Revision notes on the Locarno treaty. In October 1925, Germans offered a treaty to voluntarily accept its western borders (Locarno, Switzerland)

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In October 1925, Germans offered a treaty to voluntarily accept its western borders (Locarno, Switzerland)

  • Stresemann wished to end the isolations of Germany and restore her to a place of equality among the nations, therefore, had to create an atmosphere of goodwill

Stresemann realized that France must feel secure if it was to allow Germany to recover fully

Signed by Brit and France in December 1925

A pact of non-aggression between France, Germany, and Belgium, guaranteed by the G.B. and Italy.

All countries renounced the use of invasion and force, except in self-defence.

Pact assured France about its borders and Germany about further French invasion

Early instance of appeasement, birth of modern appeasement (Garbriel Javisicas: a real spirit of peace might prevail at the end and rob Germany of all hopes for revenge)

At the time, hailed as a diplomatic triumph and following year Germany joined LON (act of symbolic reconciliation)

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  • For France: represented Germany’s reconciliation to Versailles and a firm commitment from Britain... apprehensive about further revisions
  • For Britain: limit of its commitment
  • For Germany: beginning of Versailles’ revision
  • A treaty that favoured Germany: similar guarantees not made for the frontiers of Eastern Europe, wrote off Versailles in that part of the world
  • Result:
  • Rearmament was no longer subject to scrutiny, Rhineland evacuated, and finally reparations had been in effect cancelled
  •  French policy went on the defensive: the Maginot Line (defensive fortifications) and transformed in a detente (reconciliation).  
  • Lenin: Instead of ...

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