Cuno cabinet

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Cuno Cabinet (1922–1923)

The Cuno cabinet was the seventh government of the Weimar Republic, led by Chancellor Wilhelm Cuno, who was not a party member. It took office on 22 November 1922 after Joseph Wirth’s second cabinet resigned, and it was formed by a mix of independents with economic experience and members from the Centre Party, German Democratic Party, German People’s Party and Bavarian People’s Party. There was no formal coalition; the government depended on toleration from other parties.

Its main task was to deal with war reparations and stabilize the economy. It sought more time for payments, but France and Belgium insisted on the existing terms. In January 1923, French and Belgian troops occupied the Ruhr, Germany’s industrial heart, after Berlin failed to meet reparations. The government responded with passive resistance and paid the costs of supporting workers and industry, which was financed by printing money. This helped trigger severe inflation and economic hardship.

On 11 August 1923, amid rising opposition and a no-confidence push from the SPD, Cuno resigned. Gustav Stresemann of the German People’s Party became chancellor and formed the first Stresemann cabinet the next day. The Cuno government lasted about eight months (22 November 1922–12 August 1923).