Die Deutschen II Gustav Stresemann und die Republik

The only thing we have left is a monarchist who wants to save democracy, a peace that does not exist. The first German republic is on the brink of bankruptcy and on the brink of civil war. It must prevail against the enemies of democracy. , especially against Adolf Hitler, Reich Chancellor Gustav Stresemann November 1923 The leader of the National Socialists wants to overthrow the government in Berlin. To all those who blew up that night, Reich Chancellor Stresemann calls an emergency meeting. Yeah, what happened to the police? ? He supposedly defected, but it is not confirmed. The president is there. The Berlin region has been dismissed.

It is possible that in Munich the coup d'état of Hitler and Stresemann will have to act on the night of November 9, 1923. The future of the first German republic is at stake. at stake and he precisely has to save it Gustav Stresemann, a man with a World War II helmet determined to conquer and wanted a German empire of images who believed in anti-monarchy and regretted its fall, now he has a call to the republic and against Hitler For the celebrations in the fateful hour of the German people, we call on all friends of the fatherland to work to preserve the unity of the Reich and German freedom.

It's really bad, yeah, we don't know what's next. The day will bring, but I will not turn back. He knows that Hitler wants to depose his wife. He is tied to her life. Kette and Gustav Stresemann have been married for 20 years and during this time their eventful career was already on the verge of. It all started with a dream beginning. At the age of 28, Stresemann was the youngest member of the Reichstag. Like the Kaiser, he dreamed of a German empire. When war broke out, he also called for conquests. East and West, when the war was lost, he also demanded that the Kaiser's power be limited.

But there was no republic like the one proclaimed in November 1918. Stresemann was sidelined with the collapse of the Empire. Stresemann united everyone and. For him personally, the end of the war meant an interruption of his career in February 1919 in Weimar, where Goethe and Schiller were at the press. The freely elected German National Assembly aimed to provide the young democracy with a constitution. He is president of the newly founded German People's Party, a Catholic center party Gustav Stresemann and his German People's Party mourn the old days, that is why for many he is a man of yesterday with the princes and kings by the grace of God it is over forever for the first time.

Once women are allowed to vote and be elected women. On the other hand, princes and kings wait harmlessly, don't they? Stresemann traveled to Weimar with mixed feelings to see how everything had changed, feelings that most deputies will not share in the years to come. six months create the legal basis for the new state the constitution of the Weimar Republic the government is no longer responsible to the emperor but to the parliament the power of the state comes from the people For the first time in German history, a constitution that follows After the failed revolution of 1848, the ideals of the National Assembly in Frankfurt's Paulskirche, black, red and gold, represent the liberal tradition in Germany.

The colors of the Weimar Republic are now also a burden for the new beginning. In the shadow of Marseille, the victorious powers of the First World War meet in the spring of 1919. The Germans hope for a soft peace after the overthrow of the Kaiser. An illusion that, unlike the Americans and the British, in France will be decisively weakened. be safe from your neighbors in the future The Hall of Mirrors in Versailles This castle was proclaimed after the German victory over France in 1871, and Bismarck created German unity. Half a century later, revenge is still in the same place.

The Germans are the defeated. The representatives of the Weimar Republic have no choice. They have to bear the blame for the war alone. Recognize the Reich and accept harsh peace conditions. The new republic must carry the legacy of the imperial era. Stresemann is also in the opposition. We may be lost if we do not make peace, but we are certainly lost if we do. He does not want the consequences of the war that he welcomed. Belgian and British troops occupy the German Rhineland as security. Germany has to pay war reparations and loses a seventh of its national territory in the west, Alsace and Lorraine pass to France in the east, West Prussia, Posen and part of Upper Silesia, in the east. the newly founded Poland, the Treaty of Versailles for Tim Reich to angry protests that are also directed against the young democracy that had to accept it, a peace that is agreed upon without the subjugated, there is always a dictate of freedom and of course there were many provisions of this treaty that they could really be criticized, but that even with patience and intelligent diplomacy they could be overcome, but it was very difficult, given the nationalist undercurrent that shakes Germany.

The extreme right blames even the representatives of democracy. Because of the lost war, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Walther Rathenau, is the victim of a murder squad, just like the former Minister of Finance, Matthias Erzberger, supposedly his democrats and socialists stabbed the victorious troops in the back, the so-called legend of the stab in the back. which is a lie the difference between Weimar and today in the political culture of that time it was common in many places to develop very fundamental differences between themselves and resort to violence relatively quickly. It takes effect in the first elections to the Reichstag in June 1920, the main parties of the republic lose their majority, the center SPD and the left liberals, the marginal opponents also gain ground.

The Stresemann German People's Party also increases its vote share from 4 to 14 percent, becoming a party. political weight and possible coalition partner, but who are you aspiring to? Do you feel that extremism on the right and left is leading you to the abyss, that the republic as a form of government represents a compromise if it is worth defending? For the sake of internal peace, such a refusal is not a solution, Dresemann supposedly proposed an end to the war in 1918. After the Reichstag elections in 1920, he returned to his party and at the same time he and his party assumed a key role in this political system of the Weimar Republic, because the parties of the Weimar coalition that supported this republic, the SPD, the left liberals and the Catholic Center Party, did not have this opinion, they had a larger majority and now depended on one of the parties that were originally in the camp of opponents of the republic, as well as Stresemann TVP, but the oath did not occur until 1923, in the year of crisis for the young republic, in January, French and Belgian troops entered in the Ruhr area, something that has only happened until now that a country officially occupies it they want to guarantee security due to the lack of war reparations Berlin shouts passive resistance two million Germans in the Ruhr area refuse to work their salaries the state that does not have the money simply prints it so that the mark continues to lose value value across party lines the hosts the resistance welcomes the Ruhr area it is the industrial heart of Germany he is in control here he can have voice and vote in the economic strength of the empire, the French also know this.

They fear that their neighbor will soon become too powerful again, but now everything has stopped. In February 1923, Stresemann traveled to Dortmund to support passive resistance in the occupied territory. Therefore, the prominent politician has to wait for his arrest. He travels with a fake ID. Friedrich Herren can now arrive at the office. I work at an insurance company. The situation in the Ruhr is getting worse. Due to the two border points, food is scarce. soup kitchens to gain sympathy, but the ordered boycott also applies here because there is no honor in the body. The atmosphere is very explosive.

Also in the capital there is sabotage, clashes and deaths. The situation is tense. , the government in Berlin resigns due to the euro crisis, Friedrich Ebert, who as President of the Reich must appoint a new head of government, now faces a difficult decision. Please, only a grand coalition from the DVP to the SPD looks promising. he needs Stresemann for that Ebert doubts They were not my first choice Forgive me for speaking so clearly I did not ask for this position As things stand, it is actually political suicide August 13, 1923 Bernd Ebert Stresemann became chancellor When Freesemann left became Reich Chancellor, a suicidal political mission.

The German Empire was going through its worst political crisis since the end of the war. The battle had been going on for seven months. Economic life in the Rhine and Ruhr was paralyzed. shot up and no one knew what would become of Germany if Stresemann spoke about it. Taking power was political suicide, but it should not be understood only in a metaphorical political sense. We must not forget that at that time Erzberger had already murdered some politicians. . Money was printed incessantly to finance the fight for calm. The value of the currency was plummeting. As of mid-October 23, a loaf of rye bread cost 267 million marks.

An entire generation was losing their savings and inflation had become chaos. A clockwork trauma for the Germans. They have just experienced that everything they had saved, everything they had subscribed in war bonds for the State, had been sacrificed and that had been lost and that has dealt a serious blow to the confidence in what one would like. say watch trust in the state Stresemann has to act to put an end to inflation breaks the passive resistance in the Ruhr region in front of the parliament has to answer for what remains is necessary in everything we have experienced now it is the duty to give a speech that requires courage the right accuses him of treason capitulation to the French again the republic is to blame for the defeat of the nation but it had no choice we have passive resistance in the Ruhr area they canceled brighter guidelines They had the bill in June I may be more national than all the phrases used to fight it.

I am aware that I am putting my political position and perhaps even my life at risk, but what are the German people missing? We lack the courage to take responsibility. The breakup? Passive resistance was perhaps Stresemann's finest moment. He showed himself to be a statesman who made a very unpopular decision out of conviction. He did it even though he knew his opponents would accuse him. For the second time since the Reich there were uprisings. in Koblenz, sought by separatists A Rhineland republic is created in Saxony and Thuringia, social democrats and communists join forces, there is the threat of a red revolution with the intervention of Stresemann.

However, the greatest danger lurks from the right. In the south of the Republic, the Bavarian government mobilizes against Berlin. The Reichswehr deploys troops. They make common cause with the so-called patriotic associations of far-right organizations, among which is also Hitler's NSDAP. The Chancellor also knows about the march on Berlin. He could use the Reichswehr against the communists in Saxony and Thuringia, but they would also give a boost to the right-wing general von sekt, simplified for you, the general dries up. in the middle of the square thank you General Hans von Siegt is the highest military officer of the republic the Reichswehr is ready to defend the republic against attacks from the right the situation in Bavaria is highly explosive Charles and Hitler can go to the country at any time no matter who the Reich Chancellor has to be ready with men who cannot fight this fight they do not have the trust of the Reich Chancellor's troops they refuse to obey me the troops let's leave things like this for the moment, yes, a cruel general , why doesn't Stresemann fire him?

Stresemann was under enormous pressure in the autumn of 1923, when the Reich was burning everywhere. Stresemann did not have the opportunity to lead an open conflict with the army command at that time and in. This respect was initially played by Stresemann for some time in Munich. Opponents of the Weimar Republic are now on the move. On November 8, 1923, Commissioner General von K invited people to a rally at the Bürgerbräukeller. In a state of the nation address, he poses. The mood is against Berlin, but someone no longer wants to talk but act. Hitler sees the opportunity to attack.

The wavering government wants to attack. And those gathered next to him surprise the presenter and the audience, but his words are heard. Witnesses later reported that at first they thought it was a Punch and Judy show. The national revolution has broken out. The room is occupied by more than 6,100 heavily armed men. Although they leave, the Nazi drummer. The game is serious. I make a suggestion until the well-deserved agreement with the landowners is finally reached. Germany teaches you today. As long as I am in charge of action, I will rule the German Reich. The government in Berlin is deposed shortly before midnight.

The news reaches Berlin. Stresemann immediately calls an emergency meeting, and they both know it. In case of emergency, only onecan stop the coup plotters, which is the attitude of the Reichswehr. If Hitler is in the lead when he marches on Berlin, the Reichswehr is firmly behind me. Generally speaking, this does not mean that this is a new situation. , what we are doing and in the army you have no chance. Governing to join Hitler there is confusion in the room. I think it's time to invite Ludendorff into the room, but Hitler still has a trump card. General Ludendorff appears in the room.

During the war he was head of the supreme command of the army, the military leader and extremely popular. Ludendorff is ready to play the role of figurehead of the uprising and the government of him in this historic hour should not be denied the reputation of the nation, the appearance of the general decides. the situation and the military present join the coup attempt the police have declared a government formed by General Ludendorff Adolf Hitler's General of General von Lossow says that an opponent should become a Reichswehr minister in the coup government. That is not possible. he knows well.

And it cannot be said that Hitler von Lossow is a rival. He should be the superior of the Reich President. Now we have to put the coach in front of general von sekt. lawyer who can say I am speechless now you have of says what was always the power for you will rise again the more one does not dare to overthrow we hope that we behave correctly on the one hand it was risky on the other hand, he said he wanted to grant them these powers, but he was defeated and responsible and could no longer avoid appearing in front of Stresemann and, from that point of view, it was also a very smart move in Munich on the morning of November 9 in the city.

At first there is uncertainty, but little Word gradually spreads that Gustav von K and General von Losow are trying to deceive them from a distance. Edler and Ludendorff are not giving up. They want to march through the center of Munich and get the masses to follow them. At noon, 2,000 like-minded armed people are in the Feldherrenhalle, four steps from the state police. He has the order to prevent the coup plotters from continuing. It is never made clear which side shoots first. Hitler is barely hit by a bullet. The man who was next to him dies. In total, four police officers and 16 coup plotters die.

Ludendorff is left unharmed and arrested at the scene. He manages to escape, but a few days later he is also arrested. In Hitler's empire, the miserably failed coup is stylized as a heroic act. Those murdered are celebrated as martyrs every November 9. The coup is not Hitler's path to power. The end is ready. This is also guaranteed by a lenient judicial system. Ludendorff is acquitted. Hitler leaves prison after 13 months. After the events in Munich, the situation in the Reich calms down just a week after Hitler's coup. ended with a hard cut for a trillion papers there may be a bond market Stresemann has led the republic through its worst crisis but in the Reichstag the chancellor is again under pressure so I see him as quite weak the social democrats are breaking all The Reichswehr invaded Red Saxony and Thuringia, German nationalists wanted to overthrow him because he had ended passive resistance against France.

Stresemann raised the question of trust. 156 deputies voted in favor of the government being eliminated. It was only Stresemann's 100 days as Reich Chancellor, President Ebert, who overcame the crisis with him. The criticism of his party, the SPD, which led to the chancellor's overthrow, will be forgotten in six weeks, but he will feel the consequences of his stupidity. For the next ten years, Stemann was perhaps the only time in the Weimar period that there was a heroic record. The currency was stabilized by the very cruel but necessary cut: the introduction of the pension framework, the putts were surpassed. a great record and ingratitude in politics is the rule, not the exception.

Stresemann is first thinking about retiring from politics. My wife says she welcomes a fall at the doctor. In any case, he can take a position at the right time. Stresemann is suffering. underlying disease, an overactive thyroid that damages the heart and can cause a stroke. You have to slow down, Mr. Stresemann, otherwise I won't be able to do anything for you soon. She has to take care of her Don's husband. I really don't think you can handle a quieter life, why not, sorry, one of them sends you this to insistently see Wilhelm Marx, the Center Ball, they say he will be the next chancellor, I told him I would be able to work with him for an hour, you will never change under the new chancellor,

stresemann

will become foreign minister the republic is recovering from the golden 20s, soon there will be talk of political calm, the new currency and American loans are now stimulated the economy, cultural life regain momentum in the service of the Foreign Minister There was a lot of activity TT Stresemann is considered the first lady of the Weimar Republic, chancellors come and go, but the Foreign Minister remains the same. suit named after him Stresemann striped trousers, gray vest, dark jacket, a registered trademark The minister sets the tone Stresemann was one of the first to allow new sound films to penetrate the world at a contemporary pace. international conference in Locarno, Switzerland, in 1925.

The aim was to improve relations with Paris, which fell on fertile ground with the French Foreign Minister, Aristide Briand, who also wanted a new beginning. In return, Stresemann wants a quick end to the country's occupation. Rhine and Ruhr After the Ruhr area, the Rhineland must be completely evacuated. There will never be true peace between our people. The Germans want peace, but what he has agreed takes their breath away if they see that they don't want it. Saying one word will make us all cry. I admire your boldness for this. They have to give us time. They know it's the French public.

I'm not that far away yet, I know, but I don't know if. I still have time for it. A few years after the war, Stresemann decisively understood that Germany could only succeed in foreign policy if it also took into account the perspective of the other powers and cooperated in a fundamental agreement with the United States. Other powers engage in politics because in 1926 Germany became a member of the League of Nations, the precursor of the UN. Until now it was ruled out, but Prima and Stresemann paved the way. Eight years after the end of the war, the popular German.

Reich returns to the community of states where political understanding found great recognition in the world. Together with Brio, Stresemann is the first German to receive the Nobel Peace Prize. In 1929, the two Foreign Ministers achieved another breakthrough that France wanted to clarify everything. occupied German territories within a year, if Berlin is entitled to a final war compensation agreement, but Stresemann is only against them. The costs are not the benefits. The extreme right begins a smear campaign until the third generation. is the slogan against the Minister of Foreign Affairs. The head of the campaign is Alfred Huberg, a reactionary editor and head of the German National People's Party.

On board is Franz Zelte, president of the Stahl Helmet organization, two former women who are definitely much better than Stresemann. I will not like Stresemann and soon there will be concerts a third is in the league of the failed coup d'état it is Adolf Hitler of 1923 we will incite the people without mercy then we will Finally we can build a new Germany together, without this Hitler has reorganized the NSDAP and has committed to him. At rallies of the so-called Reich Party, such as in Nuremberg in 1929, he shows a power that he does not yet have but that he is determined to achieve.

The Nazi party still has few representatives in parliament, but that will soon change. Strehse senses the danger: the slogans about eternal servitude are more confusing than the chapel of reconciliation. man with a terminal illness Our guests are waiting Guttenberg does not shy away from anything banquet with hitler they want to ruin you and the republic this has to be in their schools every university the young people are reserved about this they do not have the strength for it it will distract him after a minute a greater distance is behind him I have pressed for this position I will not retreat, what is missing from the German people?

We lack the courage to assume responsibility, Mr. Ambassador. to see you, even if the repairs are not there. At least I had the usual experience of your excellent work sharing, this is too much. We're going to go through the press together and you'll do the same today, except we won't. We see each other more often. The food is really excellent. The political situation is what we would like to write about. Write U.S. The situation is desperate, but it is not serious. In the early morning hours of October 3, 1929, Gustav Stresemann suffers a stroke. He dies at age 51 in the Berlin Reichstag, where he delivers an impassioned speech.

His death is more than a loss, it is one. accident, it is a quote from those days The state act for the people's funeral could have prevented Stresemann from failing the republic Without fighting, Stresemann remains exemplary and exemplary, it never occurred to him. But he fought until the end. A few years after his death, his enemies triumphed over the republic. When the Reichstag burned in 1933, democracy was already destroyed. At the end of the war unleashed by Hitler's Germany, the victors stormed the rubble. This is the end and the beginning. Only a part of Germans will have a second chance for a new democratic beginning with the collapse of the communist dictatorships.

He hoped for a united Germany, in freedom and at peace with its neighbors.