1923 Crisis Year

1923 Crisis year

• This year included: Invasion of the Ruhr, Hyperinflation and Munich Putsch

Ruhr

• Caused by failure to pay reparations.
• French and Belgian troops marched into Ruhr.
• They beat up and killed over 100 Germans in the Ruhr.
• 150,000 German workers were thrown out of their houses.
• The Weimar called for passive resistance (i.e. asked the Germany people not to fight back but to go on strike). This made Germany very poor as all the factories closed down.

Hyperinflation

• The invasion triggered Hyperinflation.
• In 1929 one egg cost 80 million marks.
• To cope with hyperinflation some employers paid their employees twice a day.
• Some people would burn notes as it was cheaper than buying coal.
• People on fixed incomes particularly lost out as they could not get any extra money, this was people like pensioners.
• Savers also lost out as their savings were worthless.
• Some people benefited from hyperinflation. People with debt could pay it all off very easily and workers' wages rose in line with the prices because trade unions negotiated this for them.
• Farmers also benefited as they could increase the prices of their goods.

Munich Putsch

• Nazis used the chaos caused by hyperinflation to march on Munich.
• Led by general Ludendorff (also involved in the Kapp Putsch) and Hitler.
• Hitler and 600 SA marched into the Beer Hall where the Bavarian government were speaking and announced a new government.
• 16 Nazis were killed in the uprising and were hailed as martyrs to the cause.
• Successes of the Putsch:
• - Gave Hitler a national stage for his trial
• - Showed Hitler to be a great public speaker
• - Hitler learned that he must use democratic methods to gain power
• - Wrote Mein Kampf in jail
• - Putsch was a short term failure but a long term success
• Failures of the Putsch:
• - The Uprising failed
• - The party was banned and lost supporters
• The Munich Putsch failed due to lack of organisation and lack of support from the public for the rebellion. Ludendorff was never sent to jail and Hitler received a lenient sentence. Sentenced to 5 years but only did 9 months in jail.