Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

The Free Peasantry and the Controlled Economy

  • Chapter
Rural Protest in the Weimar Republic

Part of the book series: St Antony’s

  • 35 Accesses

Abstract

The end of the war did not bring the end of the war economy. Throughout Germany food was scarce as agricultural productivity declined, the blockade continued, and the mark’s depreciation made imports prohibitively expensive. A flourishing black market pushed up prices and diverted foodstuffs from one area to another or out of the country altogether. In order to avert starvation and civil unrest, the post-revolutionary governments retained controls on the production, prices and marketing of agricultural produce. They were already unpopular amongst the farming population, but their continuation under republican governments exacerbated the hostility. Peasant resentment at state intervention was now coupled with a fear that it was to be used for socialist objectives.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 39.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 54.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Notes and References

  1. Cf. Moeller, German Peasants and Agrarian Politics, and his numerous articles.

    Google Scholar 

  2. BHStAM MA/107 991: Chlingensperg to Bavarian Anti-Profiteering Office, 25 November 1919.

    Google Scholar 

  3. Cf. Schumacher, Land und Politik, pp. 33–186. See Appendix 1.

    Google Scholar 

  4. BHStAM MA/107 992: establishment of German Food Office for the Palatinate, 10 April 1919; provision of Palatinate with foreign food March–October 1919, German Food Office, 12 December 1919.

    Google Scholar 

  5. Skalweit, Die Deutsche Kriegsernährungswirtschaft, pp. 146–62; Revol, Le Syndicalisme Paysan, pp. 55–9.

    Google Scholar 

  6. BHStAM MA/107 992: announcement by Palatine government in Pfälzische Presse, 5 November 1919; MA/107 991: Chlingensperg to Ministry of Agriculture, 25 November 1919.

    Google Scholar 

  7. BHStAM MA/107 991: Chlingensperg to de Metz, 20 December 1919; Chlingensperg to Ministry of Agriculture, 21 January 1920.

    Google Scholar 

  8. BHStAM MA/107 991–2.

    Google Scholar 

  9. BHStAM MA/107 991: German Food Office to Ministry of Agriculture, 1 December 1919.

    Google Scholar 

  10. BHStAM MA/107 992: report by Bavarian Grain Office, 4 August 1919.

    Google Scholar 

  11. BHStAM MA/107 987: correspondence between Palatine government and Bavarian authorities, October–November 1919.

    Google Scholar 

  12. BHStAM MA/107 991: Chlingensperg to Ministry of Agriculture, 25 November 1919; German Food Office to Ministry of Agriculture, 1 December 1919.

    Google Scholar 

  13. BHStAM MA/107 992: announcement by Palatine government in Pfälzische Presse, 5 November 1919.

    Google Scholar 

  14. BHStAM MA/107 991: report of meeting with de Metz, 21 January 1920.

    Google Scholar 

  15. BHStAM MA/107 991: Chlingensperg to de Metz, 20 December 1919; table reproduced in Osmond, ‘The Free Peasantry’, p. 194.

    Google Scholar 

  16. Rohr, ‘Die freien … Organisationen’, p. 104; reproduced in Osmond, ‘The Free Peasantry’, p. 195.

    Google Scholar 

  17. Revol, Le Syndicalisme Paysan, pp. 80–2.

    Google Scholar 

  18. BHStAM ML/3639: Palatine Free Peasantry, Zweibrücken, to Palatine government, 17 January 1920.

    Google Scholar 

  19. BHStAM ML/3639: Heinz to Palatine government, 22 February 1920.

    Google Scholar 

  20. BHStAM MA/107 991: demands of Agrarian League at Billigheim (Bergzabern), 19 January 1920.

    Google Scholar 

  21. BHStAM ML/3639: Palatine government, c. March 1920.

    Google Scholar 

  22. Revol, Le Syndicalisme Paysan, pp. 85–6; Rheinisches Volksblatt, 1 September 1920.

    Google Scholar 

  23. LAS H3/10 415: Stadrat Kaiserslautern to Palatine government, 13 March 1920.

    Google Scholar 

  24. Marginal note on the above.

    Google Scholar 

  25. LAS H3/10 415: Palatine Free Peasantry, Kaiserslautern, to Palatine government, 18 March 1920; BHStAM MA/107 987: Free Peasantry’s appeal to farmers (undated).

    Google Scholar 

  26. Cf. Schumacher, Land und Politik, pp. 248–70, for the impact of the Kapp Putsch on agriculture.

    Google Scholar 

  27. LAS H33/1192: meeting of Free Peasants, workers and mayors with French district delegate, Frankenthal, 22 March 1920.

    Google Scholar 

  28. BHStAM MA/107 987: Chlingensperg to Ministry of Agriculture, 20 March 1920.

    Google Scholar 

  29. LAS H3/10 415: Chlingensperg, ‘Aufruf an die Bevölkerung der Pfalz, insbesondere an die pfälz. Landwirte!’, 19 March 1920.

    Google Scholar 

  30. BHStAM MA/107 987: report by Heckmann (Agrarian League), 23 March 1920; announcement by French district delegate, Speyer, in Pfälzer Bauer, 24 March 1920; Hamm, Freie Bauernschaft, pp. 28–9.

    Google Scholar 

  31. Pfälzische Post, 25 March 1920; Revol, Le Syndicalisme Paysan, p. 81, reports on the butchers’ attitude in the Rockenhausen area.

    Google Scholar 

  32. Pfälzische Volkszeitung, 23 March 1920; Pfälzische Rundschau, 24 March 1920; LAS H3/10 415: Employers’ Association to Free Peasantry, 27 March 1920.

    Google Scholar 

  33. Pfälzische Volkszeitung, 23 March 1920; LAS H3/10 415: French command, Speyer, 20 March 1920; Revol, Le Syndicalisme Paysan, p. 88.

    Google Scholar 

  34. Pfälzische Volkszeitung, 23 March 1920.

    Google Scholar 

  35. Hamm, Freie Bauernschaft, p. 29.

    Google Scholar 

  36. Pfälzer Volksbote, 26 March 1920.

    Google Scholar 

  37. Frankenthaler Neueste Nachrichten, Pfälzische Rundschau, 24 March 1920; Pfälzer Bauer, 24, 26 March 1920; Rheinpfälzer, 26 March 1920.

    Google Scholar 

  38. Pfälzer Volksbote, 26 March 1920; Revol, Le Syndicalisme Paysan, pp. 87–8; Frankenthaler Neueste Nachrichten, 24 March 1920; LAS H3/ 10 415: Palatine government to Gebhart, 25 March 1920; Gebhart to Palatine government, 31 March 1920.

    Google Scholar 

  39. LAS H3/10 415: Neustadt negotiations, 3 April 1920; Pfälzische Presse, 5 April 1920.

    Google Scholar 

  40. Revol, Le Syndicalisme Paysan, p. 88; Pfälzische Post, 8 April 1920.

    Google Scholar 

  41. LAS H3/10 415: Neustadt negotiations, 6 April 1920; Speyerer Zeitung, 7 April 1920.

    Google Scholar 

  42. LAS H3/10 415: Neustadt negotiations.

    Google Scholar 

  43. Landauer Anzeiger, 10 April 1920; Pfälzische Post, 14 April 1920.

    Google Scholar 

  44. BHStAM MA/107 987: appeal in Palatine newspapers, April 1920.

    Google Scholar 

  45. LAS H3/10 416: Palatine government, 13 April 1920.

    Google Scholar 

  46. LAS H3/10 416: Neustadt negotiations, 9 May 1920.

    Google Scholar 

  47. LAS H3/10 416: Neustadt negotiations; Pfälzer Zeitung, 10 May 1920.

    Google Scholar 

  48. LAS H3/10 416: Neustadt negotiations.

    Google Scholar 

  49. BHStAM MA/107 987: Mathéus to Hermes, 15 May 1920; MA/107 992: Mathéus to Ministry of Agriculture, 18 May 1920; MA/107 987: discussions of potato supply, Neustadt, 9 June 1920; Palatine government to Office for Meat Provision, Munich, 25 June 1920; MA/ 107 992: report of meeting with Gebhart, c. August 1920.

    Google Scholar 

  50. LAS H3/10 414: Palatine government, 11 August 1920; Pfälzischer Merkur, 4 August 1920; FPB, 15 August 1920.

    Google Scholar 

  51. LAS H3/10 417: Free Peasantry, Rockenhausen to BA Rockenhausen, 15 August 1920; Palatine government to Ministry of Agriculture, 23, 26 August 1920; Frankenthaler Tageblatt, 19 August 1920.

    Google Scholar 

  52. Deutsche Tageszeitung, 26 August 1920; Pfälzische Volkszeitung, 31 August 1920; Pfälzische Rundschau, 5 September 1920.

    Google Scholar 

  53. FPB, 5 September 1920.

    Google Scholar 

  54. LAS H3/10 417: Palatine government to Ministry of Agriculture, 26 August 1920; FPB, 5 September 1920.

    Google Scholar 

  55. Frankenthaler Neueste Nachrichten, 5, 7 September 1920.

    Google Scholar 

  56. FPB, 29 August 1920; LAS H3/10 558: Palatine visit of Bavarian Minister of Agriculture, Wutzlhofer, 1920.

    Google Scholar 

  57. LAS H3/10 417: Wiggers to Palatine government, 31 August 1920.

    Google Scholar 

  58. Pfälzische Presse, 3 September 1920.

    Google Scholar 

  59. Pfälzische Rundschau, 5 September 1920; Pfälzische Post, 6 September 1920; Landauer Anzeiger, 21 September 1920.

    Google Scholar 

  60. LAS H3/10 414: mayor of Neustadt, 30 October 1920; Hamm interview, 1978; BHStAM MA/107 987: Mathéus to Ministry of Agriculture, 6 October 1920; government’s statement in Peasants’ Chamber, 23 October 1920; Rheinpfälzer, 23 October 1920.

    Google Scholar 

  61. Pfälzische Rundschau, 30 October 1920: report by Palatine branch of Bavarian Potato Office; BHStAM MA/107 987: Mathéus to de Metz, 13 October 1920.

    Google Scholar 

  62. Pfälzische Rundschau, 30 October 1920.

    Google Scholar 

  63. BHStAM MA/107 987: Chlingensperg to de Metz, 15 October, and to Ministry of Interior, 21 October 1920.

    Google Scholar 

  64. JKBKP 1920/21, pp. 16–18; Hamm interview, 1978; FB, 2, 9, 23 February 1921.

    Google Scholar 

  65. Hamm interview, 1978; Revol, Le Syndicalisme Paysan, p. 92; FB, 2, 13 February 1921.

    Google Scholar 

  66. Hamm interview, 1978; FB, 6, 9 February 1921; Fränkischer Kurier, 4 February 1921.

    Google Scholar 

  67. FB, 9, 13, 23 February 1921; JKBKP 1920/21, p. 18; Hamm interview, 1978.

    Google Scholar 

  68. FB, 20 March, 13 April 1921.

    Google Scholar 

  69. FB, 15 May, 19 June 1921 ff.

    Google Scholar 

  70. FB, 24 April, 11 May 1921.

    Google Scholar 

  71. FB, 24 September 1921; BHStAM MA/102 156: HMB 3, 19 December 1921, 4 January, 3, 16 February, 4, 19 May, 5 October 1922; Revol, Le Syndicalisme Paysan, pp. 102–3.

    Google Scholar 

  72. Cf. R. Moeller, ‘Economic Dimensions of Peasant Protest in the Transition from Kaiserreich to Weimar’, in Moeller, Peasants and Lords, pp. 159–61.

    Google Scholar 

  73. FB, 6, 20 February, 2, 6 March 1921.

    Google Scholar 

  74. J. Holt, German Agricultural Policy 1918–34 (Chapel Hill, 1936), pp. 64–7.

    Google Scholar 

  75. Revol, Le Syndicalisme Paysan, p. 95; FB, 31 August, 14 September 1921.

    Google Scholar 

  76. Revol, Le Syndicalisme Paysan, p. 101.

    Google Scholar 

  77. BHStAM MA/102 156: HMB 4, 19 May, 20 June 1922.

    Google Scholar 

  78. BHStAM MA/102 156: HMB 4, 19 May 1922.

    Google Scholar 

  79. BHStAM MA/102 156: HMB 19 July, 3 August, 4, 20 September 1922, 19 January 1923, January–June 1923.

    Google Scholar 

  80. Cf. Bergmann, Der Bayerische Bauernbund. On the Free Peasantry see particularly pp. 187–93.

    Google Scholar 

  81. BHStAM ML/1876: report on Free Peasantry in Rottenburg district, 15 November 1922; StAL 167/2/1192: Wüst 1923.

    Google Scholar 

  82. StAL 167/2/1201, 1214: Annetzberger, 1924 and 1927; BHStAM MA/ 100 600: ‘Landwirtschaftliches Genossenschaftswesen’; BHStAM ML/ 1876: ‘Organisation der Freien Bauernschaft im rechtsrheinischen Bayern 1922–6’.

    Google Scholar 

  83. Cf. BHStAM ML/1875: ‘Bayerischer Bauernbund’; MA/100 139–40: ‘Wochen-und Halbmonatsberichte des Regierungspräsidenten von Niederbayern’.

    Google Scholar 

  84. BHStAM ML/1876: Free Peasantry in Rottenburg district, 15 November 1922.

    Google Scholar 

  85. BHStAM ML/1876: Stadtrat Landshut to Lower Bavarian government, 24 August 1922.

    Google Scholar 

  86. Frankfurter Zeitung, 10 October 1922; BHStAM ML/1876: BA Ingolstadt to Upper Bavarian government, 17 October 1922; BHStAM MA/102 140: HMB, 18 October 1922.

    Google Scholar 

  87. BHStAM ML/1876: Wiggers to Ministry of Agriculture, 18 October 1922; BA Landshut to Lower Bavarian government, 19 October, 10 November 1922.

    Google Scholar 

  88. StAL 167/2/1182: Wiggers, 1922; Kurier für Niederbayern, 313/4, 1922.

    Google Scholar 

  89. BHStAM MA/102 140: HMB, 3 December 1922; ML/1876: Landshut police to Stadtrat Landshut, 3 January 1923.

    Google Scholar 

  90. BHStAM MA/102 140: HMB, 4 January 1923.

    Google Scholar 

  91. Straubinger Tagblatt, 21 March 1923; BHStAM ML/1876: Straubing police to BA Straubing, 17 March 1923.

    Google Scholar 

  92. BHStAM ML/1876: Upper Palatine government to Kahr, 11 January 1924.

    Google Scholar 

  93. StAW Landratsamt Hofheim, Abgabe 1977/2760: ‘Die Freie Bauernschaft, 1922–6’.

    Google Scholar 

  94. SBBL, vol. VIII, 26 April 1923, pp. 215–18.

    Google Scholar 

  95. BHStAM MInn/73 729: Kriminalkommissar Munich, 7 November 1922; ML/1876: Chlingensperg to Kahr, 22 December 1923; BA Ingolstadt to Upper Bavarian government, 17 October 1922.

    Google Scholar 

  96. BHStAM MA/102 140: HMB, 4 November 1922; ML/1876: Chlingensperg to Kahr, 22 December 1923; Ministry of Agriculture to Ministry of Interior, 9 December 1922.

    Google Scholar 

  97. BHStAM ML/1876: Ministry of Agriculture to Minister President’s office, 9 January 1923; BA Ingolstadt to Upper Bavarian government, 17 October 1922; Staatsanwalt Landshut to Oberstaatsanwalt Munich, 16 November 1922.

    Google Scholar 

  98. BHStAM ML/1876: Staatsanwalt Landshut to Oberstaatsanwalt Munich, 16 November 1922; Ministry of Education to Ministry of Justice, 2 December 1922; BA Ingolstadt to Upper Bavarian government, 17 October 1922.

    Google Scholar 

  99. BHStAM ML/1876: Chlingensperg to police authorities, 5 June 1923, and to Kahr, 22 December 1923.

    Google Scholar 

  100. BHStAM MA/102 140: HMB, 3 October 1923.

    Google Scholar 

  101. BHStAM ML/1876: circular from Lower Bavarian Free Peasantry, 26 August 1923; Chlingensperg to Ministry of Interior, 13 September 1923.

    Google Scholar 

  102. BHStAM ML/1876: Chlingensperg to Ministry of Interior, 13 September 1923; BA Landshut to Lower Bavarian government, 19 October 1923.

    Google Scholar 

  103. See Chapter 5.

    Google Scholar 

  104. BHStAM ML/1876: Chlingensperg to Kahr, 22 December 1923; StAL 164/1/6000: Chlingensperg, 29 December 1923; BHStAM MA/102 140: HMB, 3 October 1923.

    Google Scholar 

  105. BHStAM ML/1876: Kahr to Chlingensperg, 24 January 1924.

    Google Scholar 

  106. BSZ, 11 January 1924; SBBL, vol. IX, 6–7 February 1924, pp. 153–4, 171–2.

    Google Scholar 

  107. BHStAM ML/1876: BA Landshut to Lower Bavarian government, 19 October 1923; Bayerisches Bauernblatt, 5 December 1922; BHStAM MInn/73 729: Chlingensperg, 22 December 1923; BHStAM ML/1876: report of meetings in Lower Franconia, 6–8 January 1923; report of meeting in Landshut, 5 December 1923.

    Google Scholar 

  108. SBBL, vol. IX, 6 February 1924, pp. 153–4; vol. X, 10 February 1925.

    Google Scholar 

  109. I have discussed general characteristics of agriculture in the inflation in Osmond, ‘Peasant Farming in South and West Germany’. The emphasis here is on the links between inflation, rural protest and Palatine separatism.

    Google Scholar 

  110. Cf. Osmond, ‘Peasant Farming in South and West Germany’; R. Moeller, ‘Winners as Losers in the German Inflation: Peasant Protest over the Controlled Economy 1920–1923’, in Feldman, Holtfrerich, Ritter and Witt (eds.), Die deutsche Inflation, pp. 255–88.

    Google Scholar 

  111. LAS H3/10 519: ‘Landwirtschaftliche Massnahmen — Verkehr mit landwirtschaftlichen Grundstücken’.

    Google Scholar 

  112. StJDR 1920, pp. 41–3; 1921–2, pp. 56–8; 1923, pp. 42–3; 1924–5, pp. 56–7.

    Google Scholar 

  113. StJDR 1914, p. 51; 1915, p. 59; 1919, pp. 79, 83; 1920, p. 49; 1921–2, pp. 62–3; 1923, p. 46; 1924–5, pp. 63–4.

    Google Scholar 

  114. See Appendices 10–11. For estimates of black market prices in the Palatinate, see StJFB 1921, pp. 259–60, reproduced in Osmond, ‘The Free Peasantry’, p. 269.

    Google Scholar 

  115. L. Meyer, Die deutsche Landwirtschaft während der Inflation und zu Beginn der Deflation (Tübingen, 1924), pp. 9–13.

    Google Scholar 

  116. BHStAM MInn/72 564: ‘Lebensmittel-Preise und Versorgung’, vol. 7 (March–July 1923).

    Google Scholar 

  117. PFB, 31 August 1923.

    Google Scholar 

  118. PFB, 31 August 1923.

    Google Scholar 

  119. Cf. H. Nadler, ‘The Rhenish Separatist Movements during the early Weimar Republic 1918–1924’ (New York Ph.D. thesis, 1978), p. 281

    Google Scholar 

  120. W. McDougall, France’s Rhineland Diplomacy, 1914–1924: The Last Bid for a Balance of Power in Europe (Princeton, 1978), pp. 277, 342, 356.

    Google Scholar 

  121. BHStAM MA/107 668: Antz to State Commissar for the Palatinate, 13 November 1923.

    Google Scholar 

  122. Hamm, Freie Bauernschaft, pp. 24–5, 85.

    Google Scholar 

  123. PFB, 1 September 1923.

    Google Scholar 

  124. Cf. Nadler, ‘The Rhenish Separatist Movements’, pp. 352–3; Hamm, Freie Bauernschaft, p. 10; L. Zimmermann, Frankreichs Ruhrpolitik von Versailles bis zum Dawesplan (Göttingen, 1971), pp. 244–5.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Leicester, UK

    Jonathan Osmond (Lecturer in History)

Authors
  1. Jonathan Osmond
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Copyright information

© 1993 Jonathan Osmond

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Osmond, J. (1993). The Free Peasantry and the Controlled Economy. In: Rural Protest in the Weimar Republic. St Antony’s. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-349-11568-6_5

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-349-11568-6_5

  • Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, London

  • Print ISBN: 978-0-333-52448-0

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-349-11568-6

  • eBook Packages: Palgrave History CollectionHistory (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation