1. Europe
in the
1920s

2. Europe 1914

3. Europe in 1919

4. Germany

5. The Weimar Republic
Germany: largest experiment in liberal government in inter-war years (except Soviets)
Constitution enacted in city of Wiemar - Germans associate government with their non-defeat - seen as imposed government - most wanted Kaiser Wilhelm back
Constitution allowed small parties in Reichstag (parliament) - gave president dictatorial powers in emergency.

6. Continued The republic also lacked broad popular support.
It was viewed as the government that had saddled Germany with the humiliation of the Versailles treaty.
In the early 20s there were a number of violent uprisings, but they failed
There was massive inflation, due to the reparations imposed by the allies.

7. The German Government: 1919-1920

8. Weimar Germany: Political Representation [1920-1933]
Political Parties in the Reichstag
May 1924
Dec
May 1928
Sep. 1930
July 1932
Nov. 1932
Mar. 1933
Communist Party (KPD) 62 45 54 77 89
100 81
Social Democratic Party (SDP)
131
153
143
133
121
120
Catholic Centre Party (BVP) 88 78 87 97 90 93
Nationalist Party (DNVP) 95
103 73 41 37 52
Nazi Party (NSDAP) 32 14 12
107
230
196
288
Other Parties
102
112
122 22 35 23

9. From the German Point of View
 Lost—but not forgotten country.
Into the heart You are to dig yourself these words as into stone: Which we have lost may not be truly lost!

10. The “Stabbed-in-the-Back” Theory
Disgruntled German WWI veterans

11. German “Revolutions” [1918]

12. German Freikorps
German officers private armies

13. Sparticist Poster
Sparticist was a left-wing Marxist revolutionary movement organized in Germany during World War I

14. Rosa Luxemburg [1870-1919] murdered by the Freikorps
The Spartacist League
Rosa Luxemburg [ ] murdered by the Freikorps

15. The French in the Ruhr: 1923
In January 1923 French and Belgian troops occupied the Ruhr coalfields in order to enforce German payment of reparations stemming from the First World War. The Germans, unable to resist militarily, responded with acts of civil disobedience, strikes and riots; in turn, these actions were met with measures of repression by the occupying forces.

16. The French Occupation of the Ruhr

17. Weimar Germany
After French invade Ruhr Valley and stop German industry, economy collapses
Rates of German mark to U.S. dollar conversion:
to 1
to 1
million to 1
Savings wiped out, but debts easy to pay.

18. The German Mark

19. The Beer Hall Putsch Putsch - attempt coup against the government
November 8, crowd gathers at the Burgerbräukeller to hear Erich von Ludendorff, prominent WWI General, speak - Hitler takes over
Hitler and Ludendorff arrested & tried for treason both jailed - Hitler becomes national figure during trial.

20. The Beer Hall Putsch: 1923

21. Hitler in Landesberg Prison

22. Hitler’s Plan
Writes Mein Kampf (My Struggle) in jail - outlines political views including plan for Germans to have “lebensraum” (living space) by conquering surrounding areas
Seeks legal path to power.

23. Gustav Stresemann Leader until death in 1929
Stops putsches of Hitler and communists
Introduces new currency
Dawes & Young Plan - restructures German debt.

24. The Dawes Plan (1924)

25. 1925 Locarno Agreements
Revision of Versailles Treaty - stabilized western border - France leaves Ruhr and Rhineland - eastern border un-addressed
Italy and Britain vow help to the invaded
Allies giving control of German affairs
Germany invited to join League of Nations
Kellogg-Briand Pact signed - outlawed war as an instrument of foreign policy.

26. Locarno Pact: 1925

27. Austin Chamberlain (Br.)
Locarno Pact: 1925
Austin Chamberlain (Br.)
Gustave Stresemann (Ger.)
Aristide Briand (Fr.)
Guaranteed the common boundaries of Belgium, France, and Germany as specified in the Treaty of Versailles of 1919.
Germany signed treaties with Poland and Czechoslovakia, agreeing to change the eastern borders of Germany by arbitration only.

28. Kellogg-Briand Pact: 1928
15 nations committed to outlawing aggression and war for settling disputes.
Problem  no way of enforcement.

29. England

30. Great Britain After the War
Economic Confusion
The new government in 1919 was a Liberal-Conservative coalition.
The economy was depressed throughout the 1920s.
After 1922 government welfare was the normal means of income for thousands of British families
First Labour Government
In 1923 Labour took over. Though Socialistic in outlook, they were non-revolutionary.
This was the beginning of the end for the Liberal party.
The General Strike of 1926
In 1924 Labour fell, and the Conservatives took power again.
In order to make their industry internationally competitive, British management attempted to cut wages.
In 1926 coal miners went on strike, followed by sympathetic workers in other industries.
In the end, they capitulated, but there was continued unrest.
The Empire Crumbled
In the 1920s India gained independence.
In 1921, most of Ireland gained independence.

31. Ramsay MacDonald: 1924, 1929
Labour Party takes over under Ramsay McDonald – Liberal Party sides with Labour
Labour Party

32. Breakup of the British Empire
Already formed commonwealth with Canada and Australia - not completely independent - maintain loyalty to mother country
Gave Ireland (except northern counties) same status after Irish Easter Rebellion of Brits put down, execute leaders
1918 Sinn Fein elects member to Parliament, government refuses to seat them
Guerilla war breaks out.

33. Irish Independence
Eamon de Valera and Michael Collins lead new rebellion - de Valera rises to president of Ireland, Collins killed by IRA
1921 British grant limited independence in Commonwealth for allegiance to crown

34. 1926 General Strike Trades Disputes Act (1927):
All general or sympathy strikes were illegal.
It forbade unions from raising money for political purposes.

35. France

36. France Legislature becomes conservative
Georges Clemenceau driven from power for being too lenient on Germans at Versailles
Rapid turnover in leadership after WWI.
France seeks alliances to replace Russia, Britain

37. Raymond Poincaré & the Conservative Right
He sent French troops into the Ruhr in 1923.
Pushed for large-scale infrastructure reconstruction programs [counting on German reparations to pay for them].
After :
New taxes & tightened tax collections.
Drastic decline in govt. spending that stabilized the franc [the threat of runaway inflation was avoided!]

38. Edouard Herriot & the French Socialists
Progressive social reform.
Spoke for the lower classes, small businessmen, and farmers.
Committed to private enterprise and private property.
Fervently anti-clerical.

39. Art
in the
1920s

40. Themes in Early Modern Art
Uncertainty/insecurity.
Disillusionment.
The subconscious.
Overt sexuality.
Violence & savagery.

41. George Grosz
Grey Day (1921)
DaDa

42. The Pillars of Society (1926)
George Grosz
The Pillars of Society (1926)
DaDa

43. Picasso  Studio with Plaster Head [1925]
Cubism

44. Georges Braque  Still Life LeJeur [1929]
Cubism

45. The
Great
Depression

46. European Debts to the United States

47. Stock Market Crash
Americans take money out of European investments and put them into booming stock market in 1928
stock market crashes in 1929 as a result of virtually unregulated financial speculation
people cannot pay back loans to banks and many banks collapse
little money invested in Europe

48. The Great Depression [1929-1941]
London in 1930
Paris in 1930

49. German Unemployment: 1929-1938

50. The End of Reparations
As the German economy worsens, American president Herbert Hoover announces a one-year moratorium on all payments of international debts
the Lausanne Conference in 1932 effectively ends reparations

51. The Great Depression [1929-1941]

52. Decrease in World Trade: 1929-1932

53. German Election Results in 1933

54. The “New Napoleons?”