Walther Rathenau and his econimical-political conception of repartions payments and economic recovery of Russia : The contribution to German foreign history and European economic history from 1919 to April 1922
Abstract
This paper analyses selected aspects of the foreign and economic operation of the Weimar Republic from 1919 to 1922. The main focus is on Walther Rathenau and his perception, thoughts and approach to the reparation issue and Germany's relations with Russia and Allies.
This paper shows the evolution of his thoughts, first from position of the industrialist protector of interests of the AEG syndicate and after that the interests of the whole German industry, second as reparation expert, minister for reconstruction and at least as foreign minister. At first his opinion was, that trade with Russia had to be separated from dealings with Allies, because he considered Allies to be the most influential trade competitors in the European market.
Then came a turning point and from his post of the minister of foreign affairs and leader expert on the reparation issue he became the most important advocate of the pro‑western cooperation. Since then he did not consider the reparation issue and the economical restoration of Germany and Soviet Russia to be separated problems.
On the contrary, he thought it was an all European problem to be solved only by active cooperation of all states.