Why was stresemann important in the 1920s

Whilst welcomed by many, the new age of Weimar culture also had critics. The cultural experimentation was seen as a dramatic break with the tradition of Germany, influenced by Western culture. This feeling resonated with many conservatives outside of Berlin, who found the new experimental culture alienating. The Wall Street Crash was a stock market crash that took place from the 24 October to 29 October Following the optimism of the s, people were keen to invest in stocks and shares, where they believed they could make a fortune.

This burst of investment pushed companies stock market value higher than their real value. However, shortly after this, prices started to drop. This led to mass panic selling. By October , the value of the market halved. As the world economies were linked through international business, the Wall Street Crash resulted in an international depression.

As a result of this international depression, and the need for money at home, the USA called in their international loans.

Germany was reliant on international loans and investment. They had used these, as explored above, to rebuild their economy after the war and hyperinflation crisis, and invest in new schools, businesses and hospitals. As the USA removed this investment, Germany fell into another economic crisis. When created, the Weimar Republic was hailed as one of the most democratic governments in Europe. Despite this, it lasted just fifteen years.

The republic had many democratic strengths. It allowed individual freedoms for everyone. This granted the right to free speech, the right to equality and the right to religion to every German citizen. All adults over the age of twenty could vote. The voting system used was Proportional Representation , a fair system in which parties gain seats in proportion to the number of votes cast for them. This system was used to elect the president and the Reichstag. From onwards the republic also had a new currency, and following the implementation Dawes Plan, experienced a period of relative economic stability.

Proportional Representation was a very democratic electoral system, but it allowed lots of parties to be elected to the Reichstag. No one party was ever elected with a majority. This meant that parties had to form coalitions to rule. Coalitions often disagreed on laws and policies due to their differing views, which made it extremely difficult to govern decisively. In addition to the above, Article 48 of the constitution gave the president authority to rule by decree in the state of an emergency, bypassing the elected Reichstag.

The reliance on foreign loans following the Dawes Plan led to a severe economic depression following the Wall Street Crash. This ultimately led to further political instability, and eventually, contributed to the end of democratic government. Finally, many of the old conservative elite who had held key positions of power under the monarchy had continued in similar roles in the Weimar Republic. Whilst this was an attempt to maintain stability in government as the new republic settled, it in fact meant that these civil servants and military leaders still had enormous influence and power.

The power and influence of the conservative elite would later be crucial in appointing Hitler as chancellor. Image shows a copy of the Editorship Law. On 3 October , shortly after its defeat, France introduced its first antisemitic law under occupation - the Statut de Juifs. Section: How did the Nazis rise to power? What was the Holocaust? Life before the Holocaust Antisemitism How did the Nazis rise to power?

Life in Nazi-controlled Europe What were the ghettos and camps? How and why did the Holocaust happen? Resistance, responses and collaboration Survival and legacy Resources Educational Resources Timeline Survivor testimonies About us How to use this site.

Advanced content hidden Showing advanced content. A map of the Weimar Republic from The Reichstag met in the building pictured here, also named the Reichstag, in Berlin. To deal with the economic crisis, the government printed more money. As a result of this, money dropped in value, as more of it was in circulation. This was called hyperinflation. Here, a banker counts stacks of money. A group of workers in a bakery count stacks of Reichmark notes in the midst of the hyperinflation.

This picture shows one of the first pages of The Dawes Plan created in April A portrait of Gustav Stresemann. Stresemann was Chancellor of Germany from August to November Following the fall of his government, he became Minister for Foreign Affairs from to Need help with History? One to one online tuition can be a great way to brush up on your History knowledge. Answered by Pascal E. Answered by Zach B. Answered by William H.

Answered by Deanna H. In the field of foreign policy, he stood out as an eager imperialist who demanded "a place in the sun" for Germany. During World War I, he supported Germany's annexation of territories from neighboring countries. But with the war going badly, he believed that Germany should sue for peace. He was shocked at the harsh terms accorded Germany at the peace negotiations in , but opposed the idea that Germany should sabotage the peace treaty.