
The Locarno Era IB 20th Century Topics
Before the Locarno Era • After the Paris Peace Conference of 1919, the world witnessed all sorts of strife and even hatred among the countries of Europe… ESPECIALLY WHEN TALKING ABOUT GERMANY
The Tides Turn • In 1924 and 1925, there was a new spirit of friendship and international cooperation • This new era was called many names including: • Locarno Era • Locarno Spring • Locarno Spirit The Locarno Treaties of 1925 sparked this era of European Diplomacy
Locarno Treaties • October 1925: International conference to discuss the Locarno Treaties: 12 Days of negotiation and delegates agreed on 5 Treaties • Western Pact • Demilitarization of the Rhineland • Nonaggression Pacts • Arbitrations Treaties • Mutual Assistance Treaties
The Western Pact • Signed between Germany, France, Britain, Belgium, and Italy • Guaranteed the borders between Germany and France and between Germany and Belgium
Demilitarization of the Rhineland • Germany would have to demilitarize the Rhineland (this was a sacrifice for Germany)
The Nonaggression Pact • Between Germany and France and Germany and Belgium • Delegates from France, Germany and Belgium pledge not to invade or resort to war against each other except under certain specified conditions • They pledge to settle their mutual disputes peacefully rather than by force
Arbitration Treaties • Signed between Germany, Poland, and Czechoslovakia • Germany agrees to not use force in settling disagreements with these countries. • Instead, she would submit any disagreements to an international arbitration agency
Mutual Assistance Treaties • France signed treaties of mutual assistance with Poland and Czechoslovakia in case Germany broke the arbitration treaties
Gustav Stresemann • He is the rep for the Locarno Era • German Statesman • He had loads of common sense and was a humanitarian… he made moral decisions • He was in charge of Germany’s foreign policy from 1923 til 1929.
Aristide Briand • Another important figure of the Locarno Era • French Foreign Minister • “It is understandable to be continually casting doubts on Germany’s goodwill… Stresemann and I talked a new language, a language of Europe”
Treaties Signed During the Locarno Era • These treaties signed during the Locarno Era reflected the idealism of the time. • Treaty of Berlin 1926 • Admission of Germany into the League of Nations in 1926 • Kellogg-Briand Pact of 1928 • The Young Plan for reparations, adopted in 1929 • The Evacuation of the Rhineland
Treaty of Berlin, 1926 • Signed between Russia and Germany • Reflected Stresemann’s hopes for peace in both the east and the west • Treaty provided that Russia and Germany would be neutral • It also decided that neither country would ever wage an economic boycott against the other (never restrict trade)
Admission of Germany into the League of Nations • In September 1926 • Germany was granted full membership • It was thought that the League couldn’t be legit if it wouldn’t allow members in
Kellogg-Briand Pact, 1928 • August, 1928 • The Pact outlawed war as a policy • It is one of the shortest policies on record • Signers: Germany, France, Britain, Belgium Czechoslovakia, Italy, Poland, Japan and the US • The great powers apparently meant only to ban wars of aggression and reserved to themselves the right to determine whether their actions were offensive or defensive • There was no procedure for enforcing the pact
The Young Plan • Relates to reparations • The Important features of the Young Plan: • Total amount of reparations for Germany was reduced dramatically to $26 Billion paid over 58.5 years • Payments were to be adjusted based on the economic conditions of Germany (Ie: payments were suspended during the Great Depression)
Evacuation of the Rhineland • In a conference in August of 1929, the Allied Powers agreed to pull their army completely out of the Rhineland by June of 1930
The End of the Locarno Era • Ended in 1929 • Gustav Stresemann died and with his death the Locarno Era symbolically ended • A few days after his death, the Stock Market Crashed in NYC and led to the Great Depression