Domestic and foreign policy development 1924-1929

Question 1

What was Stresemann referred to as?

Answer 1

A Verunftrepublikaner (a rational republican, rather than a convinced one)

Question 2

What were the main aims of Stresemann?

Answer 2

Free Germany from the limitations of the Versailles and to restore his country to the status of a grate power by diplomatic fulfilment

Question 3

What does diplomatic fulfilment mean?

Answer 3

Conforming to the terms of the Treaty of Versailles

Question 4

Stresemann worked towards his aims by pursuing what objectives?

Answer 4

Recognise French rightly had security concerns and they controlled the balance of power on the continent, regarded Franco-Germany friendship as essential
Play on Germany’s importance in world tread to earn goodwill + cooperation of UK and USA, sympathy of USA = attract US investment in German economy
Maintain friendship with USSR since the signing of the Treaty of Rapallo
Encourage cooperation and peace ,esp. w/ Western powers, + restore Germany as leading power in Europe

Question 5

When was the Dawes Plan?

Answer 5

1924

Question 6

What was the Dawes Plan?

Answer 6

New German national bank, under Allied supervision
International loan to aid German economic recovery, mainly financed by USA
Payments made annually at a fixed scale over a longer period (reparations)

Question 7

What were the advantages of the Dawes Plan?

Answer 7

1st time since WW1, Germany’s economic problems received international recognition
Germany gained credit for cash-starved German economy by means of loan and subsequent investments
Resulted in French promise to evacuate the Ruhr during 1925

Question 8

How much did Germany receive from abroad compared to paid out in reparations?

Answer 8

Received twice as much from capital from abroad as it paid out in reparations

Question 9

How was the Dawes Plan dangerous?

Answer 9

Dependant on US loans
Stresemann linked Germany’s fortunes to powerful external forces

Question 10

When was the Locarno Pact signed?

Answer 10

October 1925

Question 11

What was the Locarno Pact

Answer 11

An international security pact for Germany’s western frontiers
Stresemann feared Anglo-French friendship could lead to military alliance

Question 12

What were the main points of the Locarno Pact?

Answer 12

A mutual guarantee agreement accepted the French-German and Belgian-German borders. Terms guaranteed by Britain and Italy, all 5 countries renounced use of force, except in self defence
Demilitarisation of Rhineland recognised as permanent
Arbitration treaties between Germany, Poland + Czechoslovakia agreed to settle future disputes peacefully, existing frontiers not accepted as final

Question 13

What were the successes of the Locarno Pact?

Answer 13

Freed Germany from isolation
Confirmed existing frontiers in west
Limited France’s freedom of action ( occupation of Ruhr or annexation of Rhineland not possible )
Lessened France’s need to find allies in eastern Europe, solid basis for Franco-German understanding

Question 14

When was Germany invited to join the League of Nations and was immediately recognised as what?

Answer 14

1926
Permanent member of the Council

Question 15

When did Germany sign the Kellogg-Briand pact?

Answer 15

1928

Question 16

What was the Kellogg-Briand pact?

Answer 16

Outlawed war as an instrument of national policy
No real practical effect, showed Germany was cooperating w/ 68 nations of the League

Question 17

What were the terms of the Young Plan?

Answer 17

Pay reparations until 1988, total sun reduced to £1850 million, 1/4 of figure demanded in 1921

Question 18

How were the USSR and Germany similar?

Answer 18

Both outcast nations in the early 1920s
Both been militarily defeated in the war
Both suffered from revengeful treaties and excluded from League of Nations

Question 19

When was the Treaty of Rapallo signed between Germany and USSR?

Answer 19

April 1922

Question 20

What was the Treaty of Rapallo?

Answer 20

Not an alliance, terms strictly limited to the restoration of diplomatic relations and to economic cooperation

Question 21

When was the Treaty of Rapallo reaffirmed and by the signing of what treaty?

Answer 21

Treaty of Berlin in April 1926

Question 22

What were the terms of the Treaty of Berlin?

Answer 22

Germany promised to remain neutral in the even of Russia being involved in a war

Question 23

What were the opportunities of the Treaty of Berlin?

Answer 23

Pressured Poland to give way to German demands for frontier changes
Opened possibility of large commercial market and increase military cooperation

Question 24

How did J Wright refer to Stresemann?

Answer 24

Weimar’s greatest statesman