Download - The Weimar Republic in the “Golden Twenties” - Foreign Policy - History of Germany Lecture 8
The Weimar The Weimar Republic in the Republic in the
“Golden Twenties”“Golden Twenties”- Foreign Policy - - Foreign Policy - History of Germany History of Germany
Lecture 8Lecture 8
ScheduleSchedule
1.1. IntroductionIntroduction
2.2. The Treaty of VersaillesThe Treaty of Versailles
3.3. Cooperative Cooperative revisionismrevisionism
4.4. Diplomatic successesDiplomatic successes
5.5. ConclusionConclusion
Gustav Stresemann (1878-1929), ca.
1920
ScheduleSchedule
1.1. IntroductionIntroduction
2.2. The Treaty of VersaillesThe Treaty of Versailles
3.3. Cooperative Cooperative revisionismrevisionism
4.4. Diplomatic successesDiplomatic successes
5.5. ConclusionConclusion
The Treaty of VersaillesThe Treaty of Versailles
War guilt War guilt Reduction of Reichswehr to 100,000 Reduction of Reichswehr to 100,000
men and restrictions on modern men and restrictions on modern weapon systemsweapon systems
Loss of territory to France, Belgium, Loss of territory to France, Belgium, Poland, DenmarkPoland, Denmark
Demilitarisation of the RhinelandDemilitarisation of the Rhineland ReparationsReparations
ARTICLE 231.
“The Allied and Associated Governments affirm and Germany accepts the responsibility of Germany and her allies for causing all the loss and damage to which the Allied and Associated Governments and their nationals have been subjected as a consequence of the war imposed upon them by the aggression of Germany and her allies.”
Treaty of Versailles
Germania tied to the stakePostcard directed against the Treaty of Versailles, about 1920
Matthias Erzberger1921
Walther Rathenau1921
Political Assassinations
ScheduleSchedule
1.1. IntroductionIntroduction
2.2. The Treaty of VersaillesThe Treaty of Versailles
3.3. Cooperative Cooperative revisionismrevisionism
4.4. Diplomatic successesDiplomatic successes
5.5. ConclusionConclusion
RevisionismRevisionism
All German political parties wanted to All German political parties wanted to revise the Treaty of Versaillesrevise the Treaty of Versailles
Differences concerned extent of Differences concerned extent of revisionrevision
Differences on which strategy should Differences on which strategy should be applied: policy of patient negotiation be applied: policy of patient negotiation including integration into international including integration into international order or aggressive policy of strength?order or aggressive policy of strength?
Should use of force be allowed?Should use of force be allowed?
Who will bring the Ostmark back? Poster of the DNVP for the elections to the National Assembly, 1919
Target “Occupation of the Ruhr” with anti-French propaganda,after 1923, wood
ScheduleSchedule
1.1. IntroductionIntroduction
2.2. The Treaty of VersaillesThe Treaty of Versailles
3.3. Cooperative Cooperative revisionismrevisionism
4.4. Diplomatic successesDiplomatic successes
5.5. ConclusionConclusion
Stresemann – a good Stresemann – a good European?European?
Conciliatory Conciliatory cooperative policy cooperative policy towards France and towards France and BritainBritain
Germany joins League Germany joins League of Nationsof Nations
International International recognition Nobel recognition Nobel Peace Prize (together Peace Prize (together with Aristide Briand)with Aristide Briand)
Economic pressure on Economic pressure on PolandPoland
Germany as advocate of Germany as advocate of rights of German minorities rights of German minorities in Eastern Europein Eastern Europe
Letter to Crown Prince: Letter to Crown Prince: readjustment of Eastern readjustment of Eastern borders and liberation of borders and liberation of Germany from foreign Germany from foreign dominationdomination
Illegal military cooperation Illegal military cooperation with Soviet Russiawith Soviet Russia
Germany’s integration in Germany’s integration in European policyEuropean policy
Reparations: Dawes plan 1924, Young plan 1929Reparations: Dawes plan 1924, Young plan 1929 Locarno Treaty: Germany guarantees Western Locarno Treaty: Germany guarantees Western
borders (but not Eastern borders) – early borders (but not Eastern borders) – early withdrawal of French and Belgian troops from withdrawal of French and Belgian troops from Ruhr 1924/25Ruhr 1924/25
Germany joins League of Nations in 1926, gets Germany joins League of Nations in 1926, gets seat in councilseat in council
Treaty of Berlin with Soviet Union: neutrality if Treaty of Berlin with Soviet Union: neutrality if one state is attackedone state is attacked
Kellogg-Briand Pact in 1929: renounces use of Kellogg-Briand Pact in 1929: renounces use of forceforce
Locarno…is the achievement of lasting peace on the Rhine, guaranteed by the formal renunciation of force by the two great neighboring nations and also by the commitment of other states to come to
the aid of the victim of an act of aggression in violation of this treaty…It can and it ought to be the basis for a general cooperative effort among these
nations to spread peace wherever their material power and moral influence reach.”
Gustav Stresemann 1926
ScheduleSchedule
1.1. IntroductionIntroduction
2.2. The Treaty of VersaillesThe Treaty of Versailles
3.3. Cooperative Cooperative revisionismrevisionism
4.4. Diplomatic successesDiplomatic successes
5.5. ConclusionConclusion
Was Stresemann Was Stresemann successful?successful?Foreign PolicyForeign Policy
Reparation payments Reparation payments now clearnow clear
American investmentAmerican investment Beginning of Beginning of
reconciliation with reconciliation with France and integration France and integration into European policiesinto European policies
Early withdrawal of Early withdrawal of French troops from Ruhr French troops from Ruhr and later from Rhinelandand later from Rhineland
No territorial revisions in No territorial revisions in the Eastthe East
Effects on domestic policyEffects on domestic policy German public opinion German public opinion
violently against amount violently against amount and length of paymentsand length of payments
German financial system German financial system dependent on American dependent on American moneymoney
Public opinion: Public opinion: Germany gained too Germany gained too little by renouncing little by renouncing claim to Alsace-Lorraineclaim to Alsace-Lorraine
DisappointmentDisappointment
Without doubt constructive and successful foreign policy in longer term perspective, in short-term perspective was not supported by German public opinion – was not able to give additional legitimacy to Weimar democracy