1923

1. 1923 Hyperinflation How were the German Public affected by the period of Hyperinflation within Germany?

2. Aims of the Lesson To find out How Hyperinflation affected different people within GermanyWhat effect Hyperinflation had on Weimar Germany as a whole Click for a table showing how the mark lost its value

3. Discuss and consider the following sources How were different people affected by Hyperinflation? From a woman who worked in a Christian Centre, helping the poor. The widow of a policeman was left with four children. She had been awarded three months of her late husband’s salary. By the time she received it the amount was only enough to buy three boxes of matches. Der Polizist

4. How were different people affected by Hyperinflation? The memories of a German writer. One day I dropped into a café to have a coffee. As I went in I noticed the price was 5,000 marks – just about what I had in my pocket. I sat down, read my paper, drank my coffee, and spent altogether about one hour in the café, and then asked for the bill. The waiter duly presented me with a bill for 8,000 marks. ‘Why 8,000 marks?’ I asked. The mark had dropped in the meantime, I was told. So I gave the waiter all the money I had, and he was generous enough to leave it at that. Bill

5. How were different people affected by Hyperinflation? The German Health Minister, February 1923 This shocking decline in health conditions applies to the whole of Germany. In the country areas where farmers can feed themselves, conditions seem to be better. But in the towns…there has been a decided decline. Especially hard hit are the middle class, those living on small sums given annually, the widows and the pensioners who, with their modest incomes, cannot afford today’s prices…Death rates are rising…as are deaths from hunger.

6. Professionals Widow The effects of Hyperinflation A Farmer

7. Now , using the information sheet, Complete the table on the following slide adding as much detail as you can for…. The Middle Classes Pensioners Rich Businessmen The Poor

8. Click here for a past paper question

9. Think about the effects on certain groups of people – like me! Recap Pensioners Add other people to the diagram and explain how each was affected. Farmers Effects of Hyperinflation Small Businesses

10. Recap Task.Draw lines to match the term to its correct definition. Peace Treaty which Germany was forced to sign following the First World War Ruhr When prices are rising so fast that bank notes cannot be printed fast enough to keep up with rising prices Treaty of Versailles A rich industrial area in Germany that contained factories and coal mines Passive Resistance Refusal to work which meant fewer goods were coming from the Ruhr Hyperinflation END

11. Explain how hyperinflation affected the German economy. (4 marks) WJEC, Paper 1, Study In-Depth, June 2004