How Far Did Germany Recover Under Stresemann
Gustave Stresemann had a lot of influence over Germany in the period between 1923 and 1929. Though he was only chancellor for a short while he occupied other very important positions such as Germany's Foreign Minister. Before Stresemann took charge in 1923 the Weimar Republic had many problems. In 1922 the government declared that they could no longer pay reparations to France due to severe economic problems. The French responded to this by sending 60,000 French and Belgian troops to invade the Ruhr. They took most of Germany's raw materials, the government called for the workers to carry out passive resistance; the workers in Germany refused to collaborate with the French. Consequently industrial production ground to a halt. Many in Germany blamed the government for the invasion of the Ruhr as it was the government who signed the treaty which meant they had to pay large reparations to France. Already the government was facing unpopularity with some Germans. After the invasion of the Ruhr, industrial production decreased dramatically so industries and factories shut down. This meant that unemployment rose. Consequently poverty in Germany rose too. The government decided to print more money to give to the people. As more and more was printed prices rose higher and higher and then more money had to be printed to meet the increasing prices. As a result money became worthless. This was the second problem the Weimar Republic faced; hyperinflation. Although the wages rose the prices always seemed to rise faster this meant that many people's income was too low to live on. Most people suffered from the hyperinflation, and were extremely fed up with how the government had printed more money. It wasn't just the fact that all their life savings could now only buy them a loaf of bread but it was also that it was degrading and it was humiliating: the German mark and economy had become worthless. Before Stresemann the Weimar Republic was facing unpopularity amongst most