Stresemann's foreign policy successes

What did Stresemann achieve?

A number of foreign policy successes, which revised the Treaty of Versailles in Germany’s favour.

What did many foreign policy agreements lead to?

Anger of nationalists, who did not want to negotiate with their former enemies.

When were the Locarno Treaties?

October 1925.

What did the Locarno treaties guarantee?

Guaranteed Germany’s frontiers with France and Belgium but not Germany’s frontiers in the East.

What did the end of the occupation of the Ruhr and introduction of the Dawes Plan lead to?

Showed that the Great Powers prepared to take Germany’s interests seriously.

Why did Stresemann fear an Anglo-French friendship?

Feared it could lead to a military alliance.

Stresemann proposed an international security pact for Germany’s western frontiers.

How did France, Britain and the USA react to the Locarno Pact?

France hesitant at first. Britain and USA backed the idea.

What countries guaranteed the terms of the Locarno treaties?

Britain and Italy.

What did all 5 countries recounce due to the Locarno Pact?

Renounced the use of force, except in self-defence.

What was recognised as permanent due to the Locarno treaties?

Demilitarisation of the Rhineland recognised as permanent.

What did arbitration treaties between Germany, Poland and Czechslovakia agree to?

Agreed to settle future disputes peacefully - but the existing frontiers were not accepted as final.

What did the Locarno treaties free Germany from?

It’s isolation by the Allies and was again treated as an equal partner.

What were the benefits of confirming frontiers in west in Locarno treaties?

• Germany was in no position to change borders.

• Limited France’s freedom of action as the occupated of the Ruhr and annexation of the Rhineland was no longer possible.

How did the poles view the Locarno treaties?

Viewed as a major setback, since Stresemann had deliberately refused to confirm the frontiers in the east.

What happened for Germany in 1926?

Germany joined the League of Nations, to join all other great powers.

Allowed to sit on League of Nations council which made important decisions.

Why was joining the League of Nations an honour for Germany?

Honour to be considered an equal power alongside First World War victors.

Boosted confidence of foreign powers and moderate Germans in the Republic and even Stresemann himself.

What were extremist party views on joining League of Nations?

Detested Germany joining as they saw it as an extension of the Treaty of Versailles which caused national embarrassment.

What happened in Germany in January 1927?

the Allied Disarmament Commission withdrew from Germany.

(oversaw the disarmament of Germany due to Treaty of Versailles).

What happened in Germany in August 1927?

Allied troops were withdrawn from the garrisons in the Rhineland.

When was the Young Plan signed?

1929

What was the Young Plan?

Reduced reparations and Britain and France agreed to evacuate the Rhineland by the end of June 1930.

How did the Young Plan plan to reduce reparations?

Reducing them and extending the period over which they were paid, which would help government spending.

How did German nationalist groups feel about the Young Plan?

This caused resentment as they felt that reparations should be cancelled completely.

What was a con of the Young Plan?

Foreign investment helped stimulate industry, with Germany as a leading manufacturer by 1930.

However, this made them very dependent on foreign loans, particularly from USA.

Who suggested the Young Plan?

US banker Owen Young. Germany to pay reparations until 1988 but final sum reduced to $1850 million.

When was the Kellog-Briand pact?

1928.

What was the Kellog-Briand pact?

A declaration signed by Germany that outlawed ‘war as an instrument of national policy’.

Did the Kellog-Briand pact not have much practical effect?

No, but it did show that Germany was cooperating with 68 nations.

What nation was included in the Kellog-Briand pact?

The US, which was not a member of the League of Nations, showing a commitment to peace outside of the Leagues framework.

Who was the Kellog-Briand pact named after?

• French Foreign Minister Aristide Briand.

• US Secretary of State Frank B. Kellog.

When was the Treaty of Berlin?

April 1926.

What was the Treaty of Berlin?

A non-aggression pact between Germany and the Soviet Union, signed after earlier Locarno treaties.

Confirmed eastern borders of Germany.

What was the effect of the Treaty of Berlin?

Eased tensions with eastern neighbours and improved its international standing during a period of recovery.

How did the Treaty of Berlin help balance Germany’s foreign policy?

By establishing good relations with both the west and USSR.