1923

1923 was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar. It occurred in the interwar period, a time of political realignment, economic volatility, and regional upheavals that shaped subsequent decades.

In Germany, the occupation of the Ruhr by French and Belgian troops began January 11 after reparations payments were missed, worsening economic hardship and contributing to hyperinflation. In November, a temporary currency reform established the Rentenmark to stabilize the economy. The year also saw the failed Beer Hall Putsch in Munich (November 8–9), an early attempt by Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party to seize power.

In Turkey and Greece, the Treaty of Lausanne was signed July 24, 1923, defining postwar borders and leading to a compulsory population exchange between Greece and Turkey. On October 29, 1923, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk proclaimed the Republic of Turkey, establishing a secular republic and the modern Turkish state.

In Asia, the Great Kanto earthquake struck Japan on September 1, 1923, destroying large areas of Tokyo and Yokohama and causing an estimated 100,000–142,000 deaths, with extensive rebuilding in subsequent years.

The year also contributed to ongoing postwar diplomacy, national self-determination, and economic experimentation as governments sought stability in a rapidly changing world.