GERMANY REVISION SESSION 3
What you need to know about……
 Recovery under Stresemann 1923-1929
• What did Stresemann do to restore
stability to Germany’s economy and
relations with other countries?
• What were the connections between his
actions/policies?
• What were the effects of his policies, and
how far was he successful in restoring
stability?
Stresemann’s
policy
Intro of the
Rentenmark
1923
Dawes Plan
1924
Locarno
Treaties 1925
G’s entry into
League of
Nations 1926
KelloggBriand Pact
1928
Young Plan
1929
What it was/involved
Economic
or
relations?
Successes/ positive
effects
Failings/ negative
effects
Stresemann’s
What it was/involved
policy
Economic
or
relations?
Successes/ positive
effects
Economic
Restored confidence of
Didn’t do anything to bring
German people & foreign
back savings/businesses
investors in currency – people lost during hyperinflation!
knew it was worth something.
Intro of the
Rentenmark
1923
New currency, later called
Reichsmark. Amount
printed was controlled →
stable value
Dawes Plan
1924
US loans of $3000m
given to Germany.
Reparations payments
made more manageable.
Locarno
Treaties 1925
Signed with Britain,
France, Belgium & Italy.
They agreed to respect
each other’s borders.
G’s entry into
League of
Nations 1926
Germany had been
excluded under the TOV.
The ban was lifted!
Relations
KelloggBriand Pact
1928
64 nations agreed to
only use their armies in
self defence.
Young Plan
1929
Reparations reduced by
75%. Repayment period
extended to 59 yrs.
Failings/ negative
effects
Loans injected into German
industry, boosting production
and employment. Created
upward spiral of growth.
Helped to pay reparations.
German economy far too
dependent on US loans –
‘propped up’. (See effects
of Wall Street Crash
1929.)
Marked G’s return to the
international scene. Boosted
trust, therefore trade.
Right wing resented
compromise with the
allies.
Confirmed G’s return to
‘great power’ status. New
position used to bring about
Young Plan.
Many Germans saw the
LON as the guardian of
the TOV.
Relations
Convinced others that
Germany had peaceful
intentions → trade etc
Right wing resented
compromise with allies.
Both
Reduced pressure upon
German economy.
Criticised by RW who
objected to paying reps
at all.
Both
Relations
Can you make and explain connections between any of these policies?
An example has been done for you.
Dawes Plan 1924
Young Plan 1929
Kellogg -Briand Pact 1928
Germany joins the League
of Nations 1926
Locarno Treaties 1925
The Rentenmark 1923
Past exam questions on Stresemann
6 mark ‘describe’ questions (Q 1b)
• Describe the economic policies of Gustav Stresemann in the years 1924–29.
• Describe the key features of Stresemann’s successes abroad in the years 1924-1928.
8 mark ‘explain the effects of’ questions (Q1c)
• Explain the effects of Stresemann’s economic policies in the years 1924–29.
• Explain the effects of the Dawes Plan (1924) on Germany.
8 mark ‘explain how’ questions (Q2)
• Explain how Germany recovered from its economic and political difficulties in the years
1924–29 under Stresemann’s leadership.
16 mark questions (Q3)
• Was the introduction of a new currency the most important action taken by Stresemann in
restoring stability to Germany in the years 1924–28?
• Was agreeing to the Dawes Plan the most important action taken by Stresemann in bringing
stability to Germany in the years 1924-29?
• How successful was Stresemann in dealing with the problems faced by the Weimar Republic
in the years 1924-9?
How many points should you write about for these questions?
Marks
to get
Mins
to
spend
1(a) source
4
5
1(b) describe
1(c) explain the
effects of (results)
1(d) explain why
(causes)
2 explain how
(change)
3 importance
No.of
Conclusion
points/
needed?
paragraphs
No
6
8
1+
quote
5-10 2
10
2
8
10
2
A* only
8
10
2
A* only
16
25
3
For A/
A* only
No
A* only
CHOICE!
Question
A 16 mark question
Was the introduction of a new currency the most important
action taken by Stresemann in restoring stability to Germany
in the years 1924–28?
You may use the following in your answer.
• The introduction of a new currency
• Taking Germany into the League of Nations
You must also include information of your own.
What ‘rules’ do you know for how to answer this type of
question?
• How long do you spend on it?
• How many points do you write about?
• How do you ensure each paragraph gets maximum marks?
• If you’re aiming for A/A*, how do you do your conclusion?
How 16 markers are marked
MARKS
DESCRIPTION
9-10
(D/C)
11-12
(C/B)
13-14
(A)
Explain how the 2 bullet points were important in restoring
stability (or weren’t)
Explain how the 2 bullet points AND your own factor were
important in restoring stability (or weren’t)
Explain how the 2 bullet points AND your own factor were
important in restoring stability AND write a conclusion
comparing the importance of any two of your points
15-16 Explain how the 2 bullet points AND your own factor were
(A*) important in restoring stability AND write a conclusion
comparing the importance of all 3 points OR explaining how all
3 worked together to restore stability
Writing a conclusion is not essential. You can still reach a B grade on the
16 marker without one.
STEP ONE: FIND THE X FACTOR!
Was the introduction of a new currency the most important
action taken by Stresemann in restoring stability to Germany
in the years 1924–28?
Can you suggest a third action taken by Stresemann to restore
stability?
• The introduction of a new currency
• Taking Germany into the League of Nations
• X
STEP TWO: RANK!
Was the introduction of a new currency the most important
action taken by Stresemann in restoring stability to Germany
in the years 1924–28?
Which action helped the most to restore stability? Focus on
your three factors and rank them in order of importance.
• The introduction of a new currency
• Taking Germany into the League of Nations
• X
STEP TWO: GO COMPARE!
1. Start and finish your paragraphs so you are
 Focusing on the issue in the Q (importance of each factor in restoring stability)
 Comparing the importance of the 3 factors
2. Make sure you include detailed knowledge to develop and support your points
Eg. Your paragraphs would look like this……
Signing pacts with other countries was the most important. For example……
(give one or two examples of pacts, who they were with, what they involved,
and how they helped to restore stability). Therefore, signing pacts did the
most to restore stability because these pacts strengthened ties between
Germany and other countries. Other countries realised that Germany had
peaceful intentions, and they began to trust Germany more.
Joining the League of Nations was not as important. Without the trust
created by the Locarno Treaties, Germany may not have gained access to the
LON. However, it was still important….. (explain what joining meant for
Germany)
Therefore, joining the LON restored Germany’s international status as a great
power and led to more pacts, such as the Young Plan in 1929, but it may not
have happened without earlier pacts like the Locarno Treaties.
In para 1,
explain
your no. 1
factor
In para 2,
explain your
no. 2 factor,
making sure
you say why
it’s less
important
than no. 1
Signing pacts with other countries was the most important. For example……
(give one or two examples of pacts, who they were with, what they involved,
and how they helped to restore stability). Therefore, signing pacts did the most
to restore stability because these pacts strengthened ties between Germany
and other countries. Other countries realised that Germany had peaceful
intentions, and they began to trust Germany more.
In para 1,
explain
your no. 1
factor
Joining the League of Nations was not as important. Without the trust created
by the Locarno Treaties, Germany may not have gained access to the LON.
However, it was still important….. (explain what joining meant for Germany)
Therefore, joining the LON restored Germany’s international status as a great
power and led to more pacts, such as the Young Plan in 1928, and increased
trade with other countries. However, it may not have happened without earlier
pacts like the Locarno Treaties.
In para 2,
explain your
no. 2 factor,
making sure
you say why
it’s less
important
than no. 1
Introducing a new currency in 1923 was also not as important. The new
currency on its own would not have been enough to restore economic stability
after hyperinflation. The new currency was called....(explain about the new
currency, why it was needed in 1923, and how it restored confidence in the
value of money). Therefore, while the new currency was a good starting point,
it did nothing to bring back all the savings people had lost in 1923, and
without the Dawes Plan, trade and foreign investment brought about first by
pacts, and later by Germany joining the LON, the new currency may not have
remained stable.
In para 3,
explain your
no. 3 factor,
making sure
you say why
it’s less
important
than no. 1
and no 2.
Advantages of using FIND THE X FACTOR, RANK, GO COMPARE!
 Can reach up to an A* grade without a conclusion (just three
paragraphs)
 If you attempt the A* (comparing all 3 factors) and don’t quite get
there, you’ll fall back to an A grade if you’ve got a valid comparison
between 2 factors. This is better than falling back to a B grade (no
comparisons provided – just three paragraphs).
Be aware…..
 On the 16 marker (Q3) you will be marked on your spelling,
punctuation and grammar. Up to 4 marks are available overall.
 You are not marked on your spelling, punctuation and grammar on
any other questions.
Explain how Germany recovered from its economic and political
difficulties in the years 1924–29 under Stresemann’s leadership.
(8 marks)
Writing frame: Explain how ……(CHANGE/PROCESS/IMPACT)
One way in which Stresemann helped Germany to recover from its economic
problems was……(point). For example….(evidence/knowledge – be detailed!)
This led to recovery because (explain & try to get across the overview/big
picture/long term impact)…..
Another way in which ……(repeat the above for political recovery – ie. relations
with other countries) ← (if you have time!)
Conclusion – (for A* only) explain how your 2 points link
Explain how Germany recovered from its economic and political
difficulties in the years 1924–29 under Stresemann’s leadership.
(8 marks)
One way in which Stresemann helped Germany to recover from its economic
problems was by stabilising the currency, and therefore the economy. He
introduced the Rentenmark, later called the Reichsmark, which had a stable value,
unlike the previous currency which had lost all value under hyperinflation.
Germans and foreign investors regained confidence in the currency, leading to the
Dawes Plan, where American bankers gave Germany a massive loan. This led to
recovery because the loan was injected into German industry, creating jobs and
increasing the production of goods and, therefore, foreign trade.
Stresemann also boosted trade by making treaties and pacts with other countries.
This is a way in which Stresemann helped Germany recover from its political
problems. For example, the Locarno Treaties convinced France that Germany
didn’t want to invade them, and respected their borders. This convinced other
countries that Germany was peaceful, and so Germany was let into the League of
Nations in 1926. This led to recovery because they were trusted more and were no
longer an outsider, so the USA and France were more willing to reduce
reparations, leading to the Young Plan in 1928.