Germany's International Position

Foreign Policy Aims of Germany and Foreign Powers 1924-1929

Stresemann’s foreign policy has been credited with taking Germany a long way towards economic recovery and restoring its international reputation.

Stresemann's position

Stresemann became Germany’s foreign secretary in November 1923 and stayed in the post, despite the changes of government, until 1929.
This enabled him to build up good personal relations with other countries.
Stresemann disliked Versailles, but pursued a pragmatic approach to reversing it. He understood that Germany was unable to reverse Versailles by force.
He also understood other nations could not afford Germany’s economic collapse.

Stresemann's aims

Stresemann’s foreign policy was known as 'Fulfilment'. It’s aim was to satisfy the Allies by upholding Versailles until Germany could renegotiate parts of it.
Fulfilment involved:
- Satisfying French and Belgian concerns over their security and borders.
- Ending the foreign occupation of German territory.
- Regaining Germany’s status as a world power in international diplomacy.
- Cooperating with the USA for economic gain.
- Building links with the USSR to put a little pressure on the West.

British aims

Britain recognised the importance of an economically strong Germany as a trading partner. It did not want the German navy to rival its own.
Influential economist Keynes also argued that the Versailles Treaty had been too harsh and an unstable Germany could lead to another war in Europe.

French and Belgian aims

France and Belgium wanted certainty that Germany could never invade them again. This required Germany being economically and militarily weak.

US aims

The USA had a never wanted Germany to be harshly treated. The USA was a major supplier of food and raw materials to Germany.
USA was also an important export market for German manufacturing.

USSR aims

The USSR had been an international pariah since the communist revolution. It welcomed diplomatic relations with Germany.

Germany Being Accepted by Europe

Stresemann pursued several peace treaties which tried to re-enter Germany into European diplomacy. This was consolidated by Germany being allowed into the League of Nations in 1926.

Locarno Pact 1925

This Pact was signed by Germany, France, Belgium, Italy and the United Kingdom.
Germany accepted its borders in the west.
Germany did not accept its borders in the East, but signed arbitration treaties with Poland and Czechoslovakia. It also renounced the use of force.
All countries signing the pact renounce the use of invasion and force as a method of foreign policy, except in self-defence.

Outcome of the Locarno Pact

The Locarno pact satisfied French concerns about its security, but also German concerns about any future French invasion.
Locarno showed that Germany was becoming an important and acceptable member of the international diplomatic community once more.
The 'Locarno Spring' was how the atmosphere of cooperation and peace in Europe was described.

League of Nations 1926

The League of Nations had been created by the Versailles treaty. For this reason many on the right wing in Germany disliked it, seeing it as a victors’ club.
Germany and in the USSR had not been allowed to join. The US Senate had refused to ratify the Treaty and so the USA was not a member either.
Germany was welcomed into the League of Nations in 1926 with great power status. This meant it was on the council and had power of veto.

Official terms of the Treaty of Berlin 1926

Confirmed the 1922 Treaty of Rapallo 1922.
Publicly the Treaty established full diplomatic relations between Germany and the USSR. They agreed to cooperate over economic matters.
Both countries agreed to wipe out any war debts or claims of reparations.

Secret terms of the Treaty of Berlin

The secret clauses concerned military cooperation. They allowed Germany to circumvent some of the military restrictions imposed by Versailles.
The USSR allowed Germany to train troops there and also to develop forbidden aircraft and tanks on Soviet soil. German officers helped train the Red Army.

1The Weimar Republic 1918-1933

1.1Establishment Of The Weimar Republic 1918-1924

1.1.1Post WW1

1.1.2Weimar Constitution

1.1.3Peace Settlement

1.1.4End of Topic Test - Germany Post WW1

1.1.5Economic Issues

1.1.6Economic Issues 2

1.1.7Social Issues

1.1.8End of Topic Test - Economic & Social Issues

1.1.9Extremist Threats

1.1.10Extremist Threats 2

1.1.11End of Topic Test - Extremist Threats

1.1.12Political Instability & The Invasion of the Ruhr

1.1.13Weimar Government by 1924

1.1.14End of Topic Test - Weimar Government by 1924

1.1.15A-A* (AO3/4) - Germany Post WW1

1.2The 'Golden Age' Of The Weimar Republic 1924-1928

1.2.1Economic Developments

1.2.2Industry & Agriculture

1.2.3End of Topic Test - Economic Developments

1.2.4Social Developments

1.2.5Social Developments 2

1.2.6End of Topic Test - Social Developments

1.2.7Political Parties

1.2.8Political Stability

1.2.9End of Topic Test - Weimar Politics

1.2.10Germany's International Position

1.2.11Germany's International Position 2

1.2.12End of Topic Test - International Position

1.2.13A-A* (AO3/4) - The Weimar 'Golden Age'

1.3The Collapse of Democracy 1928-1933

1.3.1The Impact Of The Depression

1.3.2Politics After The Depression

1.3.3The Appeal Of Extremism

1.3.4End of Topic Test - The Depression & Politics

1.3.5'Backstairs Intrigue'

1.3.6'Backstairs Intrigue' 2

1.3.7End of Topic Test - Backstairs Intrigue

1.3.8Political Developments

1.3.9The State by March 1933

1.3.10End of Topic Test - Political Developments

1.3.11A-A* (AO3/4) - The Collapse of Democracy

2Nazi Germany 1933-1945

2.1The Nazi Dictatorship 1933-1939

2.1.1Hitler's Consolidation Of Power

2.1.2The Terror State

2.1.3End of Topic Test - Consolidation of Power

2.1.4Opposition

2.1.5Propaganda

2.1.6A-A* (AO3/4) - Terror State & Propaganda

2.1.7End of Topic Test - Propaganda

2.1.8Economic Policies

2.1.9Economic Policies 2

2.1.10Impact Of Economic Policies

2.1.11Impact Of Economic Policies 2

2.1.12End of Topic Test - Economic Policies

2.1.13Social Policies

2.1.14Social Policies 2

2.1.15Volksgemeinschaft

2.1.16End of Topic Test - Social Policies

2.1.17A-A* (AO3/4) - Economic & Social Policies

2.2The Racial State 1933-1941

2.2.1The Radicalisation Of The State

2.2.2Anti-Semitism

2.2.3Development Of Anti-Semitic Policies

2.2.4Development Of Anti-Semitic Policies 2

2.2.5End of Topic Test - Anti-Semitism

2.2.6Treatment of the Jews in the Early Years of War

2.2.7Deportation & Anti-Semitism Evaluation

2.2.8End of Topic Test - Early Treatment of the Jews

2.2.9A-A* (AO3/4) - The Racial State

2.3The Impact Of War 1939-1945

2.3.1Home Front

2.3.2Impact On Society

2.3.3Impact On Society 2

2.3.4End of Topic Test - Impact of the War

2.3.5War Economy

2.3.6War Economy 2

2.3.7Policies Towards The Jews & Untermenschen

2.3.8A-A* (AO3/4) - Impact of the War

2.3.9End of Topic Test - War Economy

2.3.10Opposition

2.3.11Opposition 2

2.3.12Nazi State by 1945

2.3.13End of Topic Test - Opposition

2.3.14A-A* (AO3/4) - Opposition & The State in 1945

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