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Stresemann and the Weimar Republic

Gustav Streseman was one of the most prominent German chancellors and foreign ministers of the Weimar era from 1923-1929. Overall, Streseman's appointment as chancellor in 1923, with the support of the SDP, better established the Republic and enhanced Germany's economy recovery.

For Streseman and Germany, the Treaty of Versailles remained a cornerstone of foreign policy. Streseman hoped to overturn parts of the treaty by entering into negotiation with the West. Most notably, this was in respect to reparations demanded by the treaty, and perhaps also in addition with territory and military provisions outlined by the treaty.

Indeed, it was the reparations being demanded which was in part linked with the heavy inflation of 1923. In an attempt to meet the reparations, more currency was made available which in turn heightened inflation. By 1923, Streseman and the Weimar Republic took the necessary economic measures to curb and reduce inflation of the period, which in turn assured some measure of German economic recovery.

Of course, with such economic recovery in certain industries Germany may have reached pre-war levels. To an extent, with economic recovery Germany was also more required to cover the reparations demanded by the treaty. As such, Streseman began to enter into greater negotiation with the West regarding the reparations outlined by the Treaty of Versailles.

As foreign minister, Streseman had greater interest in the Dawes Plan proposed by Dawes in 1924. The plan gave a more clear setting for the German reparations, reduced reparations and withdrew Allied troops from the Ruhr. This became accepted by Streseman, Britain and France and further assisted with German economic recovery.

In foreign affairs, Streseman met with the British and French at Locarno in 1925. It was here, that the Rhineland Pact was agreed to which effectively settled the Franco-German border. Given this, Germany also entered the League of Nations in 1926. Overall, the Locarno treaties were a big step forward between Germany and Western Europe. In 1926, Streseman received the Nobel Peace Prize partly due to the Locarno treaty.

Overall, in relation to the military provisions of the Versailles Treaty, Streseman highlighted that unlike Germany Britain and France had not really demilitarized. For Streseman proposed that Britain and France should at least consider reducing their military, as Germany had done.

Streseman remained as foreign minister, and negotiated the Young Plan in 1929. This effectively further reduced the reparations demanded by the West, in light of economic circumstances.

Not long after, Streseman passed and Germany declined economically, along with support for the SDP in the '30s. Overall, Streseman's economic and foreign policies had helped ensure a period of relative economic prosperity for Germany and the Weimar Republic.

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