The Locarno EraThe Locarno Era

IB 20IB 20thth Century Topics Century Topics

Before the Locarno EraBefore the Locarno Era

After the Paris Peace Conference of 1919, After the Paris Peace Conference of 1919, the world witnessed all sorts of strife and the world witnessed all sorts of strife and even hatred among the countries of even hatred among the countries of Europe… ESPECIALLY WHEN TALKING Europe… ESPECIALLY WHEN TALKING ABOUT GERMANYABOUT GERMANY

The Tides TurnThe Tides Turn

In 1924 and 1925, there was a new spirit In 1924 and 1925, there was a new spirit of friendship and international cooperationof friendship and international cooperation

This new era was called many names This new era was called many names including: including: Locarno EraLocarno Era Locarno SpringLocarno Spring Locarno Spirit Locarno Spirit The Locarno Treaties of 1925 sparked this era The Locarno Treaties of 1925 sparked this era

of European Diplomacy of European Diplomacy

Locarno Treaties Locarno Treaties

October 1925: International conference to October 1925: International conference to discuss the Locarno Treaties: 12 Days of discuss the Locarno Treaties: 12 Days of negotiation and delegates agreed on 5 negotiation and delegates agreed on 5 Treaties Treaties Western PactWestern Pact Demilitarization of the RhinelandDemilitarization of the Rhineland Nonaggression PactsNonaggression Pacts Arbitrations Treaties Arbitrations Treaties Mutual Assistance Treaties Mutual Assistance Treaties

The Western PactThe Western Pact

Signed between Germany, France, Britain, Signed between Germany, France, Britain, Belgium, and Italy Belgium, and Italy

Guaranteed the borders between Guaranteed the borders between Germany and France and between Germany and France and between Germany and Belgium Germany and Belgium

Demilitarization of the RhinelandDemilitarization of the Rhineland

Germany would have to demilitarize the Germany would have to demilitarize the Rhineland (this was a sacrifice for Rhineland (this was a sacrifice for Germany)Germany)

The Nonaggression PactThe Nonaggression Pact

Between Germany and France and Between Germany and France and Germany and BelgiumGermany and Belgium

Delegates from France, Germany and Delegates from France, Germany and Belgium pledge not to invade or resort to Belgium pledge not to invade or resort to war against each other except under war against each other except under certain specified conditions certain specified conditions

They pledge to settle their mutual disputes They pledge to settle their mutual disputes peacefully rather than by force peacefully rather than by force

Arbitration TreatiesArbitration Treaties

Signed between Germany, Poland, and Signed between Germany, Poland, and CzechoslovakiaCzechoslovakia

Germany agrees to not use force in Germany agrees to not use force in settling disagreements with these settling disagreements with these countries. countries.

Instead, she would submit any Instead, she would submit any disagreements to an international disagreements to an international arbitration agencyarbitration agency

Mutual Assistance TreatiesMutual Assistance Treaties

France signed treaties of mutual France signed treaties of mutual assistance with Poland and assistance with Poland and Czechoslovakia in case Germany broke Czechoslovakia in case Germany broke the arbitration treaties the arbitration treaties

Gustav StresemannGustav Stresemann He is the rep for the He is the rep for the

Locarno EraLocarno Era German Statesman German Statesman He had loads of He had loads of

common sense and common sense and was a humanitarian… was a humanitarian… he made moral he made moral decisionsdecisions

He was in charge of He was in charge of Germany’s foreign Germany’s foreign policy from 1923 til policy from 1923 til 1929. 1929.

Aristide BriandAristide Briand Another important Another important

figure of the Locarno figure of the Locarno EraEra

French Foreign French Foreign MinisterMinister

““It is understandable to It is understandable to be continually casting be continually casting doubts on Germany’s doubts on Germany’s goodwill… Stresemann goodwill… Stresemann and I talked a new and I talked a new language, a language language, a language of Europe” of Europe”

Treaties Signed During the Locarno Treaties Signed During the Locarno EraEra

These treaties signed during the Locarno These treaties signed during the Locarno Era reflected the idealism of the time. Era reflected the idealism of the time. Treaty of Berlin 1926Treaty of Berlin 1926 Admission of Germany into the League of Admission of Germany into the League of

Nations in 1926Nations in 1926 Kellogg-Briand Pact of 1928Kellogg-Briand Pact of 1928 The Young Plan for reparations, adopted in The Young Plan for reparations, adopted in

19291929 The Evacuation of the Rhineland The Evacuation of the Rhineland

Treaty of Berlin, 1926Treaty of Berlin, 1926

Signed between Russia and GermanySigned between Russia and Germany Reflected Stresemann’s hopes for peace Reflected Stresemann’s hopes for peace

in both the east and the westin both the east and the west Treaty provided that Russia and Germany Treaty provided that Russia and Germany

would be neutralwould be neutral It also decided that neither country would It also decided that neither country would

ever wage an economic boycott against ever wage an economic boycott against the other (never restrict trade)the other (never restrict trade)

Admission of Germany into the Admission of Germany into the League of NationsLeague of Nations

In September 1926In September 1926Germany was granted full membershipGermany was granted full membershipIt was thought that the League couldn’t be It was thought that the League couldn’t be legit if it wouldn’t allow members inlegit if it wouldn’t allow members in

Kellogg-Briand Pact, 1928Kellogg-Briand Pact, 1928

August, 1928August, 1928 The Pact outlawed war as a policyThe Pact outlawed war as a policy It is one of the shortest policies on recordIt is one of the shortest policies on record Signers: Germany, France, Britain, Belgium Signers: Germany, France, Britain, Belgium

Czechoslovakia, Italy, Poland, Japan and the US Czechoslovakia, Italy, Poland, Japan and the US The great powers apparently meant only to ban The great powers apparently meant only to ban

wars of aggression and reserved to themselves wars of aggression and reserved to themselves the right to determine whether their actions were the right to determine whether their actions were offensive or defensive offensive or defensive

There was no procedure for enforcing the pact There was no procedure for enforcing the pact

The Young PlanThe Young Plan

Relates to reparations Relates to reparations The Important features of the Young Plan:The Important features of the Young Plan:

Total amount of reparations for Germany was Total amount of reparations for Germany was reduced dramatically to $26 Billion paid over reduced dramatically to $26 Billion paid over 58.5 years58.5 years

Payments were to be adjusted based on the Payments were to be adjusted based on the economic conditions of Germany (Ie: economic conditions of Germany (Ie: payments were suspended during the Great payments were suspended during the Great Depression)Depression)

Evacuation of the RhinelandEvacuation of the Rhineland In a conference in August of 1929, the Allied In a conference in August of 1929, the Allied

Powers agreed to pull their army completely out Powers agreed to pull their army completely out of the Rhineland by June of 1930 of the Rhineland by June of 1930

The End of the Locarno EraThe End of the Locarno Era

Ended in 1929 Ended in 1929 Gustav Stresemann died and with his Gustav Stresemann died and with his

death the Locarno Era symbolically endeddeath the Locarno Era symbolically ended A few days after his death, the Stock A few days after his death, the Stock

Market Crashed in NYC and led to the Market Crashed in NYC and led to the Great DepressionGreat Depression