HI109 Lecture Notes - Mass Media, Reichsmark, Personal Bankruptcy
Document Summary
Demand for consumer goods which had been absent during the war. Collapse of german currency: middle class had saved money and been respectable for their entire life. German middle and lower class willing to gamble with the nazis. Treaty obligations resulted in national and personal bankruptcy. Elites say economics are strong: but still fundamentally jobless. Floating the whole system, dependent on american investment. The promise of a country destined for heroes disappointed. Cannot give coal to the french: french occupy germany with military to extract coal, german workers don"t cooperate. Germany pays workers even though they aren"t mining coal for the french. Has to print a ton of money with no backing. Versailles treaty made germany unable to cooperate with terms. Forced to work outside of the treaty to fulfill requirements. Recognize bolshevik regime quite early, cooperate with them. Party of moderate socialist win an election in britain. Soviet socialist propaganda: sabotaging western imperial regimes.
