Weimar in de gouden twenties

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

ScheduleSchedule1.1. IntroductionIntroduction2.2. The Treaty of VersaillesThe Treaty of Versailles3.3. Cooperative Cooperative

revisionismrevisionism4.4. Diplomatic successesDiplomatic successes5.5. ConclusionConclusion

Gustav Stresemann (1878-1929), ca.

1920



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 Rathenau

1921

Political Assassinations



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 revisionDifferences concerned extent of revision Differences on which strategy should be Differences on which strategy should be

applied: policy of patient negotiation 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



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



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

Documents

Weimar in de gouden twenties