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‘The golden years’. How accurate is this description of the years 1924-29
Paragraph 1 – foreign policy:
Stresemann was the foreign minister from 1923 – he embarked on a policy of ‘fulfilment’
where he attempted to re-introduce Germany back into the national community, and
argued that Germany needed to attempt to pay its reparations, but used his diplomatic
skills to make the terms of payment more realistic for Germany.
Dawes plan 1924:
- Acceptance of German reorganisation of its currency one new Rentenmark
was to be worth one billion old marks and the setting up of the Reichsbank
under allied supervision.
- An international loan of 800 million gold marks to aid German recovery
(mainly financed by the USA).
- New arrangements for the payment of reparations total sum remained the
same, but to be paid in monthly instalments over the first 5 years that were
calculated according to Germany’s ability to pay (economic position).
This began the path to reconciliation, purely the fact that Germany was
paying the reparations improved the relationship between France and
Germany, as well as a general integration back into the national community.
Locarno pact 1925:
- Germany abandoned any claim to Alsace-Lorraine, and France undertook not
to repeat its occupation of the Ruhr.
- Germany, France and Belgium pledged themselves not to use force to change
borders laid down in the treaty of Versailles
- Arbitration treaties were signed between Germany and France, Poland,
Czechoslovakia and Belgium (an agreement to accept the decision of a third
party in order to settle conflict)
Again Germany cooperating with other countries, no longer the foreign policy
‘pariah’ that it once was.
Since regaining Alsace-Lorraine was not at the top of the German agenda, it
can be claimed that Germany gained more than it conceded to the Locarno
pact.
Germany had elevated its stance on the international stage, and signs of it
being treated as an equal by the allies were being shown.
1926 Germany originally excluded from the League of Nations but in 1926 was
invited and was immediately recognised as a permanent member of the council.
Kellog-Briand Pact:
- Germany signed a declaration that outlawed ‘war as an instrument of national
policy’
Young Plan 1929:
- Reduced the amount that Germany had to pay in reparations to a quarter of
the figure that was demanded in 1921 (reduced to £1850 million), and in
exchange the allies agreed to evacuate the Rhineland earlier than intended.
It is clear that Stresemann’s foreign policy was a success, he was awarded the Nobel peace
prize in 1926, and his policy was described by the leading historian E.Kolb as “astonishingly
successful”
This served to cause domestic tensions, many felt resentment towards Stresemann, as they
felt that Germany shouldn’t be forced to pay reparations at all, regardless of easier terms.
Particularly those on the right, thus there existed a dichotomy between building Germany’s
international standing and alienating the nationalist right:
EX: nationalist groups including the Nazis, mounted a campaign to reject the
Young Plan, using a constitution to arrange a referendum on its acceptance.
Made Hitler known for his condemnation of the plan, and thus a surge in the
Nazi vote blamed high u/e and economic slum on it.
Germany was dependant on American Loans, which proved fatal in 1929.
Moreover, Germany’s position on the international stage can only be considered ‘golden’ in
comparison to its position beforehand, more of a recovery than golden.
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