Germany’s International Relations (1925-1928)

This section explains Germany’s International Relations from 1925-1928. After World War One, Germany was politically isolated, economically crippled by reparations, and humiliated by the Treaty of Versailles (1919). The treaty had forced Germany to accept blame for the war, lose territory, and disarm, while the occupation of the Ruhr (1923) had worsened relations with France and Belgium.

Under the foreign policy leadership of Gustav Stresemann, Germany saw a dramatic improvement in its diplomatic position between 1925 and 1928. This was due to a combination of treaties, agreements, and strategic diplomacy, which helped reintegrate Germany into the international community.

The Locarno Treaties (1925): A Turning Point in Western Europe

One of Stresemann’s most significant achievements was the signing of the Locarno Treaties in October 1925, which redefined Germany’s relationship with its western neighbours.

Key Terms of the Locarno Treaties

✔ Germany, France, and Belgium agreed to respect post-Versailles borders.
✔ Germany accepted the loss of Alsace-Lorraine to France, ending years of hostility.
✔ France guaranteed not to invade Germany (as it had done during the Ruhr Crisis of 1923).
✔ Britain and Italy agreed to act as guarantors, promising to intervene if any country broke the agreements.

Impact of the Locarno Treaties

✅ Germany improved relations with France and Britain, reducing fears of another war.
✅The Rhineland was permanently demilitarised, meaning French troops withdrew.
✅ The agreements only applied to Western Europe, meaning Germany’s eastern borders (with Poland and Czechoslovakia) were still open for negotiation. This gave Stresemann an opportunity to revise the Versailles settlement in the future.

Germany Joins the League of Nations (1926)

When the League of Nations was founded in 1920, Germany was excluded as a ‘guilty nation’. However, after signing the Locarno Treaties, Germany demonstrated its willingness to work with other nations, leading to its admission into the League in 1926.

Significance of League Membership

✔ Germany became a permanent member of the League’s Council, alongside Britain, France, Italy, and Japan.
✔ This meant Germany had influence over international decisions, making it one of the most powerful members.
✔ Germany no longer felt isolated and was treated as an equal partner in European diplomacy.

⚠ However, many right-wing nationalists in Germany saw this as accepting the Treaty of Versailles, which they hated. The Nazis later used this as propaganda, accusing Stresemann of being too weak.

The Kellogg-Briand Pact (1928): A Commitment to Peace

The Kellogg-Briand Pact was signed in August 1928, with Germany as one of 62 countries agreeing to renounce war as a means of solving disputes.

Key Terms of the Pact

✔ All signatories promised not to use war to achieve foreign policy aims.
✔ Germany gained credibility as a peaceful nation, further improving its international image.
✔ Unlike the Treaty of Versailles, the pact did not impose any new punishments on Germany.

⚠ However, the agreement was symbolic rather than practical—there were no consequences for breaking it.

Relations with the Soviet Union: The Treaty of Berlin (1926)

Despite improving ties with Western Europe, Germany also strengthened relations with the Soviet Union.

• The Treaty of Berlin (1926) renewed the Treaty of Rapallo (1922), which had re-established diplomatic and economic cooperation between the two countries.
• Germany and the USSR agreed to remain neutral if either was attacked by another power for five years.
• This allowed secret military collaboration, enabling Germany to train soldiers and develop weapons in Soviet territory, evading Versailles restrictions.
• German pilots were trained in the Soviet Union, and German companies helped modernise Soviet industry.

⚠ Many in Britain and France were suspicious of Germany’s close ties with the USSR, fearing it could lead to future military threats.

The Limits of Stresemann’s Diplomacy

While Stresemann’s diplomacy dramatically improved Germany’s position, it was not without problems.

✅ Successes

• Germany’s reputation improved, helping it regain its place as a respected European power.
• France and Belgium withdrew from the Ruhr, easing tensions.
• Germany gained international allies, giving it more negotiating power.

❌ Weaknesses

• Right-wing Germans saw Stresemann’s policies as a betrayal, believing he was too willing to work with the Allies.
• The Locarno Treaties only secured Germany’s western borders, leaving open the possibility of future conflicts in the east.
• Germany’s military development with the USSR was risky and could have provoked the Allies if discovered.
• All of Stresemann’s progress depended on economic stability—which was about to be shattered by the Wall Street Crash (1929).

Conclusion

Stresemann’s diplomatic efforts between 1925 and 1928 made Germany a respected international power again. However, this progress was fragile—Germany remained politically divided, and its economic dependence on American loans made it vulnerable.