The Rhine-Ruhr Service — an instrument of German propaganda during the Ruhr crisis of 1923

The subject of the study is the activities of the Rhine-Ruhr Service, a non–governmental organization created by Georg Klingenberg and Karl Kremer during the Ruhr crisis of 1923 to conduct propaganda abroad. The article analyzes documents from the funds of the Federal Archive of the Federal Republic of Germany related to the foundation, functioning and liquidation of this propaganda structure. The purpose of the study is to determine why the Rhine-Ruhr service ceased to exist by the end of 1923. Special attention is paid to the relationship between the State and the specified organization, as well as internal and external political circumstances that preceded its liquidation. The study revealed that due to fears of using propaganda in the interests of private circles, the government of Chancellor Wilhelm Kuno limited financial support for the Rhine-Ruhr service to strictly defined areas. Despite this, the activity of the organization went beyond the areas indicated by the state. The article shows that as the Ruhr crisis was resolved and the internal political crisis in Germany deepened, internal propaganda began to acquire greater importance for the government of the new Chancellor Gustav Stresemann. In this regard, only the most effective structures could continue further activities in the field of external propaganda. The result of the study is the conclusion that due to the lack of a unique niche in propaganda activities and extensive, stable ties in foreign countries, the Rhine-Ruhr service could not withstand competition with other organizations and was liquidated by the end of 1923.

Weimar Germany, Ruhr Crisis, foreign propaganda, the Rhine-Ruhr service, Georg Klingenberg, Carl Cremer, Alfred Hugenberg, Wilhelm Cuno, Gustav Stresemann, the enlightenment committee