The Ruhr Crisis, 1923

What was the Ruhr Occupation?

The Ruhr Occupation was a period of military occupation by France and Belgium of the Ruhr region in Germany. It happened because Germany failed to pay the reparations instalment at the end of 1922.

When was the Ruhr Occupation?

The Ruhr Occupation took place between 11th January, 1923 and 25th August, 1925.

Which countries were involved with the Ruhr Occupation?

France and Belgium were the occupying countries.

Why did the Ruhr Occupation occur?

The Ruhr Occupation occurred because of 4 main reasons:

• ❖ By the end of 1922, Germany stated that they would miss the next reparation payment that was due.
• ❖ In response, the French and Belgians took control of the area because it was Germany's main industrial area.
• ❖ They were then able to take goods or resources from the Ruhr as a form of reparations.
• ❖ The terms of the Treaty of Versailles meant this was legal.

What actions did France and Belgium take during the Ruhr Occupation?

France and Belgium took 6 main actions:

• ❖ Sent in 60,000 French and Belgian soldiers.
• ❖ Took over factories, mines and railways.
• ❖ Took food and goods.
• ❖ Arrested Germans and 100 Germans were killed.
• ❖ Threw 15,000 Germans out of their homes.
• ❖ They forced over 100,000 protesters to leave the area.

What was Germany's response to the Ruhr Occupation?

Germany responded in 4 main ways:

• ❖ The German government ordered its workers in the Ruhr to not fight back.
• ❖ Instead, the German workers used passive resistance. They went on strike. They would not help the French or Belgium troops remove coal or manufactured goods from the Ruhr.
• ❖ France and Belgium brought in their own workers to take their place.
• ❖ The government's halting of production of the largest industrial region in Germany, crippled the country's economy.

What were the consequences of the Ruhr Occupation?

There were 4 important consequences of the Ruhr Occupation:

• ❖ The Weimar Republic responded by printing more money to pay the reparations bill and the striking Ruhr workers.
• ❖ Printing money led to hyperinflation where money became worthless and the price of goods drastically increased. For example, the price of bread in the summer of 1923 was 1,200 marks but by November 1923 it was 428 billion marks!
• ❖ It was one of the causes of the Nazi Munich Beer Hall Putsch, 1923.
• ❖ The Dawes Plan, 1924 brought about the end of the hyperinflation problem and Ruhr occupation.