Walther Rathenau Political Thought and Action, from Versailles to Rapallo

The industrialist, writer and politician Walther Rathenau (1867-1922) led the German delegation to the Genoa Conference. In 1914, he had been the architect of the planned German war economy. After the war, he first tried to implement his reform program for a “community economy” (Gemeinwirtschaft), before being entrusted with diplomatic missions. As Minister for Reconstruction, he signed the Franco-German agreement of Wiesbaden, participated in the Spa conference and led the German delegation at the Cannes conference.