This page considers the role of Gustav Stresemann, Chancellor and then Foreign Minister in Weimar Germany.

1. Stresemann’s motives
and political
development

2. Arguably the most prominent
Weimar politician during
1924-1929 was Gustav
Stresemann.
Stresemann had been the
German Chancellor when the
hyperinflation crisis came to an
end. He was then Foreign
Minister from 1923-1929 as
part of various governments.

3. Stresemann was born in Berlin
in 1878 as part of a middle
class family. He spent most of
his life working in politics at
local and national levels.
Stresemann was both a liberal
(believing in an equal society)
and also a nationalist
(wanting to achieve the very
best for Germany).

4. Stresemann became leader of the
National Liberal Party in 1907,
was removed from office but
became leader again in 1917.
The party broke up after World
War One. Stresemann first joined
the German Democratic Party
(but left due to right-wing links)
before going to the German
People’s Party.

5. Over the course of his political
life – although he remained
liberal and nationalist –
Stresemann’s general views
moved from left to right.
During World War One, he
became a strong supporter of
the Kaiser and also backed
Germany’s aims of building its
own empire.

6. Stresemann was outraged at
the terms of the Treaty of
Versailles, describing it as a
“death sentence for Germany.”
His right-wing People’s Party
(DVP) gave only grudging
support to democracy and the
Weimar Republic. It was also
particularly opposed to
Communism.

7. Stresemann’s views again
shifted as he developed closer
relationships with moderate
left and centre parties.
Historians debate the reasons
for this; some believe outrage
at political assassinations,
others that the 1923 economic
crisis showed that Germany
needed international support.

8. Stresemann’s cross-party links
gave him a growing influence in
Germany, and during the 1923
crisis he was asked to become
the National Chancellor.
The unstable coalition collapsed
after the end of hyperinflation –
removing Stresemann as
Chancellor – but his reputation
allowed him to work as Foreign
Minister until his 1929 death.