INVASION to HYPERINFLATION THE RUHR INVASION 1923

WHAT IS THE RUHR? The RUHR is a huge industrial area of Western Germany containing many of the Germanys main industries including factories and steel works. Germany relies on this region for its economy to work well.  

Germanys economy was severely weakened by the Treaty of Versailles Germanys economy was severely weakened by the Treaty of Versailles. It had lost a large amount of its Population, Land and Industry and was expected to pay huge REPARATIONS.

The German Government claimed they COULD NOT pay their REPARATIONS in January 1923. The FRENCH and BELGIANS did not believe the Germans. They invaded the Ruhr and took ‘goods’ to pay what was owed.

Known as –’PASSIVE RESISTANCE’ The German Government ordered its citizens NOT to cooperate with the French Known as –’PASSIVE RESISTANCE’

The French were tough with the strikers The French were tough with the strikers. Over 100 were killed and 150,000 thrown out of their homes

The German Government promised to pay the strikers BUT Because the Rich Ruhr was occupied there was little income for the Government

To pay the strikers the Government printed huge amounts of money – BUT this led to problems.

Strikers spent their money quickly Strikers spent their money quickly. They were being paid for NOT working. Shopkeepers soon began to raise prices

The more money the Government printed the more prices rose!

Workers were soon being paid TWICE a day Workers were soon being paid TWICE a day. They carried their money around in wheelbarrows!

The democratic Weimar Republic lost a lot of support The democratic Weimar Republic lost a lot of support. Many pensioners and Middle class people had lost pensions and savings

Weimar Source Practice

Source British Cartoon 1921 FRANCE & BRITAIN LOAN GERMANY An Obvious Trick? Look Carefully! Source British Cartoon 1921 Text

Do you think most Germans in 1921 would have agreed with this cartoon Do you think most Germans in 1921 would have agreed with this cartoon? Use the Source and your knowledge to explain your answer? (7 marks)

‘If we had no direct knowledge of misery in war time, we did when the French arrived. Traffic was at a stand still, food became scarce, and the behaviour of the French army was brutal. We all knew that none of us would ever salute a French officer. No one travelled on the railway which was run by the French. Several Germans helped them and we considered them to be traitors. To use the railway would be treason in our eyes.’ A description of the French occupation of the Ruhr in 1923. It comes from a book called ‘ Why Hitler came to power’ by an SA Officer, Published 1938.