Germany, 1871–1991 – Empire to democracy, 1914–1929: The political,…

The idea

By 1929, Germany's condition was a complex mix of superficial stability and underlying fragility. Politically, the Weimar Republic appeared secure following the 1928 elections, where pro-democracy parties gained ground and extremist parties like the NSDAP performed poorly. However, coalition governments remained fractured and reliant on the SPD. Economically, the Dawes Plan and foreign loans had fuelled a recovery, reducing inflation and boosting industrial output. Yet, this prosperity was precarious, built on short-term American credit, while agriculture suffered a severe depression from 1927. Socially, Germany enjoyed the progressive benefits of a comprehensive welfare state and vibrant urban culture, but deep divisions persisted. The middle classes harboured resentment over hyperinflation losses, and rural communities felt alienated by urban modernism.

What earns the marks

• Assess the political stability of the 'Golden Years', noting the electoral success of moderate parties in 1928 alongside the persistent weakness of coalition governments.
• Evaluate the economic recovery under Stresemann, highlighting the reliance on short-term US loans and the structural weaknesses in the agricultural sector.
• Analyse the social condition of Germany, contrasting the expansion of welfare and urban cultural flourishing with the lingering trauma of the 1923 hyperinflation among the Mittelstand.
• Synthesise the political, economic, and social factors to judge the overall viability of the Weimar Republic on the eve of the Wall Street Crash.

Common mistakes and how to put them right

• Arguing that the Weimar economy was completely robust and prosperous by 1929.

  Put it right: Emphasise the structural weaknesses, particularly the agricultural depression and the dangerous reliance on short-term foreign capital.

• Assuming political extremism had been entirely eradicated by 1929.

  Put it right: Note that while extremist parties lost electoral ground, anti-republican sentiment remained strong among traditional elites and nationalist groups.

• Treating German society in 1929 as a unified entity.

  Put it right: Highlight the deep social fractures, such as the urban-rural divide and the resentment of the middle classes whose savings were wiped out in 1923.

Exam tips

• Use the phrase 'dancing on a volcano' (Stresemann's own words) to conceptualise the precarious nature of the German economy by 1929.
• When assessing political stability, contrast the positive 1928 election results with the inherent instability of proportional representation and coalition building.
• Ensure you explicitly address all three aspects (political, economic, and social) if a question asks about the general condition of Germany by 1929.