germany's international position, 1924-28

Question 1

What did all classes and political allegiances agree on?

Answer 1

That the Treaty of Versailles was an unjust and dictated peace treaty that denied Germany its place among the great powers of Europe.

Question 2

What was always the main aim within the foreign policy of the Republic?

Answer 2

To revise the terms of the Treaty of Versailles.

Question 3

What was the division between parties on dealing with revising the terms of the Treaty of Versailles?

Answer 3

The nationalist right consistently argued that Germany should outright reject the treaty and build it military strength once again to regain lost territory.

The more pragmatic approach was from Gustav Stresemann of the DVP who believed the policy of fulfilment was the best way to lead to a revision of the treaty.

Question 4

When was Stresemann Foreign Minister?

Answer 4

From 1923-1929.

Question 5

What was Stresemann responsible for?

Answer 5

Bringing hyperinflation under control and cooperating with the Allies over the Dawes Plan.

Question 6

What did Stresemann concentrate on and what did this lead to?

Answer 6

Finding ways to reassure France of Germany’s peaceful intentions, leading to the Locarno Pact of 1925.

Question 7

When did the western European powers meet to discuss the Locarno Pact?

Answer 7

In October 1925.

Question 8

Who attended the conference at Locarno?

Answer 8

The USA, Britain, Italy, and even France despite being suspicious of the move Germany were making, but not Russia.

Question 9

What did the discussions at Locarno lead to?

Answer 9

The Rhineland Pact and Arbitration Treaties, collectively known as the Locarno Pact.

Question 10

When and where was the Locarno Pact officially signed?

Answer 10

In London on 1st December 1925.

Question 11

What did the Rhineland Pact propose?

Answer 11

• Germany, France and Belgium promised to respect the western frontier. It was to be regarded as fixed and internationally guaranteed.
• Germany agreed to keep their 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

Question 12

What was under the Arbitration Treaties?

Answer 12

• Germany agreed with France, Belgium, Poland and Czechoslovakia that any dispute between them should be settled by a conciliation committee.
• France signed treaties of ‘mutual guarantee’ with Poland and Czechoslovakia that said France would make sure they would not break the above argeement.

Question 13

What else was agreed at the Locarno Pact?

Answer 13

• Any conflicts regarding the western borders should be referred to the League of Nations.
• France would not be permitted to cross into Germany should there be any dispute between Germany and Poland or Czechoslovakia.

Question 14

How was the Locarno Pact regarded by many quarters?

Answer 14

As a major triumph, it was the first time Germany had recognised the western border imposed at Versailles and accepted the loss of Alsace-Lorraine to France.

Question 15

What did the French get out of the Locarno Pact?

Answer 15

A guarantee of support from the British should there be another German attack.

Question 16

What did the Germans get out of the Locarno Pact?

Answer 16

It meant that the 1923 occupation of the Ruhr could never be repeated.

The French had also agreed to withdraw the forces occupying the Rhineland which was achieved over the next 5 years and without Stresemann having to give assurances that Germany would disarm.

Question 17

When was Cologne evacuated by the French?

Answer 17

In 1926.

Question 18

What did the Germans recognise about the eastern borders after the Locarno Pact?

Answer 18

That they had not been discussed in the same way as the western borders, which left open the possibility of further revision of them.

Question 19

How did Stresemann regard the Locarno Pact?

Answer 19

As one of his greatest achievements, as he had established Germany’s position as an equal partner in diplomatic negotiations.

Question 20

Who were against the Locarno Pact?

Answer 20

The German nationalist right, they attacked Stresemann for appeasing the Allies and giving too much away.

Question 21

What country became the very first communist state and what did this mean?

Answer 21

Russia, later the USSR (1922).

It meant that the rights of the individual were subordinated to those of the state.

Question 22

What did most Germans think of communism?

Answer 22

Despite there being a large Communist party, most Germans were against a communist system.

Question 23

What were the similarities between the USSR and Germany’s post war situations?

Answer 23

• Both had been defeated in the war and suffered from punitive peace treaties
• Both felt the existence of an independent Poland was a threat to their security
• They were both treated as ‘outcast’ nations and were not allowed to join the League of Nations

Question 24

What did the similarities between the USSR and Germany lead some to believe?

Answer 24

They could see advantages in a closer working relationship with Russia/USSR.

Question 25

What did Walter Rathenau do in April 1922?

Answer 25

He had negotiated the Treaty of Rapallo with Russia.

Question 26

What terms did the Treaty of Rapallo have?

Answer 26

• Germany and Russia resumed trade and economic cooperation
• Diplomatic relations between the 2 were restored
• All outstanding claims for compensation for war damage were dropped
• Germany was allowed to develop new weapons and train pilots in Russia

Question 27

What was the clear intention of the Treaty of Rapallo?

Answer 27

It implied cooperation between Germany and Russia against Poland.

Question 28

What was the Allies reaction to the Treaty of Rapallo?

Answer 28

The Allies, particularly France, were angered by the treaty which showed Germany’s intention to get around the disarmament terms of the Treaty of Versailles and its refusal to accept its eastern frontier with Poland.

Question 29

What did Germany do in April 1926?

Answer 29

Germany and the USSR renewed their Treaty of Rapallo in the Treaty of Berlin.

Question 30

What did the Treaty of Berlin do?

Answer 30

It added very little to the Rapallo treaty, but added that Germany would remain neutral should the USSR get caught up in a war they did not start.

Question 31

What did Stresemann’s signing of the Treaty of Berlin show?

Answer 31

That he had not abandoned his desire to secure a revision of Germany’s eastern frontiers.

Question 32

What did Germany need to do in order to achieve a revision of the eastern frontiers?

Answer 32

Retain a close relationship with the USSR as they would resist any border changes that they did not agree with.

Question 33

What was created in order to ensure compliance of the Treaty of Versailles?

Answer 33

An Inter-Allied Control Commission (IMCC) which was staffed largely by French and British army officers.

Its task was to check that existing weapons were destroyed and no new weapons were being produced.

Question 34

What other arrangements did Germany have to get around their disarmament agreement?

Answer 34

They were building submarines in Spain and tanks and artillery in Sweden.

Question 35

What did the secret rearmament do for Germany?

Answer 35

Ensure that they did not fall behind other powers in technological developments.

Question 36

Where were new fortifications built after the Germans were forced to dismantle theirs along the Rhine?

Answer 36

Along the Polish frontier.

Question 37

How did the Reichswehr get around the limit on the size of the army?

Answer 37

Under the Army General von Seeckt’s command, recruits would enlist to the army for short periods where they’d receive intensive military training.

This meant that there was a reserve of highly trained men who could be recalled to the army on short notice.

The army would also sponsor a number of paramilitary groups.

Question 38

What did General von Seeckt aim to do?

Answer 38

Restore Germany’s military might as he worked towards a military alliance with Russia/USSR, which aimed to destroy newly independent Poland.

Question 39

What and when was the Kellogg-Briand Pact?

Answer 39

It was drawn up in 1928 by French Foreign Minister Briand and American Secretary of State Kellogg.

Germany was on of the first to sign and it was an international agreement to renounce the use of offensive wars to resolve disputes.

Question 40

How effective was the Kellogg-Briand Pact?

Answer 40

Limited as it lacked any enforcement mechanism.

Question 41

Why was the process of withdrawing the Allied forces from Germany a step-by-step one?

Answer 41

Because the French were very reluctant to do so and so compromise and concession was necessary on both sides.

Question 42

When were occupation forces withdrawn from Zone 1 of the Rhineland and what happened the same year?

Answer 42

In 1926, and the same year the Allies withdrew the IMCC.

Question 43

Why was further progress of the withdrawing of Allied forces halted after 1926?

Answer 43

Because there needed to be a final settlement of the reparations issue.

Question 44

When was the withdrawal of the remaining allied forces applied?

Answer 44

After the Young Plan was drawn up, Zone 2 was removed in 1929 and Zone 3 in 1930.

Question 45

When did Stresemann die?

Answer 45

In 1929.