Weimar and Nazi Germany (1918-1939): Stresemann and Domestic Politics in Germany

Stresemann had sought to make Germany a respected country both by its own people but also by those foreign countries who won the First World War. In order to do this, Stresemann needed a strategy that would win respect for Germany abroad but not remove support from home and allow extremist parties into power.

The Dawes Plan, Young Plan, Locarno Pact, League of Nations and Kellogg-Briand Pact meant that moderate Germans had boosted confidence in their country and her leaders.

It was clear in elections that this confidence existed as support for extremist parties such as the National Socialists fell away and moderate parties such as the Social Democrats and Centre Party made gains.

These gains ensured that when crisis struck in 1925 after the death of Ebert, moderate parties could continue to govern. Ebert was replaced by Hindenburg who led the Army during the First World War. He was a strong figurehead and ensured that Stresemann’s and Ebert’s work continued.

However, this rise in confidence did not last. Stresemann’s death from a heart attack in October 1929 ironically came just weeks before the Wall Street Crash.