A collection of eight A* standard essays for Cambridge AS-Level History (9489) Paper 2 The International Option: International history, 1870–1945. I achieved an A* for History in the Cambridge A-Level October/November 2022 Examinations and was awarded the Outstanding Cambridge Learners High Achie...
9489/w21/21
Q8a) Explain why reparations remained a problem throughout the 1920s.
(10 marks)
There were numerous reasons why reparations were a problem throughout
the 1920s. These include Germany's objections to the Treaty of Versailles
itself, Germany's failure to meet its reparation payments when they were due,
and the Allies' reactions to it.
Firstly, Germany strongly opposed the Treaty of Versailles. Their lack of
representation at the Paris Peace Conference (where the terms of the
Versailles treaty were decided) meant that the settlement was a 'diktat'. No
representation meant that Germany couldn't negotiate and merely had to
accept what the victorious nations deemed was a ‘just punishment’. One
clause in particular stirred up great resentment in Germany: Clause 231. The
war guilt clause not only meant that Germany had to take full responsibility for
the war but also provided a legal basis for reparation payments. Because the
Germans weren’t allowed representation at the Paris Peace Conference and
because of the imposition of the war guilt clause, Germany was very bitter and
disgruntled with the Versailles Treaty and didn't view it as just. This was a
long-term factor in reparations for being a problem throughout the 1920s.
Secondly, Germany's failure to meet its reparation payments when they were
due is a short-term factor. Germany was in a poor state economically and had
to transition away from its war economy. The Weimar government's attempts
to juggle recovery from the war and reparation payments resulted in
hyperinflation, making it even harder to meet reparation payments. This
propelled France and Belgium to storm through the Ruhr region (one of
Germany’s important industrial regions) and take what was owed to them in
the form of material goods. This event made the different views of the Allies
evident. Britain, wanting a German economic revival, viewed French actions
as an act of war and greatly opposed them. This dispelled the increasing
divisions and friction between the wartime allies. Hence, the German failure to
meet reparation payments and the subsequent actions of the French were a
short-term factor in reparations being a problem throughout the 1920s.
Thirdly, the Allies' reactions to Germany's struggles with reparations also
prove that reparations were an issue. Although the Allies refused Germany's
request to suspend reparation payments while their economy recovered in
1922, they adopted an alternative course in 1924. The Dawes Plan still
required the payment of reparations but made plans for the amount payable to
be reduced. Reparations were later reduced to 50 million marks a year for the
next 5 years, and then 125 million marks a year after that 5-year period. The
plan also put 800 million dollars worth of American loans on the German
economy, which eased the economic pressure on Germany. However, the
plan didn't tackle the root of the economic problems faced by Germany. This
By Sonia A. Sanjay (printsbysonia)
, By Sonia A. Sanjay (printsbysonia)
was made most evident when American loans were recalled due to the 1929
Wall Street Crash. Any progress made under Stresemann was lost as
unemployment skyrocketed, reaching 6 million by 1933. Thus, even though
the Allies tried to help, reparations proved to be a huge hindrance to the
German economic recovery.
Overall, reparations remained a problem throughout the 1920s, primarily
because of the foundational issues with the Treaty of Versailles. The Treaty of
Versailles was the originator of German reparations and was the long-term
factor in any future problems. While Germany's failure to meet the payments
and the Allies’ reactions to it were significant, they were immediate factors, not
the root cause. The war guilt clause and the lack of German representation at
the Paris Peace Conference meant that Germany could not negotiate and
merely had to accept the reparation figure bestowed upon them. Hence, this
proves that the issues with the Versailles settlement were the root cause of
reparations being a problem throughout the 1920s.
By Sonia A. Sanjay (printsbysonia)
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