Foreign Relations 1919-1932

German Foreign Relations 1919-1932

International relations for the Weimar Republic had a great impact on day to day life. The isolation that Germany suffered following the war, along with the reparations that were demanded of the German economy, were hugely significant. As a defeated power, the German state was not invited to participate in many international organisations. This status as an international pariah was on one that was challenged in a number of ways. From passive resistance to the reparations payments, to diplomatic efforts. These saw relations between Germany and the Allies, particularly France and Great Britain, vary over time. In the 1920’s the mood changed a little as did the approach to International relations from the Germans and other nations. This led to a number of significant treaties and aid agreements. Some of these are outlined below.

The Locarno Pact

In 1925 representatives of the Governments of Germany, Britain, France, belgium, Italy and Czechoslovakia met in Locarno, Switzerland. Led by Stresemann, Briand and Austen Chamberlain these diplomats engaged in discussions about how to ensure peace in Europe and established a range of agreements.

Firstly the meeting confirmed the German rights to the Rhineland in the form of a mutual guarantee signed by Germany and France. This was significant as it marked a move away from the previous French policy, in which they had occupied the area for failure to keep up with Reparations repayments. The meeting also confirmed and guaranteed the common borders of Germany, France and Belgium as set out in the Treaty of Versailles. This confirmed the peaceful intentions of all nations and signified an end to any potential claims that any of these nations may have had to land: for example, the previously disputed provinces of Alsace and Lorraine.

Arbitration agreements between the German Government and the Governments of France and Belgium were also signed at Locarno, there was also an agreement between the German and Polish Governments regarding border issues – and a statement that any disputes would be settled by arbitration only. These agreements and mutual guarantees opened up the door to Germany’s future membership of the League of Nations.

Recommended links on the Locarno Pact:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Locarno_Treaty

http://www.mtholyoke.edu/acad/intrel/locarno.htm

The Kellogg – Briand Pact

Recommended links on the Kellogg – Briand pact:

http://www.yale.edu/lawweb/avalon/kbpact/kbmenu.htm

This site hosts copies of a range of documents associated with the Pact.

http://www.thisnation.com/library/kellog-briand.html

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Weimar Germany Lessons and Teachers Resources

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Weimar Constitution 1919-1923: Years of Crisis?
Spartacist Uprising Kapp Putsch
The Munich Putsch Hyperinflation in Germany, 1923
Reparations Did the Economic Crisis of 1923 help the Nazi’s?
Origins of the Nazi Party 1924-1928: A Golden Era?
Gustav Stresemann German Foreign Relations 1919-1932
Germany in the Great Depression Rise of the Nazi Party
Failings of the Weimar Republic Totalitarian Regime in Nazi Germany
How did Hitler consolidate power? Mein Kampf
Nazi methods of control Opposition to the Nazi Regime
Organisation of the Nazi Party Fuhrerprinzip
Kristallnacht Youth and Education
Goering and the 2nd 4 Year Plan Anti-Jewish Boycott, 1933
Nazi Anti-Semitism DAF (The German Labour Front)
Propaganda in Germany 1919-39 Economic Policy of the Nazi Party
Weimar Germany Our sister site provides in depth coverage of many aspects of life in Germany at the time of the Weimar Republic
Resistance and Opposition to the Nazi Regime A wide ranging series of articles on the different opposition and resistance movements in Nazi Germany.
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The Holocaust History Teachers’ Resources

Revision Diagrams

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Revision Diagrams

Was the Weimar Republic doomed from the start? |To what extent did Weimar recover under Stresemann?
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