2.4) Germany: International position, 1924-28.

• All German Classes agreed that the TofV was unfair and dictated.
• Denied Germany being a great empire in Europe.
• Placed many Germans in non-German places.
• All Governments during 1919-33's foreign policy only obeyed TofV.
• Caused Party divisions over how to obey it.
• Nationalists wanted to scrap the treaty and rebuild it's military until it can regain it's lost territories again, being a great independent empire.
• Stressemann was tact and came up with the 'policy of fulfilment'.

• The policy of fulfilment meant Germany would Cooperate with the Allies on issues like reparations and removing allied territorial occupation.
• Stressemann was Foreign minister, brought hyperinflation under control, ended passive resistance and talked for Dawes plan.
• French left the Ruhr in 1925.
• Stressemann knew their suspicion was a problem for revising the TofV.
• Stressemann wanted French to know Germany had peaceful intentions and this was shown in the Locorno Pact in 1925.

• October 1925, West Europe powers met at Locorno.
• Stressemann wanted to rebuild German international position. 
• Wanted no hostility between Britain and France but German industrial recovery threatened them.
• France were suspicious but agreed to attend  as well as the Allies. 
• Agreed on Rhineland Pact and Arbitration Treaties.

RHINELAND PACT:

• Germany, France and Belgium respected the western front. It was now fixed and guaranteed. 
• Germany agreed to keep troops out the Rhineland.
• Britain agreed to aid Germany and France if attacked.

ARBITRATION PACT:

• Germany agreed with France, Belgium and Poland that's disputes should be sorted via conciliation committee.
• France signed a mutual guarantee with Poland and Czechslovakia.
• France made show Germany didn't didn't break agreements.

• Also, any conflict regarding the western borders was to be dealt by the LofN
• France were not allowed in Germany if there was any dispute between Germany and Poland/Czechslovakia.

• Locorno Pact was seen as success. Germany finally recognised the western border put in at Versailes.
• They accepted loss of Alsace Lorraine and Eupen Malmedy to Frae
• French were promised support from Britain if attacked.
• Germany's 1923 Occupation of the Ruhr could never be repeated.
• French withdrew forces in Rhineland and done with no assurance that Germany would disarm.
• Stressemann saw Locarno pact as his best achievement.
• Germany was now in the League of Nations too.
• Stressemann made Germany more diplomatic negotiable with Western powers.
• He achieved so much and lost little.
• The Nationalists attacked him for appeasing the allies.

• After revolution in 1917 in Russia it took a communist path as it became first communist state in 1922. Peoples rights were subordinate to the state.
• Germany in 1918 took a democratic path, more individual freedom.
• But Germany had a large communist party that wanted close links with Russia.

• Both countries had similarities after war.
• Both were defeated and suffered from punishing treaties.
• Both felt the creation of Poland threatened their security.
• Both were treated like outcasts and banned from the LofN.

• Many thought both countries should be closer as a result. Walther Rathenau negotiated a Treaty of Rapallo with Russia. The Terms were:
• Both would trade and make economic cooperation.
• Both would have diplomatic relations.
• All claims for war damage were dropped.
• Germany could train pilots and build weapons in Russia without Allied scrutiny.

• For Germany this was a step away from Post-war isolation. 
• French were angered as it showed Germany hiding from disarmement terms and refused the Eastern frontier with Poland.

• April 1926, Germany and USSR renwed the Treaty of Rapallo.
• Germany wouldn't interfere if USSR was in war as long as it didn't start it. 
• Signed 1 year after Locorno Pact, it showed despite guarantee to Westen frontiers, it made sure it did the same and get a revision with Eastern frontiers.
• To do this it needed a close relationship with USSR as they would resist any border changes it didn't agree with.

• Under the TofV, Germany was limited to 100,000 men, wasn't allowed an air force and it's navy weren't allowed submarines or battleships.
• Rhine was demiliterised and German forts were dismantled with no troops in the area.
• In order to make sure they listened, a 'Inter-Allied Contro Commission' was made in Germany to moniter their disarmement. 
• The disarmament clause caused resentment as the allies maintained their forces.
• The Treaty of Rapallo showed how Germany tried to find other ways of avoiding disarmament and they made submarines in Spain and Tanks in Sweden.

• The rearmement didn't Germany fully operational with an air force or army with unlimted weapons.
• It did make sure Germany wasn't behind in technological developments though.
• The German forts in the Rhine were dismantled build rebuily along the Polish frontier.

• Under army general Von Seeckt's command Germany found other ways of getting more men in the army and made sure there was a reserve of highly trained military force via a paramilitary.
• He tried making a military alliance with Russia which planned to destroy Poland.
• Von Seeckt secretly rearmed Germany which was tactically approved by Politicians.

• 1928, France and USA signed this pact with Germany.
• US secretary of the state, Frank Kellogg and Arstide Briand, Foreign minister of France.
• Made international agreements where states would voluntarly renounc the ue of offensive war to resolve disputes.
• Germany was first to sign.
• The pact avoided war but it wasn't enforced very effectively.

END OF ALLIED OCCUPATION:

• Getting rid of foreign forces on German soil was every parties goal.
• Policy of fulfilment acheived this by 1930.
• French were most reluctant to withrdraw, although suspicious of Germany willing to comply with the TofV.
• The withdrawal of forces was a step by step concession and compromise.
• The Dawes plan and Locarno pact was evidence of willing to talk with allies.
• Allies withdrew from the Zone I in Rhineland in 1926 and IMCC.
• Once the Young Plan was agreed n 1929 the way was clear to withdraw of remaining forces.
• Allies withdrew from Zone 2 in 1929 and Zone 3 in 1930.
• Success was due to the policies of Stresssemann.