Chapter 8 - Germanys International Position 1924-28 Flashcards
What was the policy of fulfilment
After all Germans decided that the TOV was an unjust and dictated peace treaty there was two ways to revise the TOV. The first way which the nationalist rights favoured was to reject the TOV and rebuild its military in order to regain lost territory. Gustav Stresemann had a more pragmatic approach which was the policy of fulfilment. This involved Germany cooperating with France, Britain, USA and Italy on issues such as reparations, payements etc. Such cooperation it was believed would lead to more revision of the TOV than a more confrontational approach.
What was the Locarno pact
In Oct 1925 the Western European powers met at Germany suggestion at a conference in the Swiss city of Locarno. The discussions led to the Rhineland pact and arbitration treaties known as the Locarno pact. It was agreed that Germany, France and Belgium promised to respect the western frontier as drawn up at Versailles in 1919, Germany agreed to keep its troops out of the Rhineland as demanded at Versailles, Britain and Italy promised to aid Germany, France or Belgium if any of these countries were attacked by its neighbours, Germany agreed with France, Belgium, Poland and Czechoslovakia that any dispute between them should be settled by a conciliation committee to mediate discussions, France signed treaties of mutual guarantee with Poland and Czechoslovakia. These said that France would make sure Germany didn’t break the agreements above. It was also agreed that any conflicts regarding the western borders should be referred to the League of Nations. In addition France wouldn’t be permitted to cross into Germany should there be any dispute between Germany and Poland or Czechoslovakia. The Locarno pact was a success as occupation of the Ruhr could never be repeated and Germany could further revise the eastern borders and got Germany accepted into the League of Nations.
What were German relations with the USSR like
Both countries had been defeated in the war and had suffered from punitive treaties, both countries felt that the existence of an independent Poland supported by french guarantees was a threat to their security and both Germany and the USSR were treated as outcast nations by the victorious powers and weren’t allowed to join the League of Nations. These similarities led some in Germany to see advantages in a closer working relationship with the USSR. Amongst these was Walther Rathenau who in April 1922 negotiated the treaty of Rapallo and the terms were that Germany and Russia resumed trade and economic cooperation, diplomatic relations between the 2 countries were restored, all outstanding claims for compensation for war damage were dropped and Germany was allowed to develop new weapons and train pilots in Russia away from the scrutiny of the allied powers. France particularly was annoyed by this treaty which showed Germany’s intention to get around the TOV.
What was the treaty of Berlin
In April 1926 Germany and the USSR renewed their earlier treaty in the treaty of Berlin. This added very little to the original treaty except for the agreement that Germany would remain neutral if the USSR were to be involved in a war as long as the USSR was not the aggressor. This treaty was signed a year after the Locarno pact and showed that despite his agreement to guarantee Germany’s western frontiers desire to secure a revision of Germany’s eastern frontiers. In order to achieve this a close relationship with the USSR was vital because the USSR would resist any border changes it did not agree with
What was the extent of disarmament
Under the disarmament clauses of the TOV Germany’s army was limited to 100k men it wasn’t allowed to have an Air Force and its navy was prevented from having submarines and large battleships. In addition the Rhineland area was to be demilitarised. In order to ensure compliance with the treaty allied forces occupied the Rhineland. These disarmament clauses were a cause of burning resentment in Germany especially as the allies were free to maintain their own formidable armed forces. The treaty of rapallo allowed Germany to secretly rearm but it didn’t provide them with a fully operational Air Force or the army with unlimited supplies of modern weapons. Under General Bon seeckt the reichswehr found other ways of getting round the limit on the size of the army. Most recruits to the army were enlisted for short periods of time were they had intense training. This ensured that there was a reserve of highly trained men who could be recalled to the army at short notice.
What was the kellog-Briand pact
In 1928 Germany signed the pact with France and the USA. Frank Kellogg the American Secretary of State and aristide Briand the foreign minister of France drew up an international agreement under which the states would agree voluntarily to renounce the use of offensive wars to resolve disputes
How did allied occupation end
The removal of foreign forces from German soil was an aim shared by Germans of all parties. Stresemanns policy of fulfilment secure this objective by 1930. The french concerned for their own security and suspicious of Germany’s willingness to comply with the TOV were the most reluctant of all the allied powers to withdraw occupying forces. After the Dawes plan and Locarno pact there was evidence of German willingness to cooperate with the allies occupation forces were withdrawn from zone 1 of the Rhineland in 1926. The allies also withdrew the IMCC from Germany in the same year. Once the young plan had been agreed by Germany the way was clear for the withdrawal of the remaining allied forces they were withdrawn form zone 2 in 1929 and zone 3 in 1930.
