Europe 243
MID#177
Dispute Number: 177
Date(s): January 10, 1923 to July 10, 1923
Participants: 211 Belgium, 220 France/255 Germany
Outcome (and Settlement): Compromise (Negotiated)
Fatalities: None
Narrative: Germany was failing to fulfill its reparation obligations under the Treaty
of Versailles. On August 15, 1922, Germany made only one-quarter of the required
payment to France and Belgium. In December 1922 the reparations committee
declared Germany in default of its timber obligations, and in January 1923 the com-
mittee declared Germany in default of its coal deliveries. In response, on January
10, France and Belgium notified Germany that they would send troops to occupy the
Ruhr, home to German coal, iron, and steel production, to oversee operations and
guarantee that they receive what was owed. The next day French and Belgium troops
brought engineers with them to the Ruhr.
The German government began to pass legislation from March 16 that encouraged
Germans in the Ruhr to engage in passive resistance, inflated the currency to support
idle workers and companies in the area, and attempted to negotiate an end to the occu-
pation. On August 11, the British government declared the occupation illegal. The
German government fell the same month, but the new government repealed legislation
advocating passive resistance on September 27.
Coding changes: Start Date changed from August 15, 1922. End Date changed from
July 11, 1923. Outcome changed from Compromise.
220 France/265 German Democratic Republic
MID#27
Started in July 1961. See the narrative in the 2 United States of America/365 Russia
dyad dispute list.
220 France/267 Baden
MID#88
Started in July 1870. See the narrative in the 220 France/255 Germany dyad dispute
list.
220 France/271 Wuerttemburg
MID#88
Started in July 1870. See the narrative in the 220 France/255 Germany dyad dispute
list.