
1929?
 Despite all the successes, many historians believe
that the stability of the Weimar republic was illusory:
1. The Great Coalition collapsed before the end of
1923, and the Reichstagreturned to chaos. When
the crisis came, it was unable to respond.
2. The nationalists and fascists did not win many
seats in the Reichstag, but they were allowed to
exist and campaign, so they were just waiting
for the right opportunity to attempt a takeover
again.
3. Everything depended on American money - if
that stopped, Germany was ready to return to
crisis.

7. Revision tip and answer
preparation
Revision tip
 Make a list of all the facts from this revision bite, and divide
them into two sections:
 Things that caused the Weimar period's success.
 Things that are evidence of that success.
Answer preparation
 As part of your revision, think about
the arguments and facts you would use to explain:
 Why the Weimar Government survived in 1923.
 What the achievements of the Weimar period were.
 To what extent the Weimar government recovered after 1923.
 Whether Stresemann or Dawes was more important to Weimar
Germany's success.
 Whether Weimar Germany was a success in the period 1923-
1929.

8. Check-Up Test
1. Who was Germany's
leading politician after
1923?
 Gustav Streseman
 Gustav Stressemann
 Gustav Stresemann
2. What was the name of
the moderate, pro-
democracy group of
Reichstag deputies he
organised?
 The Great Coalition
 The Grand Alliance
 The Grand Coalition
3. What was his greatest
achievement in foreign
politics?
 Germany drove France
out of the Ruhr in 1923.
 Germany was admitted to
the League of Nations in
1926.
 A plan to invade France
through Belgium.
4. Which of these social
reforms was introduced in
the period 1923-1929?
 the welfare state
 polio vaccinations
 job centres

9. Check-Up Test
5. Who was Charles Dawes?
 US bank director
 US foreign secretary
 US budget director
6. How did Dawes end the
hyperinflation in 1923?
 By burning Germany's
money.
 By burning down the
Reichsbank.
 By fixing prices at the
1923 level.
7. The Dawes Plan of 1924
gave Germany longer to pay
its reparations, reformed
the Reichsbank and...
 Gave Germany $800
million in loans.
 Gave Germany 800
million marks in loans.
 Gave Germany £800
million in loans.

10. Check-Up Test
9. With what
architectural movement
is Walter Gropius
associated?
 Bauhaus
 Post-modernism
 Functionalism
10. What was the
greatest weakness of
the Weimar Republic in
the years 1923-1929?
 Hitler was plotting to
take power by an
election.
 The German economy
was booming.
 It was totally
dependent on
American money.

11. 1. Who was Germany's leading politician after
1923?
 Gustav Stresemann was Germany's leading
politician after 1923.
2. What was the name of the moderate, pro-
democracy group of Reichstag deputies he
organised?
 The Great Coalition
3. What was his greatest achievement in
foreign politics?
 Germany being admitted to the League of
Nations in 1926 was his greatest
achievement in foreign politics.
4. Which of these social reforms was
introduced in the period 1923-1929?
 Job centres were introduced in the period
1923-1929.
5. Who was Charles Dawes?
 Charles Dawes was the US budget director.
6. How did Dawes end the hyperinflation in
1923?
 Dawes ended the hyperinflation in 1923 by
burning Germany's money.
7. The Dawes Plan of 1924 gave Germany
longer to pay its reparations, reformed the
Reichsbank and...
 The Dawes Plan of 1924 gave Germany
longer to pay its reparations, reformed the
Reichsbank and gave Germany 800 million
marks in loans.
9. With what architectural movement is Walter
Gropius associated?
 Walter Gropius is associated with the
Bauhaus movement.
10. What was the greatest weakness of the
Weimar Republic in the years 1923-1929?
 It was totally dependent on American
money.