Worksheet to accompany the interactive simulation at www.activehistory.co.

uk / 1
Weimar Germany, 1921-29
1. Standard Task: Complete this worksheet as you progress through the ActiveHistory simulation.
2. Extension Task: Produce a definitions list of key concepts mentioned in the game (highlighted in red), key people
(highlighted in purple) and key dates (highlighted in green)
A. Crisis, 1921-1923
Box 1: International Crisis
1921 [Jan]: Reparations Bill
the Allied Reparations Commission
decides that Germany should pay
£6.6 Billion in reparations for the
damage caused in WW1.
Refused to pay and ally with
USSR
1922 [Apr]: Rapallo Treaty
Stresemann and Chamberlain
at Locarno Germany signs the Rapallo Treaty
with the USSR (April 1922) in which
International
both agree to renounce reparations
and to co-operate both
Background economically and militarily.
1923 [Jan]: Ruhr Invasion
French and Belgian troops invade
the Ruhr (Germany) and quickly
take over the iron and steel
factories, coalmines and railways.
B. Recovery, 1924- C. Instability, 1924-
1928 1928
Box 8: International Recovery Box 9: International
1925: The Locarno Treaties Instability
▪ Background: Relations with the USSR:
The Locarno Treaties didn´t
After France leaves Ruhr, Britain mention the USSR, so it became
suggests that Germany, France and nervous and undermines the
Belgium should respect the borders Rapallo Treaty in which
that they share each other. Germany and the USSR pledged
to support each other. The
▪ Terms: USSR and Germany sign the
Treaty of Berlin in 1926 in an
Germany will respect the borders of attempt to rebuild their
France and Belgium, but if Germany relationship, but it does not add
signs the USSR could see that as a up too much.
>
betrayal.
▪ Evidence of success:
▪ Rhineland - In 1926 allied
troops pull out of the
Rhineland
▪ League – France invites
Germany to the League of
Nations
▪ Nobel – Briand (France),
Stresemann (Germany) and
Chamberlain (Britain) are
jointly awarded the Nobel
Peace Prize
▪ Honeymoon - This period of
international harmony is called the
"Locarno honeymoon".

Box 2: Social Crisis
1923 [Jan-Nov]: Passive
Resistance
▪ Strikes:
January 1923, people from
Germany decide to adopt a passive
resistance and make strikes instead
of working to produce goods to
Domestic France.
Results: November 1923, as the French
Marlene Dietrich, star of ‘The
Blue Angel’ Social / reparations were a way to pay for
reparations to the US. The US take
Box 7: Cultural Recovery
[make notes on as many of the
following as you wish]:
▪ Science: Albert Einstein becomes
the focus of the world in the
intellectual area.
▪ Music: The new musicals pieces
made by German musicians were
popular.
▪ Drama: The plays of Bertolt Brecht
come with stage direction by Max
Reinhardt and Erwin Piscator.
▪ Literature: Thomas Mann explored
Box 10: Cultural Instability
Cinema - Expressionism /
Fritz Lang:
His film "Dr. Mabuse" shows the
slums, the cabarets, the
prostitution and the decadence
of Berlin in all of its horrid
detail. A film that criticises its
own country.
Art – Dadaism / George
Grosz:

Cultural action an give a deal: France will

accept a new American deal on
Results reparations, and in return Germany
will call off passive resistance and
reform its currency.
▪ Deaths:
132 people are killed
▪ Evictions:
Approximately 150,000 Ruhr
Germans evicted from their homes.
Box 3: Economic Crisis
1923 [Jan-Nov]: Hyperinflation
Causes:
Germany prints money to plug the
gap in the economy created by the
sudden lack of production in the
Ruhr.
Effects:
Domestic The prices rise and the amount of
money in circulation has reaches
Results: crazy proportions (a process called
the limits of modernist writing.
▪ Architecture: Here it emerges a
new architectural style at the
Bauhaus led by Walter Gropius.
▪ Cinema: Films like The Blue Angel
starring Marlene Dietrich promote a
liberated view of women.
Box 6: Economic Recovery
1923 [Nov]: Passive Resistance /
The Rentenmark:
A method made by Hjalmar Schacht
to end hyperinflation
1924 [Apr]: The Dawes Plan:
▪ Terms:
German reparations payments will be
spread out over a longer period, and
the USA will lend Germany 800
George Grosz with his Dadaism
movement gives the idea that
politics and religion have
anything to offer. Most of his art
criticises the new Germany.
Box 11: Economic Instability
▪ Working classes
The working class was affected
by the amount of employment
that it was, because of the
Restriction of credit to
businesses.
▪ Middle Classes
Middle classes lost their life
savings, because of the

German woman wearing a

Economic “hyperinflation”) million gold Marks to rebuild German
economy
hyperinflation of 1923

dress of banknotes
Results ▪ Evidence of success:
▪ Germany Economy

The German economy depended

The plan was a completely success, so much in the loans of the US.
Germany had more money than they
need to pay the reparations, there
was more production and the final
reparations were reduced from £6.6
billion to £2 billion.
 Worksheet to accompany the interactive simulation at www.activehistory.co.uk / 2
Box 4: Political Crisis
1923 [Nov.]: Beer Hall Putsch
What was it?
Hitler and his 3000 followers march
on Munich on November 9th, they
are fired upon by 100 armed police
and soldiers. Sixteen Nazis and
three policemen are killed.
Why was the government unable to
rely on the Army?
Adolf Hitler at the time of the
Munich Putsch
Domestic The army was very right wing.
Results:
>
Political
Results
Extension Questions
If you had been the leader of Germany during this period,
(a) What things would you have done differently?
(b) What do you think the results of these actions would have been?
Box 5: Political Recovery
1923 [Nov.]: Beer Hall Putsch
defeated
▪ How did Ebert win the support of
the Army?
Because the government had a fair
policy about how to handle rebels.
▪ What happened to the rebels?
They were fired upon by 100 armed
police and soldiers
Other evidence of stability
▪ Stresemann
A new chancellor in de republic who
was very respected and promoted
stability to Germany.
▪ Elections May 1928
The elections of May 1928 provided
the worst ever results for the
extremist political parties.
Box 12: Political Instability
1924 [Jan]: Hitler's Trial /
"Mein Kampf"
A book where Hitler makes clear
that the Nazis will destroy the
Republic by getting elected.
▪ Why was the government
unwilling to ban the Nazi party?
Because in a democracy
everyone should show up their
ideas
1924: Hitler changes tactics
Hitler successfully turns his trial
into a gigantic advert for his
party ("History will tear to
tatters the verdict of this court")
and is given a very light
sentence.
1925: Ebert replaced by
Hindenburg
Ebert dies and Hindenburg takes
his place, but his election
provides clear evidence that the
German people are politically
still looking backwards, not
forwards.